Frank Dwight Baldwin (June 26, 1842 – April 22, 1923), a native of

Constantine, Michigan Constantine is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,076 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Constantine Township. U.S. Highway 131 (Main Street in the village) leads to Kalamazoo to t ...

, and born in

Manchester, Michigan Manchester is a village in Manchester Township within Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,037 at the 2020 census. History Chicago Road In 1824 the United States Congress passed the General Survey Act, intended to ...

, is one of only 19 servicemen to receive the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

twice. Baldwin received his first award for his actions during the Atlanta Campaign where he led his company in battle at Peachtree Creek and captured two commissioned officers in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. He received his second for conspicuous bravery in 1874 during the

Indian Wars The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settle ...

. Baldwin holds the distinction of being a recipient of the Medal of Honor in different conflicts. He also fought in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

during the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

and rose to the rank of major general before retiring.

Life and career

Baldwin served in the Civil War in the 19th Michigan Infantry, initially as a first lieutenant, fighting in all his regiment's battles from 1862 to 1865. In 1864, then-Captain Baldwin participated in General

William Tecumseh Sherman William Tecumseh Sherman ( ; February 8, 1820February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865), achieving recognition for his com ...

's famous March to the Sea, and on July 20 of that year distinguished himself at the

Battle of Peachtree Creek The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought in Georgia on July 20, 1864, as part of the Atlanta Campaign in the American Civil War. It was the first major attack by Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood since taking command of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. ...

, earning his first Medal of Honor. After the war, he became a student at

Hillsdale College Hillsdale College is a Private university, private Conservatism in the United States, conservative Christian liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan. It was founded in 1844 by Abolitionism, abolitionists known as Free Will Baptists. Its missio ...

, but upon the

postbellum may refer to: * Any post-war period or era * Post-war period following the American Civil War (1861–1865); nearly synonymous to Reconstruction era (1863–1877) * Post-war period in Peru following its defeat at the War of the Pacific (1879� ...

reorganization of the

Regular Army A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregulars, irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenary, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the ...

, he joined the 19th United States Regular Infantry as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in 1866. He was eventually assigned to the

5th U.S. Infantry The 5th Infantry Regiment (nicknamed the "Bobcats") is an infantry regiment of the United States Army that traces its origins to 1808. Origins: War of 1812 The 5th Infantry Regiment was created by an Act of Congress of 3 March 1815,

, with whom he fought in the various frontier conflicts with the Indians. He served with distinction under General

Nelson A. Miles Nelson Appleton Miles (August 8, 1839 – May 15, 1925) was an American military general who served in the American Civil War, the American Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War. From 1895 to 1903, Miles served as the last Commanding Gen ...

as chief of scouts during campaigns against

Sitting Bull Sitting Bull ( lkt, Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake ; December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance against United States government policies. He was killed by Indian agency police on the Standing Rock I ...

and

Crazy Horse Crazy Horse ( lkt, Tȟašúŋke Witkó, italic=no, , ; 1840 – September 5, 1877) was a Lakota war leader of the Oglala band in the 19th century. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by wh ...

. On November 8, 1874, while commanding a scout company on escort duty, he led a surprise attack on the camp of

Grey Beard Grey Beard (died 1875) was a Southern Cheyenne medicine man and chief. Among the Native American leaders and civilians rounded up at the end of the Red River War to be transported as a prisoner of war to Fort Marion in Florida, he is one of two w ...

, rescuing two young sisters whose parents and brothers had been killed by another Indian band. He was awarded his second Medal of Honor for this action against a larger force in a strong defensive position. His actions in an attack on an Indian village on the Red River in

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...

on December 18, 1876, earned him a

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, U.S. Regular Army (awarded on February 27, 1890). Baldwin also served in the Philippines during the

. He was promoted to

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

, U.S. Regular Army on June 9, 1902, and he retired in 1906. In 1915, he was advanced to

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

on the Army's retired list. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, Baldwin served as Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard; appointed to the post in 1917, he served until retiring again in 1919. On January 10, 1867, he married Alice Blackwood. They had one daughter, Juanita. General Baldwin was a companion of the Michigan Commandery of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

. He died in

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

on April 22, 1923, and is buried with his wife Alice in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county is ...

Affiliations

General Baldwin belonged to numerous fraternal, military and social organizations which included the following: * Siloam Lodge, No. 35, A. F. & A. M., at Constantine, Michigan (1863) * Veteran Companion,

, Colorado Commandery (1892) *

Order of the Indian Wars of the United States The Order of the Indian Wars of the United States (OIWUS) is a military society founded in 1896 by officers of the United States Army who served in campaigns against Native Americans from the American Revolution to the late 19th century. Histo ...

, National Commandery at Washington, D. C. (1897) * Veteran Companion of the

Military Order of Foreign Wars The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW) is one of the oldest veterans' and hereditary associations in the nation with a membership that includes officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services. Memb ...

, Colorado Commandery (1903) * Honorary member of General Henry W. Lawton Camp No. 1,

United Spanish War Veterans The United Spanish War Veterans was an American veterans' organization which consisted of veterans of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and China Relief Expedition. Origins Soon after the Spanish–American War ended, in earl ...

(1905) * Army & Navy Club of Washington, D.C. (1913) *

National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...

at Washington, D.C. (1916) * Honorary member of the Denver Club (1903) * Commercial Club of Albuquerque, New Mexico (1903) * Yavapai Club of

Prescott, Arizona Prescott ( ) is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 Census, the city's population was 45,827. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864, Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona T ...

(1903)

Legacy

His wife, Alice Blackwood Baldwin, honored the general's war contributions by compiling and editing the memoirs of her late husband in 1929. Along with General Baldwin, three other two-time Medal of Honor recipients are interred in

(Navy Lieutenant Commander John C. McCloy, Marine Major

Louis Cukela Louis Cukela (May 1, 1888 – March 19, 1956) was a Croatian American United States Marine Corps, United States Marine numbered among the nineteen two-time recipients of the Medal of Honor. Cukela was awarded the Medal by both the US Army and the ...

, and Marine Corporal John Henry Pruitt).

Awards

First Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Captain, Company D, 19th Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Peachtree Creek, Georgia, July 20, 1864. Citation: "Led his company in a countercharge at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 20 July 1864, under a galling fire ahead of his own men, and singly entered the enemy's line, capturing and bringing back 2 commissioned officers, fully armed, besides a guidon of a Georgia regiment." Date of issue: December 3, 1891.

Second Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At McClellan's Creek,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, November 8, 1874. Citation: "Rescued, with 2 companies, 2 white girls by a voluntary attack upon Indians whose superior numbers and strong position would have warranted delay for reinforcements, but which delay would have permitted the Indians to escape and kill their captives." Date of issue: November 27, 1894.

Other awards

Civil War Campaign Medal The Civil War Campaign Medal is considered the first campaign service medal of the United States Armed Forces. The decoration was awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who had served in the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865. ...

Indian Campaign Medal The Indian Campaign Medal is a decoration established by War Department General Orders 12, 1907.

Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those men of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish–American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish C ...

Philippine Campaign Medal The Philippine Campaign Medal is a medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military men in the Philippine–American War between the years of 1899 and 1913. Although a single service medal, the Philippin ...

Veteran's Hall of Fame

Inducted into the

Hillsdale County, Michigan Hillsdale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 45,746. The county seat is Hillsdale. Hillsdale County is the only county in Michigan to border both Indiana and Ohio. Due to an a ...

Veteran's Hall of Fame in 2004 for his distinguished service in the American Civil War. Hall of Fame inductee 016, Civil War inductee 004.

Dates of rank

* Second lieutenant, Michigan Horse Guards – 19 September 1861 * Mustered out of service – 22 November 1861 * First lieutenant, 19th Michigan Infantry – 12 August 1862 * Captain, 19th Michigan Infantry – 23 January 1864 * Mustered out – 10 June 1865 * Second lieutenant, 19th Infantry – 23 February 1866 * First lieutenant, 19th Infantry – 10 May 1866 * Captain, 5th Infantry – 27 March 1879 * Brevet major – 27 February 1890 * Major, 5th Infantry – 26 April 1898 * Lieutenant colonel, Inspector General, Volunteers – 20 June 1898 * Discharged from Volunteers – 12 May 1899 * Lieutenant colonel, 4th Infantry – 18 December 1899 * Colonel, 27th Infantry – 26 July 1901 * Brigadier general, United States Army – 2 June 1902 * Retired – 26 June 1906 * Major general, United States Army, Retired – 4 March 1915 Official Register of Commissioned Officers of the United States Army. 1923. p. 1042.

References

*
Biography from Denver County Archives
* Steinbach, Robert H. ''A Long March: The Lives of Frank and Alice Baldwin''. University of Texas Press, 1989. * ''Who Was Who in American History, the Military''. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Baldwin, Frank 1842 births 1923 deaths People from Manchester, Michigan Union Army officers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Burials at Arlington National Cemetery American military personnel of the Philippine–American War American military personnel of the Spanish–American War United States Army generals People of Michigan in the American Civil War People of the Great Sioux War of 1876 Hamilton College (New York) alumni Military personnel from Michigan People from Constantine, Michigan American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Double Recipients of the Medal of Honor