U.S. NAVY
HIGHEST RANK: ACTING MASTER’S MATE
UNIT: U.S.S. WYALUSING
DATE OF BIRTH: 30 JUN 1839
PLACE OF BIRTH: SMYRNA, KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE
DATE OF DEATH: 22 NOV 1911
PLACE OF DEATH: Accokeek, Prince George’s County, Maryland
BURIAL: Christ Church Cemetery, Accokeek, Maryland
NOTEWWORTHY FACTS: Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service during the U.S. Civil War at Roanoke River North Carolina on 25 MAY 1864.
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.