baker led his regiment in defensive and garrison duty across the western theater of the war, and remained in regular communication with governor oliver morton, who has become governor a few months earlier. baker was most involved in coordinating supplies, and became a valuable organizer. morton soon promoted him to serve as provost marshal of the state, and ordered him to return to indianapolis to oversee operations. there he oversaw the formation of dozens of state regiments, tens of thousand of men, the shipment of tons of supplies, the distributions of weapons, and the management of the state arsenal.