He was 28 years old when he enlisted (4, 16 [29], 18 [26 in 1860], 19 [36 in 1870], 20 [45 in 1880], 25 [53 at death in 1886]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (4, 25), perhaps to Chalkly and Elizabeth Baker (18).
In 1860, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (18). He was a railroad conductor, and had $100 in personal property (18). He was living with Chalkle Baker (67, a confectioner) and Elizabeth Baker (62), who were probably his parents (18). Sarah Baker (probably his wife, 26, born in Pennsylvania) was also living there, as were Ida (5) and Edgar (2) Baker, who are probably his children (18). The Thomas C Baker who was living there is probably his brother (18).
His occupation was mostly illegible in the microfilm I have of the descriptive roll; the first word seems to be 'book' (4; 16 does not list an occupation). Given his later occupations, it was probably 'bookbinder'. He was living in Philadelphia when he was enrolled (16).
He was 5 feet 9-1/2 inches high, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair (4).
He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private in company E on 20 August 1861 (1, 4, 16). He was enlisted by Captain Lentz, for three years, and was mustered into service by Colonel Reiff (4).
He was appointed first sergeant on 10 September 1861.
On 16 December 1862, he was acting second lieutenant. As the 5th Corps was covering the Army's retreat from Fredericksburg, he took about twelve men to the top of a hill. Shortly after he returned, Captain Lentz took the rest of the company to relieve part of the 126th Pennsylvania Infantry on their picket line. At Colonel Gregory's order, Baker followed with his detachment. Lentz did not know he was on the picket line. When Baker overheard Lt Bonsall of the 126th Pennsylvania ordered Berdan's Sharpshooters to follow the 126th Pennsylvania, serving as skirmishers and collecting all stragglers, Baker commented that they would be left alone. After Bonsall ordered him to retreat also, Baker did. Unfortunately, Bonsall thought Baker was commanding the company, and went back to the 126th's headquarters believing he had ordered the commander to retreat. Captain Lentz never received the order, and was almost captured.
Baker was court-martialed for leaving with permission from his commanding officer. He was tried twice, since the first trial was illegal because too few men were serving on the court. He was found guilty both times. The first court sentenced him "to be publicly reprimanded by his commanding officer and a forfeiture of one months pay". The second court sentenced him "to be reduceded [sic] to the ranks and to carry a ball + chain four hours per day Sundays excepted for the period of one month". The 126th Pennsylvania's Regimental History calls this an extraordinarily severe sentence. However, the Division Commander, Brigadier General Humphreys, overturned the sentence, because Baker had authority to leave, since Lt Bonsall had conveyed an order of Lieutenant Colonel Rowe's.
He was promoted from first sergeant to first lieutenant on 1 January 1863, replacing Matthew Hall, who had been promoted (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 16).
He was present, but sick, on 9 June 1863 (12).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, as first lieutenant (6).
On 27 October 1863, he returned to duty from the RS [recruiting service?] (14).
He was acting adjutant from 15 December 1863 through 25 December 1863, when Howard Shipley became acting adjutant (7, 13, 8, 15). (Shipley was on leave during that time.)
An order appointing him to command company B, replacing John Brass, who was acting adjutant, was canceled (9). A board of survey was appointed on 6 March 1864 to investigate a deficiency in items for which he and John Brass were responsible (10).
He was discharged on 9 March 1864 (1, 3, 16). (According to OAR, he resigned on 5 March 1864) (2). Also, Theodore A Hope's entry in the company E descriptive roll reports him promoted vice Baker resigned. And the regimental descriptive book claims he was discharged by order of the War Department.)
In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (19). He was a bookbinder, and had $300 in personal property (19). Six people were living with him (19):
At a meeting of the 91st's survivors after Edgar Gregory's death, he was appointed to a committee to draft resolutions about Gregory's death (23). In November 1871, he was at a meeting setting up the 91st's Survivor's Association, and successfully offered a motion recognizing Captain Ryan and the State Fencibles for their presence at Edgar Gregory's funeral (22).
In 1880, he was living at 723 Watkins Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (20). He was a letter carrier (20). Three people were living with him (20):
He died on 25 April 1886, in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania, of cons[umptio]n [?] of lungs (25). He was either living at or died at (or both) 1612 Pallace Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (25). He was buried on 27 April 1886, at Philanthropic Cemetery (25).
On 11 July 1890, his widow, Sarah A Baker, applied unsuccessfully for a pension from Pennsylvania (17, 26). She was living at 1531 Chadwick, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
3 list of commissioned officers, company E
4 descriptive roll, company E, entry 1 (David B Baker)
5 list of non-commissioned officers, company E
6 Pennsylvania Memorial, 91st Pennsylvania plaque, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (David B Baker)
7 special order 115, HQ 91st PA, 15 December 1863
8 special order 122, HQ 91st PA, 25 December 1863
9 special order 12, HQ 91st PA, 25 February 1864
10 special order 16, HQ 91st PA, 6 March 1864
11 regimental descriptive book
12 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 9 June 1863 (Lt Baker)
13 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 16 December 1863; see also subsequent consolidated morning reports (DB Baker)
14 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 27 October 1863 (Lt Baker)
15 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 25 December 1863 (acting adjutant: Howard Shipley)
16 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 15 May 2004 (David B Baker)
17 pension index, by name (David B Baker)
18 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, stamped page 698 [handwritten page 264], line 30 to stamped page 699 (handwritten page 265) line 9 (David Baker)
19 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, census district 84, page 20 handwritten [page 161 handwritten on side] (David B Baker)
20 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 15, page 7 (stamped 206C) (David B [?] Baker)
21 1890 Gopsill's Philadelphia directory
22 'The Reserves', Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 November 1871, page 2 (D B Baker)
23 'General Gregory'. Philadelphia Inquirer 11 November 1871 page 2. (Lieutenant Baker)
24 court-martial record, trial of James B Bonsall, 3 January 1863, and trial of D B Baker, 3 January 1863, National Archives, Record Group 153 (Judge Advocate General, Army), file KK691; and court-martial record, trial of James B Bonsall, 12 January 1863, and trial of D B Baker, 12 January 1863, National Archives, Record Group 153 (Judge Advocate General, Army), file KK664 (D B Baker )
25death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 April 1886 (David B Baker)
26 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company E (David B Baker)
[I did not find David or Sarah Baker in the Ancestry index to the 1890 veterans' census (searched March 2005)]
[I did not find David Baker in the RootsWeb WorldConnect database (searched June 2007}]
[I did not find Sarah Baker in the Heritage Quest indices for the 1900-1920 censuses (searched June 2007)]
| Line | 38 | 39 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Dwelling number | 1745 | ||||||
| Family number | 1827 | ||||||
| Name | Chalkle Baker | Elizth " | David " | Sarah Baker | Thom C " | Ida " | Edgar " |
| Age | 67 | 62 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 5 | 2 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | F | M |
| Color | |||||||
| Occupation | Confectioner | R R Conductor | Book Binder | ||||
| Value of real estate owned | |||||||
| Value of personal estate | 500 | 100 | |||||
| Place of birth | NJ | " | Pa | Pa | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||
| Cannot read & write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| Line | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Dwelling-house number | 137 | ||||||
| Family number | 161 | ||||||
| Name | Baker David B | _ Sarah | _ Ida | _ Edgar F | Joseph T. | _ Jennie M | Elizabeth |
| Age | 36 | 36 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 73 |
| Sex | M | F | F | M | M | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Bookbinder | Keep house | At school | At school | At home | At home | At home |
| Real estate value | |||||||
| Personal estate value | $300 | ||||||
| Birthplace | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn | Penn |
| Father foreign born | |||||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||||
| Birth month if born within year | |||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Can't read | |||||||
| Can't write | |||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | ||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| street name | Watkins Street | |||
| house number | 723 | |||
| dwelling visit # | 66 | |||
| family visit # | 68 | |||
| name | Baker David B [?] | _ Sarah A. | _ Joseph T. | _ Jennie M. |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F |
| age | 45 | 43 | 16 | 14 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Daught | |
| single | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||
| widowed/divorced | ||||
| married during year | ||||
| occupation | letter carrier | Keeping house | works in shoe factory | at school |
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | 1 | |||
| can't read | ||||
| can't write | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | New Jersey | New Jersey | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | New Jersey | New Jersey | Penna | Penna |