He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1838/39. [source: 5]
He was mustered into service in company G of the 90th Pennsylvania, commanded by Captain A J Sellers, on 17 September 1861. By mistake, he was added to the list for company G of the 91st Pennsylvania, commanded by Captain E G Sellers. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6]
He was transferred to company G of the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry. [sources: 1, 2]
He apparently never arrived, since he is recorded as having deserted from the 90th Pennsylvania on 18 September 1861 at Front Royal, Virginia. [sources: 4, 5]
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) (Charles R Baird)
2 company G, register of men transferred (R Charles Baird)
3 company G, descriptive roll, entry 25 (Charles R Baird)
4 Bates, volume III, page 174 (G 90 PA, Baird Charles R, Private, [mustered in] 17 Sep 1861, "Deserted September 18, 1861")
5 [Pennsylvania] Civil War veterans' card file, available on Pennsylvania Archives, ARIAS (accessed 27 July 2012) (Charles R Baird)
6 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Charles R Baird)