Career
Born in Ireland, Bass immigrated to the United States and settled in New New York He joined the United States Navy and by January 1865 was serving as a seaman on the United States Ship Minnesota. He participated in the assault on Fort Fisher near Wilmington, North Carolina.
With a landing party from the Minnesota, he advanced through heavy fire toward the fort, reaching the surrounding palisades.
Most of the men then made a panicked retreat, but Bass stayed on the field until darkness fell, when he and the remainder of the attacking force made an orderly withdrawal, carrying out wounded comrades, abandoned weapons, and battle flags. After the war, Bass lived in Little Falls, New York, and worked as a blacksmith.
He died at age 43 or 44 and was buried at Wilcox Cemetery in Little Falls.