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Nathaniel C. Barker was born on September 28, 1836 in Piermont, NH.
During the civil war, he was one of thousands of New Hampshire residents who chose to serve their country,
so he joined the US Army. By 1864, Nathaniel Barker was a sergeant, serving as a member
of Company E of the 11th New Hampshire Infantry.
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After the Union forces were repulsed during the Battle of the Wilderness
(May 5 - 7, 1864) General Grant ordered the Army of the Potomac to resume its advance, and a few days later,
the Union forces met the Confederate army 10 miles to the southeast in what is now
referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania.
The fierce battle ran from from May 8th to May 19th. On May 12th, the day which saw the bloodiest fighting
of the battle, six color bearers of the 11th New Hampshire Infantry were killed, and Sergeant Nathaniel Barker was awarded the Medal of Honor
for voluntarily taking both flags of the regiment and advancing them throughout the remainder of the battle.
All told, a total of thirty six soldiers earned Medals of Honor in this battle.
Nathaniel C. Barker died on March 07, 1904 at the age of 67. His final resting place is in the Last Rest Cemetery
in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
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