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

We only enjoyed our camp near the Potomac for a few days, when marching orders were received, to report at Hagerstown, Maryland, about ten miles from Sharpsburg, or about eight from our camp. At Hagerstown the Seminary and the grounds were used for a rebel prison and hospital, where we were to do guard and picket duty. Many of the poor fellows confined there died from wounds and disease. While the duty was not very laborious, it was not very pleasant. This is a fine section of Maryland, scenery fine. A large spring, walled in, in the center of the city, from which we obtained water. Quite a large number were confined here as prisoners of war. Here we also came in contact with an army of pedicules, which kept us very busy fighting them. Our boys claimed they bore on their backs the letters C. S. A., Confederate States America. The Seminary and grounds covered quite a tract of land. Our camp was placed as far as could be and still be on the grounds enclosed.

August 15th. A field hospital and camp was established to the north on the Chambersburg road, about two miles from town. A fine location. Plenty of good, clear, running water. The change was not only good for us but very beneficial to all the prisoners, and they enjoyed it very much. Good air and grounds for them to walk about. A provost guard was on duty in town to preserve the peace and protect the town. We were on the alert all the time. Reports of cavalry raids from Virginia into Maryland caused us to turn out in the night and double the line of pickets on the road to Williamsport, near the ford crossing the Potomac. We have very pleasant recollections of Hagerstown. Nothing very serious happened while we were there. Some of the people were very strongly in sympathy with the South. The 4th Connecticut Regiment was at that town a year before we were. They left a good impression there and were well spoken of by the people. We became well acquainted in Hagerstown and vicinity. We traded with farmers coffee, sugar, and hardtack, for eggs, butter, and vegetables. We lived well at that place. All things come to an end. Marching orders received. The prisoners were ordered to be sent to Chambersburg, Penn. At this camp we conquered the army of the pedicules, and became free of the pest.

July 24th. Marching orders. Broke camp. After a short march, go into camp on high ground near the Potomac River. Plenty of water here where we could bathe and wash our clothes, hang them on the bushes and wait for them to dry. We also used the river water to drink and make coffee. The current ran very swift at this point.

(During my army life I drank, made coffee, fished, bathed, washed my clothes, waded through, its blue waters. When clear it was blue as one looked at it. When storms came it was yellow, the color of Virginia and Maryland mud.)

July 20th. We left Upperville, near Snicker’s Gap. very early in the morning, having served in the 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac about five weeks. On the march back we met the 12th Corps, meeting the 5th and 20th Connecticut Regiments of that corps. Met Charlie Corey, a boyhood friend from my old home in Hanover, New London County. It was a short meeting but we talked fast. Charlie had been in service a little over two years in the 5th Regiment, while I had been in eleven months. His mother often read his letters to me before I came to be a soldier. A pleasant meeting for a few moments. On our backward march we kept pushing along, stopping to rest at one point. Blackberries grew wild, we picked our coffee cups full and ate them while we marched along. Nothing of special interest took place, but by the time we reached Harper’s Ferry, twenty miles march, we were tired and foot-sore. After a short rest and rations we were obliged to push on toward Sharpsburg, twenty miles further on. Darkness coming on we did not have the hot sun beating down upon us. The marching was over rough, stony roads, up hill and down. Reaching Sharpsburg along in the night, we learned the boys were in camp about two miles out of town, so we pushed on, reaching the camp at midnight, a march of about forty miles. The boys were sleeping, except the guard and the pickets. They did not know that we had arrived. We were glad to drop down on the ground and get sleep and rest after the severe march from Upperville, Virginia, to the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. The command now numbered about two hundred. Consolidated into two companies. Our meeting was a very happy one. We talked over the events that had taken place during the past few weeks that we had been separated, and wondered how our boys in prison were getting along.

July 19th. The enemy are marching up the Shenandoah Valley. They seem to have the lead. Came to a halt at Snicker’s Gap, twenty miles south of Harper’s Ferry, after making a forced march. Here Major Peale received orders for us to report at Sharpsburg, Maryland, where another detachment of our regiment was on duty.

July 14th. General Lee and the rebel army have crossed the Potomac River into Virginia. I saw a number of prisoners who were taken at the river. They informed us that we were too late, Lee was pushing up the valley. We are again on the march, going south, up and over the South Mountain. A hot, hard, dusty march as we go pushing along. A soldier’s life in the field is a severe one. Came to a halt in the valley, near Sandy Hook. The 2nd Corps passed. Met some of the 14th Connecticut as the corps came to a halt. I had friends in that regiment who I was anxious to see. One who I expected to meet was Walter Standish. I asked for him, was informed that he was killed at Gettysburg. Again on the march. Passed through the town of Sandy Hook, on over the Potomac into Harper’s Ferry, crossing the Shenandoah River, up Loudon Heights, into the Loudon Valley, Virginia. Pushing right up the valley to guard the gaps in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

July 10th. Continual skirmishing going on with the rebs between Sharpsburg and Hagerstown, Maryland. Reported that General Lee is trying to cross the Potomac River into Virginia. We are either skirmishing or changing our position most of the time so that we are kept on the go about all the time and most of the movements are at double quick time. The most important subject under discussion is, “Why doesn’t Meade attack Lee?” as we have a number of regiments here who were not at Gettysburg, having come as reinforcements.

July 7th. Near where General Reno fell, during the battle of Antietam. Passed down the west side of the mountain into the Antietam country, becoming a part of the 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, General French commanding, taking part in the battle of Boonsborough, and supporting the cavalry at the battle of Falling Waters. Both armies are back in Maryland from the battle of Gettysburg.

July 5th. Left camp very early this morning. A heavy downpour of rain. Passed through Georgetown, on through Washington. The mud in Pennsylvania Avenue was ankle deep. Marching very hard and disagreeable, so much so that we were obliged to take off our leggins and throw them away. Our first time in Washington. Boarded a train at the B. & O. R. R. station, going north. Nothing important taken place. At the Relay House, near Baltimore, train switched to the west bound track. After a long tedious ride we reached the Monocacy Junction, thence to Frederick City, where we left the train and began a march out on the South Mountain Road, passing New York’s crack regiment, the 7th, on picket duty. Stopped at the top of South Mountain.

June 24th. Orders received from General Hooker to evacuate the Maryland Heights. All supplies and munitions that could be moved loaded on canal boats and taken to Washington by way of the Ohio & Chesapeake Canal. Great quantity of stores was left, salt beef, pork, beans, rice, coffee, and sugar. Some of it was gathered up by people from Harper’s Ferry. A guard was sent with the boats but most of the troops were ordered to join the Army of the Potomac on its march up through Maryland to meet the Confederates who seem to be pushing on up into Pennsylvania. Our detachment was sent on guard with the canal boats. We left on the last two boats. There were about thirty in all. The rebels, under the cavalry leader J. E. B. Stuart, captured the first fifteen boats. After helping themselves to the supplies the boats were burned up. We passed the boats that had been destroyed. It took us two days and one night to complete the trip, a distance of sixty miles. Left the boats at Georgetown, then marched through the town to Tenallytown, going into camp. At the time our brigade consisted of the 12th West Virginia, the 5th Maryland, and our detachment. These regiments having been with us at Winchester and had lost many members.