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Photo # NH 105357:  Medal of Honor awarded to Quarter Gunner Henry (Charles) Baker, USN

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-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Quarter Gunner Henry Baker, USN, (1809-1891).
Also known as Charles Baker.

Henry (Charles) Baker was born in 1809 in Georgetown, District of Columbia. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from New York, New York and served on board USS Metacomet during the Civil War. On 5 August 1864, when USS Tecumseh was sunk by a mine (then called a "torpedo") during the Battle of Mobile Bay, Baker was a member of a Metacomet boat crew sent to assist survivors. He braved the enemy fire and aided in the rescue of ten of Tecumseh's men. In recognition of his "personal valor"on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Henry (Charles) Baker died on 3 August 1891 and is buried at Mount Moriah Cemetary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Note: Though Baker's first name is cited as Henry on the medal and its associated citation, it is given as Charles on his tombstone.

This page features the only image we have concerning Henry (Charles) Baker.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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Photo #: NH 105357

U.S. Navy Medal of Honor


Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Quarter Gunner Henry (Charles) Baker for his "personal valor" during the Battle of Mobile Bay, when he bravely aided in rescuing 10 crewmembers of USS Tecumseh after she was sunk by a Confederate torpedo, 5 August 1864.
Baker was then serving in USS Metacomet.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 112KB; 530 x 765 pixels

 



U.S. Navy Medal of Honor citation of Quarter Gunner Henry Baker, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 14):

"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, BAKER braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral 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."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 14 December 2007