b. 1809 Georgetown, Washington DC. d. 03/08/1891 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/08/1864 USS Metacomet in Mobile Bay.
Charles H Baker Medal of Honor
Born in 1809 in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., Baker was living in New York City when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a quarter gunner on the USS Metacomet. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he was among the crew of a small boat sent from Metacomet to rescue survivors of the USS Tecumseh, which had been sunk by a naval mine (then known as “torpedoes”). Despite intense fire, the boat crew was able to pull ten Tecumseh men from the water. For this action, Baker was awarded the Medal of Honor a year and a half later, on January 15, 1866. Baker’s first name is given in some records as “Henry”, and his medal is inscribed with that name. Five other members of the boat crew also received the Medal of Honor: Seaman James Avery, Ordinary Seaman John C. Donnelly, Captain of the Forecastle John Harris, Seaman Henry Johnson, and Landsman Daniel Noble.
MOH CITATION:
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 that 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 [ David Farragut ] to be “one of the most galling” he had ever seen, and aided in rescuing from death 10 of the crew of the Tecumseh, eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe.
BURIAL LOCATION: MOUNT MORIAH CEMETERY, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
SECTION 2, ROW 22, GRAVE 22
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
