Civil War Diary of Charles H. Lynch, 18th Conn. Vol’s.

August 2d. A fine morning. All is quiet in camp. Found a place where I could wash my clothes and dry them. Drew rations. Am feeling fine. A hot sun and dusty roads to march over, a fellow cannot keep very clean. Having a good rest in the good cool woods. We cannot help to wonder why we are in this section of the woods, unless the enemy are somewhere about here. Private soldiers are not supposed to know anything, but to obey orders.

August 1st. Cloudy, muggy morning. After a good night’s rest, am feeling fine. Early on the march. After a march, about four miles, came to a halt on a road leading through woodland of very large trees. Later we camp in the woods, near the town of Wolfsville, Maryland. A report has reached us that the rebs have burned the town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Reported the enemy may come through this section and we may get a crack at them. Infantry cannot pursue cavalry. Mounted men have a great advantage over us fellows on foot. Weather very fine, water very poor, and not very much of it. We appreciate good water, where we can have plenty of it

July 31st. Sunday morning, but hot and dusty. Early on the march. About 9 A. M. we marched through Middletown, a fine place. There are many people in this town, dressed in their good clothes, watching us as we pass on, a dusty crowd. They all have a sad look in their faces. Keep very quiet, not a smile nor a cheer. We cannot tell whether they are in sympathy with us or are against us. We are reminded of our old homes in good old Connecticut. We soon passed through the town, out on the dusty hot roads. Between the hot sun and the dust many of the boys are giving out, dropping by the roadside. Some are picked up by the Ambulance Corps. Those who need a little rest, push on. This is a fine section of Maryland.

Night coming on we go into woodland to camp. Don’t know the location, but believe we must be near the Pennsylvania state line. It is estimated we have marched about fifteen miles.

July 30th. This morning opens up very hot. Having a rest. Trying to break in my new shoes. A bad job for the feet, which are very sore. Early this afternoon, marching orders received. Confederate cavalry reported to be raiding into Pennsylvania and upper Maryland. Ordered to make a forced march. Fearful hot as we break camp and begin the march. Pushing on over Bolivar Heights down through Harper’s Ferry, over the railroad bridge into Maryland. Many of the boys are dropping out on account of the severe heat, the sun beating down on us, and no air. New shoes, woolen stockings, sore feet, make me about sick, while pushing along. I was obliged to drop out by the roadside. A member of our company, George W. Cross, said he would drop out and stick to me. After the sun went down we pushed along. Came to a brook of good cold water. Gave my feet a good bath, after which I was able to push on. Found the regiment in camp for the night, after making a forced march of sixteen miles. Glad to get my shoes and stockings off for the night and get a little rest.

July 28th. Pleasant Valley. All one can see from this point is mountains, trees, grass, the Potomac River, great flocks of turkey buzzards sailing through the air. About noontime orders came to fall in for a march. Our march led back over the river road, through Sandy Hook, on over the railroad bridge, through Harper’s Ferry, up over Bolivar Heights by Camp Hill, out on the Charlestown Pike, going into camp near Halltown. A march of ten miles. Here we find a wagon train loaded with supplies. Orders to draw five days’ rations. This will pass for another hot, dry, and dusty day, and I marching barefooted over the rough, stony roads, up and down hill. Orders to put up our shelter tents. A large mail received. The 6th Corps showing up again. Trouble must be brewing. They are camping near our Corps, the 8th. Drew a pair of shoes and two pairs of woolen stockings. My feet are in bad condition to break in new shoes, or army brogans. Hope to get along all right now. Wrote a few letters. Our camp is on high ground, and all is quiet while we try to sleep and rest.

July 27th. Up early this hot morning. On the march along the river road, going south. Nothing important has taken place since we waded the river at Williamsport. After a march of about six miles we came to the Maryland Heights. Passing on down, the road runs along beside the Ohio and Chesapeake Canal. Opposite is Harper’s Ferry. Here we stop for rest and rations, making coffee from the water in the canal. After a short rest we continue our march on down the road beside the river and canal, on through Sandy Hook into Pleasant Valley, Maryland, where we go into camp on high ground, overlooking the river and the canal.

Owing to the severe service many of the boys are giving out and are sent to a hospital. I would be all right, only for my feet. This is suffering for one’s country. We are in it to the finish, in spite of what we must endure. I doubt at this time, if any man would take a discharge. I have not seen or heard of any who would. We are all very anxious for the finish, when peace will reign over our fair land. We remain here for the night, but don’t know how much longer.

July 26th. Called up early this morning. Wade the Potomac River over into Maryland. Marching on down the river road, across the Burnside Bridge, over Antietam Creek and the battlefield, passing the Dunker Church, located in the woods on the right. The rail fences were riddled with bullet holes, showing how fierce the battle must have been. Marched on through Sharpsburg, going into camp near the town, which shows the effects of the battle. The battle is known in the South as Sharpsburg. A fearful hot day, and a hard march. Our record for today is a march of about fifteen miles. Many of us fellows are marching shoeless.

July 25th. Bunker Hill. A very severe rain storm set in last night. We are wet through. Orders to march on to Martinsburg. My feet keep me reminded of the rough roads, stubs and briers in the lots. We reach Martinsburg after a march of ten miles. After holding the enemy in check for a while we are again on the march. I picked up a pair of old boots, no doubt discarded by some cavalryman. They were much too large for me, and not having stockings I could not wear them as they galled my feet, making them worse. Was obliged to throw them away.

After a very tedious march we reached Williamsport on the Potomac River, twenty miles from Bunker Hill. Will remain here for the night. Foot-sore, weary, glad to lie down for the night on the wet ground for rest and sleep. Often wonder how the men can keep so patient. Sometimes we are made to feel that much of our trouble is brought on to us by jealousy and mismanagement on the part of our officers high up in rank. Our boys are always ready for any kind of duty. We have made marches over this Williamsport Pike before. Like all the pikes it is hard marching over the rough stones, up and down hill. That’s our experience.

July 24th. Sunday morning, Kearnstown, hot. Ordered out into line early for inspection. Instead orders came to advance. Hot skirmishing began right off. Our regiment placed at the right of the line, west side of the pike. Colonel Mulligan with his division form the left of the line. Our position is on high ground where we can overlook the field. Orders came to charge into the woods. There we found the enemy en masse. They poured their fire on Mulligan’s division. Mulligan was killed, his division losing very heavy. They were ordered to fall back. Orders came for our regiment to fall back to Winchester. We marched back and later the enemy came out of the wood, when we saw plainly the large force they had. Owing to my naked feet I could hardly keep up, but kept pushing. There are many hills around Winchester. Before we could reach the earthworks the enemy had field guns posted on hills commanding our position. As I could not keep up with the boys I came near being captured. I made a running jump over into the rifle pits near the old Star Fort. As I landed in the pits a solid shot also struck there. As I looked at it was thankful it was not a shell. Running around in the pits I was able to get out on the opposite side from the enemy and take my place in our company, line being just in the rear of the fort, where we formed. Shells began to drop all around us. Finally one came in our midst, doing much damage, some being killed and wounded. It caused great excitement as the dust and dirt flew over us. A peculiar numbness came to me, making me think I was wounded. Picking up my gun that had fallen to the ground, I discovered that it had been hit by a piece of the exploded shell, the barrel being flat and bent. I threw it down and picked up another on the field. That was no doubt the cause of my numbness. Orders came for a change in our position and to fall back to Bunker Hill. Up to this time we had been fighting and falling back for about sixteen miles. Had the 6th Corps remained in the valley it would have given us more show against Early’s large force, as they are in plain sight and we can see them from the hills. We will hold Bunker Hill and remain here for the night. I am in agony with my feet. We are in a ragged, dirty condition. The life of a soldier is a hard one. Our suffering at times is intense. It’s all for our country that we all love.