Hi Doyle -

I continue to work on the riddle of the First Indiana's "small steel-rifled guns." I recently found the following letter. Perhaps it helps you, perhaps not:

" Evansville Indiana Dec. 17th 1862
To His Excellency Governor Oliver P. Morton

From
Wm B. Baker late Battalion Adjutant commanding battery attached to First Regiment Indiana Cavalry

Sir:
The undersigned respectfully tenders the government through your Excellency his services as Major in any cavalry regiment now forming or about to be formed within the state. And for grounds upon which to base his claims to be appointed and commissioned for that office by your Excellency begs leave to state as follows:

That he has served in the First Regiment of Indiana Cavalry for the period of sixteen months; that he was mustered into the service as Quarter Master of said regiment and that after performing the duties of that office for five months was mustered as Battalion Adjutant and detailed to command a battery of four seven pound rifled steel guns attached to said Regiment ; that he continued to command said battery until mustered out of service on the 20th day October 1862 under general order No 192 from the war department vacating the office of Battalion Adjutant ; that with this battery and while commanding the same he took part in the two engagements on the Cache river fought on the 7th of July 1862 and that with scarcely an exception has been engaged in all the skirmishes fought by said regiment or any part of [it] during the time of commanding said battery. As to the manner of performing his duties as an officer during said period of sixteen months of service he begs leave to refer your Excellency to Brigadiers General Steele and Hovey division commanders of the Army of the South West and also to all or any of the officers of the First Indiana Cavalry.

Hoping these humble services together with the fact of his being mustered out of service under said General Order may in the opinion of your Excellency entitle him to receive the appointment and commission of a Cavalry Major he begs leave to subscribe himself
Your Excellency's
Most obedient servant
W. B. Baker "

I suspect that Lieut. Baker was the son or nephew , of the First Indiana's Colonel (& future Indiana Governor), Nathan Baker. (Does anyone know the answer?) To refer Gov. Morton to Col. Baker for a reference would have been too crass.