He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 for action at Luray, Virginia, on September 24, 1864, becoming the first British citizen recipient of the award.

[1] While visiting his brother in the United States, Baybutt joined the US Army from Fall River, Massachusetts, in February 1864, and mustered out with his regiment in July 1865.

[2] Born in Manchester in 1844, he journeyed to Fall River, Massachusetts, America, to visit his brother, but he joined the Union Army when war broke out.

The nonconformist working class community in his native city were strongly opposed to slavery, and this opposition continued despite the hardships resulting from the Union blockade and the consequent 'cotton famine'.

He was awarded the American equivalent of the Victoria Cross after snatching the enemy flag while fighting for Company A (The California 100) of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry.