Diary of Charles H. Lynch: Monday, August 25, 1862

After a short drill by officers of the 48th Regiment, I was detailed for guard duty. A large number of Confederate prisoners were confined in one of the old buildings near which I was posted. That kind of duty I did not like. It had to be done.

The fort was located on a point of land extending out into the Patapsco Bay. A high stone wall from water to water enclosed it. Company drill during the forenoon, battalion drill and dress parade in the afternoon, and all other duties incident to camp life had to be done as each day came along. By our stopping at the fort we escaped the battle of Antietam, at which time we had to do extra duty and be ready to march at any time, if wanted.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 9.  Editor’s Note: The second paragraph was clearly added on later, possibly when the diary was published.

Diary of Charles H. Lynch: Sunday, August 24, 1862

It was after eight o'clock last night before the train got under way. At midnight we passed through Harrisburg, Penn. The night very dark. Did not get much sleep. A slow, tiresome journey. Passed through York, on over the state line into Maryland. Soldiers are on guard along the railroad. The train moved along very slowly, making many stops. About noon-time arrived in Baltimore. The regiment soon formed in line and marched through the city, stopping at the Soldier's Rest on Camden Street, where dinner was served, bread, salt-beef, and coffee. Then waited for transportation to Washington. Late in the day orders were received to report at Fort McHenry for duty, and relieve the 48th New York Regiment. A march of four miles. That put our regiment in the 8th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, General John E. Wool, Commander, Brigadier N. W. Morris, commanding the fort.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 8

48th New York Infantry

Also Known As: "CONTINENTAL GUARD" and "PERRY'S SAINTS"

Organized at Brooklyn, N.Y., September 10, 1861. Left State for Annapolis, Md., September 17, 1861. Attached to Viele's 1st Brigade, Sherman's South Carolina Expeditionary Corps, to April, 1862. Fort Pulaski, Ga., 10th Army Corps, Dept. of the South, to May, 1863. St. Helena Island, S. C., 10th Army Corps, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Folly Island, S. C., to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Morris Island, S.C., to August, 1863. St. Augustine, Fla., to October, 1863. District of Hilton Head, S.C., to January, 1864. Barton's Brigade, District of Hilton Head, S.C., to February, 1864. Barton's Brigade, District of Florida, February, 1864. Barton's Brigade, Ames' Division, District of Florida, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 10th Army Corps, Army of the James, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to May, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 10th Army Corps, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 24th Army Corps, to January, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Terry's Provisional Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 10th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to July, 1865. Dept. of North Carolina to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Expedition to Port Royal, S.C., October 21-November 7, 1861. Capture of Forts Walker and Beauregard, Port Royal Harbor, S.C., November 7. Hilton Head, S.C., November 7-8. Port Royal Ferry, Coosaw River, S. C, January 1, 1862. Siege operations against Fort Pulaski, Ga., January 28-April 11. Bombardment and capture of Fort Pulaski April 10-11. Garrison duty at Fort Pulaski till May, 1863. Tybee Island August 5, 1862. Skull Creek September 24. Reconnoissance on May and Savannah Rivers September 30-October 13. Kirk's Bluff, Coosawhatchie River, October 18. Expedition from Hilton Head to Pocotaligo October 21-23. Pocotaligo, Coosawhatchie, October 22. Expedition on U.S. Steamers Potomski and Darlington up Sapelo River, and destruction of salt works November 7. Moved to Hilton Head, S.C., thence to St. Helena Island, S.C., May, 1863. (Cos. "G" and "I" remained at Hilton Head.) Moved to Folly Island, S. C., June, 1863. Attack on Morris Island, S. C., July 10. Assaults on Fort Wagner, Morris Island, July 11 and 18. Siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island July 18 to August. At St. Augustine, Fla., August to October. (Cos. "G" and "I" at Fort Pulaski.) Duty at Hilton Head and Beaufort, S.C., October, 1863, to February, 1864. Expedition to Jacksonville, Fla., February 5-7. Expedition into Central Florida February 8-22. Battle of Olustee February 20. Occupation of Palatka March 10. Moved to Gloucester Point, Va., April 22-28. Butler's operations on south side of the James and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-28. Port Walthall, Chester Station, May 7. Operations against Fort Darling May 12-16. Battle of Drury's Bluffs May 14-16. Bermuda Hundred May 16-28. Moved to White House, thence to Cold Harbor June 1-12. Battles about Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 15-18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16 to December 7, 1864. Bermuda Hundred June 25. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30. Demonstration on north side of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Bermuda Hundred August 24-25. Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30. Fair Oaks October 27-28. Expedition to Fort Fisher, N. C., December 7-25. 2nd Expedition to Fort Fisher, N. C., January 3-15, 1865. Assault and capture of Fort Fisher January 15. Cape Fear Intrenchments February 11-12. Sugar Loaf Battery February 11. Fort Anderson February 18-20. Fort Strong February 21. Capture of Wilmington February 22. Campaign of the Carolinas March 1-April 26. Advance on Kinston and Goldsboro March 6-21. Advance on Raleigh April 9-14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. Duty at Raleigh and in the Dept. of North Carolina till August. Mustered out August 16, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 18 Officers and 218 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 131 Enlisted men by disease. Total 369.

SOURCE: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1422-3

A correspondent of the Indianapolis Journal . . .

. . . writing from Jones’ Island near Fort Pulaski on the 30th ult, says that the closing up of the water approaches to the fort and to Savannah, was accomplished only by the herculean labors of our troops. No less than 30,000 trees were felled, and carried by the soldiers of the 48th New York a distance of two miles, to the river, and then towed by night in scows, five miles to Jones’ Island, where they were used for tramways over which to wheel the heavy cannon which would otherwise have stuck un the mud. The garrison of Fort Pulaski numbered 362 men, among whom were many Germans, who expressed great dissatisfaction, according to deserters, who also say that the Unionists are beginning to talk boldly in Savannah, and to rejoice over Union victories.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862