Frank Dwight Baldwin

U.S. Army
Medal Of Honor, Civil War
Second Medal of Honor, Indian Wars

 Photo Courtesy of HomeOfHeroes.com

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In the winter of 1874 First Lieutenant Frank Baldwin was commanding a force of friendly Delaware Indians, 25 frontiersmen, Troop D of the Sixth US Cavalry and Company D of the Fifth US Infantry. Earlier that year a band of Cheyenne Indians had attacked the home of the Germaine family, killing husband, wife and son and capturing the 5 Germaine daughters. Then they killed the eldest daughter in the presence of her sisters. In a march near McClellans Creek, Texas Lieutenant Baldwin's command located the camp of this hostile force, which greatly outnumbered his own small detachment. Knowing if he delayed his attack long enough for reinforcements to arrive, a delay during which the Indians might escape and during which they would surely kill the captured young girls who had already endured unspeakable horrors, he ordered an immediate attack. Ordering Company D to fire a volley into the camp to surprise the Indians and cause them to pull back into the mountains, he then led his cavalry in a pursuit of 12 miles. His quick action and skillful leadership resulted in a complete victory and the rescue of the two youngest Germaine girls. The other two Germaine girls were later freed and reunited with their sisters.

This was the second of TWO Medal of Honor actions by Frank Baldwin, making him one of 19 double recipients of the award. His first Medal of Honor was earned during the Civil War. During World War I General Baldwin served in Command of the Colorado National Guard as the Colorado Adjutant General.

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