His uncles included Alexander Dallas Bache, Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, and Admiral David Dixon Porter.

[1] His father was killed in 1846, swept overboard during a gale while in command of the brig Washington, but despite this Bache joined the United States Navy in August 1855, serving as captain's clerk aboard the sloop-of-war Saratoga until May 1857.

He then briefly served aboard the U.S. Coast Survey schooner Nautilus as acting-master's mate under the command of Lieutenant Richard Wainwright, another uncle by marriage, before entering the United States Naval Academy[1] on November 19, 1857, with the rank of acting-midshipman.

[3] Promoted to lieutenant on July 16, 1862,[2] he served briefly in the steam sloop Powhatan before transferring to the squadron on the Mississippi River late in 1862.

[3] Promoted to lieutenant-commander on July 25, 1866,[2] he served in Sacramento until she was destroyed on a reef at the mouth of the Godavari River, Madras, India, on June 19, 1867.