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

May 20th. Nothing important has transpired since the last date. Weather warm and fine. Getting rested. A soldier must obey orders, not ask questions, keep his eyes open, be on the alert ready for the call to duty. Our company, C, loss at New Market, twelve wounded, five prisoners. General Sigel relieved of the command. A good officer. Kind to the men under his command. From a soldier’s view we need more men in this, the Shenandoah, valley. Major-General David Hunter now in command. Dark complexion, black moustache, stern looking. We don’t like his looks. We are doing picket duty and drilling as the days come and go. Writing many letters. We manage to keep our writing paper dry.

May 17th. Near Cedar Creek. Took account of stock this morning. A requisition goes to the quartermaster for a supply of clothes, rubber blankets, shelter tents. Much of our luggage gets lost on the march and in battle. Captain Wm. L. Spaulding, Co. B, killed at Newmarket. Body brought along by members of his company. Buried today near Cedar Creek, with military honors, the regiment taking part. It is intended to send the body home later. I expect to sleep tonight in an army wagon, near camp.

May 16th. Last night we fell back to Mount Jackson, when orders were given to fall back, or to continue the march. I am about worn out for the want of sleep and rest. This is war and the life of a soldier. With all our troubles it continues to rain very hard and the mud is deep. Hard work to keep on the march. We surely are suffering for our country. Reverses will come, we cannot help it. We try to do our duty. I am so tired and worn out that I fell asleep on the march last night. This may seem almost incredible. These are true facts that I am writing.

After a continuous march we reached the town of Strasburg late this afternoon. Passed through the town, wading Cedar Creek, going into camp on the north side, close to the creek. As soon as we halted, dropped down on the ground and fell asleep, so tired and worn out. Thankful for the privilege. The ground for a bed and the sky for a covering. We are now thirty miles from yesterday’s scenes. Our scouts brought in a bushwhacker, a tough looking specimen of humanity. Not much mercy is shown to them.

May 15th. Rain. Rain. On picket, wondering why we do not get relieved. It is past time for the relief to show up. Lieutenant Kerr sends a detail to camp to learn the cause. Returned in a short time, reported the regiment had left for parts unknown. The Lieutenant called in the pickets to the reserve headquarters in the woods. Formed company and were ready for action as we marched out of the woods to the pike, expecting to meet the enemy’s scouts. Instead we met our own cavalry scouts who reported our regiment left in the night, going up the valley towards New Market. We started on after them, making a forced march, wet, tired, hungry, well used up. Some misunderstanding of orders was the cause of our being left on picket. It was a wonder to us that we did not meet the rebel cavalry and have a hot time, as they had been in this vicinity, scouting all around us. We were determined to put up a hot fight, had we met the enemy. Lieutenant Kerr kept urging us on, making a forced march up the pike. Duty having been so severe, and the lack of rations for the past few days, we were near used up. The last two miles of the march we ran, and joined the regiment as they were going into action, having made a march of sixteen miles with hardly a rest, and very little to eat.

Colonel Moore, Commander of our brigade, pushed our regiment and an Ohio regiment, with a section of a battery, two field guns, about six miles in advance of the main army, bringing on a general engagement. We could not hold the enemy in check as they advanced with a long line of battle. Our battery fell back. The Ohio regiment followed, when our commander, Lieutenant-colonel Peale, gave the command to our regiment, “By the right of companies, to the rear in column,” so we continued to march until we met the 34th Massachusetts Regiment, coming running up with a battery, taking a good position. The enemy was held in check, but for a short time. Sigel managed to get his main force in line, batteries posted, so the enemy was held in check. Our brigade suffered heavy loss. Some of the field pieces had to be abandoned as the horses had been killed and we were in too much mud to draw them away, or back to the main line. It looked to us like a case of mismanagement.

May 14th. Rain. Broke camp at 4 o’clock this morning. Again on the march, pushing up the valley. Heavy cannonading going on at a distance. By the sound, hot work must be going on at the front. Marching on, passed through the town of Edenburg. Go into camp about a mile from the town. Our regiment detailed for picket duty. Relieved the 12th West Virginia Regiment. I was detailed with two hundred others to go on post. The rest of the regiment formed the reserves. Lieutenant Robert Kerr in command of the outposts. Posted in the woods about one mile from headquarters. Hot, muggy, wet weather. We are very anxious about the morrow, as we listen to the heavy artillery firing. We are about fifty miles from Harper’s Ferry, our base of supplies, with no prospect of re-enforcements, if needed. The enemy have the advantage of railroads direct to Richmond. Report comes that our cavalry are putting up a hard fight at New Market, sixteen miles south of Edenburg, and about fifteen from our picket line.

May 13th. Rain continues. No prospect of a let up. I helped our wagoner, Wm. Wetmore to water the mules. Had to go about a half mile from our camp. My first ride on a mule. Rode one and led others. We are wondering if it will ever stop raining. Wet through. Must attend to our duty and sleep on the wet ground. Mud, mud, Virginia mud. Sticks like glue. Rain, rain.

May 12th. A severe rain storm set in last night. Detailed for picket. Wet through. Between the rain and the mud we are in misery. Duty must be attended to. We are in the field, the enemy’s country. What sleep we can get in the mud and rain doesn’t amount to very much, as we must lie on the ground. We are enduring hardships for our country. Very little growling or complaining from the boys. Some of the boys will call out, good natured, “Boys, it is three years or during,” meaning during the war. Most generally creates a laugh, in spite of our condition. Some changes in our company. Color-sergeant Geo. W. Brady made first sergeant, Corporal Sylvanus Downer made color sergeant.

May 11th. Marching orders. Left camp early this morning. The army on the move. Waded Cedar Creek, on through the town of Strasburg, up Fishers Hill. The boys are all in good spirits as we go marching on. Halt and go into camp near the town of Woodstock, in the valley. Marched about ten miles.

May 10th. Turned out early this morning. Orders to prepare for inspection and drill. Officers seem bound to keep us busy. This afternoon while enjoying a bath and a swim in Cedar Creek, felt something around my leg under water. It did not take me long to pull the thing off, which proved to be a water snake. With a jump I was soon out of the water. My leg bled freely from a small wound. First thought that I had been bitten. No bad results coming from it, decided that the wound was made by a sharp stone. Comrade Charlie Geer of our company was with me.