ivil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the Union Navy during the Civil War as a Seaman on board the warship "USS Minnsota". He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery during the combined Army-Navy operations against Fort Fisher, North Carolina on January 15, 1865. His citation reads "Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, S/man Bass advanced to the top of the sand hill and partly through the breach in the palisades despite enemy fire which killed and wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark, when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms, and its colors." His Medal was awarded to him on June 22, 1865