Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - An haifi Baldwin a Dutchess County, New York, kuma ya girma a gonar iyali a can. Ya halarci makarantar sakandare a Red Creek, New York, kuma daga baya ya koyar da makaranta a duka Rhode Island da Connecticut. A ranar 13 ga Afrilu, 1861, ya shiga rundunar Union tare da 'yan uwansa hudu, wanda za a kashe daya daga cikin su a yakin Resaca
Ka yi haƙuri. Da farko an zabe shi a matsayin kyaftin na Kamfanin C, 36th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. An aika da rundunar zuwa Missouri, kuma a watan Fabrairun 1862 an sanya shi quartermaster. A watan Agusta na wannan shekarar an daukaka shi zuwa Laftanar Kanal, a kan 8th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry.