Coal Heaver Charles H. Baldwin, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 25, 1864 at Roanoke River, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Wyalusing. Baldwin was 24 years old.
4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Acting Master's Mate.
Baldwin was born on June 30, 1839 in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Baldwin died on November 22, 1911, at the age of 72. He is buried at Christ Church Cemetery in Accokeek, Maryland.
Baldwin is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participating in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the hazardous mission, C.H. Baldwin participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp. Weighted by a line which was used to transfer the torpedoes, he swam the river and, when challenged by a sentry, was forced to abandon the plan after erasing its detection and before it could be carried to completion. Escaping the fire of the muskets, C.H. Baldwin spent two days and nights of hazardous travel without food, and finally arrived, fatigued, at the mother ship.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Smyrna — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- June 30, 1839Born in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
- May 25, 1864Act of valor — Roanoke River, North CarolinaAge 24. U.S.S. Wyalusing
- November 22, 1911DiedAge 72.
- Resting placeChrist Church CemeteryAccokeek, Maryland
Biography
Charles H. Baldwin (June 30, 1839 – January 22, 1911) was an enlisted man in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He served aboard the USS Wyalusing and received the Medal of Honor for his participation in a plan to destroy the rebel ram CSS Albemarle in Roanoke River, May 25, 1864. Fellow crewmen Alexander Crawford, John Lafferty, Benjamin Lloyd, and John W. Lloyd were also awarded the Medal of Honor for participating in the same plan. He is buried at Christ Episcopal Church in Accokeek, MD.
From the Wikipedia article “Charles H. Baldwin (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
