Charles Baker

Charles, also known as Henry, was born in the Georgetown area of Washington DC, and there is some dispute as to the year of his birth. I was able to find two military service records that estimate his birth year as 1812 and one that lists 1809. In fact, much of his early life is a mystery except that he first enlisted in the Navy sometime in 1833. Charles made a career out of the Navy and he was a Quarter Gunner when the American Civil War began. He was on board the USS Metacomet during the Battle of Mobile Bay on the 5th of August 1864, and it was his actions when the USS Tecumseh was struck and sank that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Served on board the U.S.S. Metacomet. As a member of the boat's crew which went to the rescue of the U.S. Monitor Tecumseh when the vessel was struck by a torpedo in passing the enemy forts in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864, Q.G. Baker braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral to be "one of the most galling" he has ever seen, and aided in rescuing from death 10 of the crew of the Tecumseh, eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe.

I feel that it is important to remind you that Charles would have been 52-55 years old at the time of his actions. It is not clear when he exited the Navy but the last record of enlistment available shows a three-year enlistment in 1865, giving him about 32 years of service total. His Medal of Honor has the name Henry engraved on it, though the service records found all show the name Charles. Charles was admitted at least five times to the Naval Home in Philadelphia, for about a month each time, but on the 3rd of August 1891, Charles Baker died. He was either 79 or 82 years old and he is buried in the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Naval 2, Row 22, Grave 22.