Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-22
WRITES DIARY OF
 18TH CONN. VOLUNTEERS.
Charles H. Lynch Puts His War Ex-
 perienees in Book Form.

t
 Charles H. Lynch of Hartford, form erly of this city. has presented The Bulletin a copy of the Civil War Diary kept by him while he was a member of the 18th regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and which he has had published in book form for private cir culation. The diary covers nearly ITO pages.
 The first entry bears the date Au- gust IT. 1862. and the final, July T, 1865, the day the 18th was disbanded.
 As preface to his first entry MT.
 During the spring and summer of 1862 the war fever was running very high. Great excitement prevailed. Darkness and gloom seemed to cover the country. Men were urged to en- list, go to war, and help save the pulpits, printed by the press, talked about at the great war meetings that were held by day and night. Business at times was suspended. Drums and flies were heard continuously being paraded through the streets and fol- lowed by men and boys. Churches were open in country towns giving men an opportunity to enlist.
 MT. Isaac H. Bromley. city editor of The Norwich Morning Bulletin, at a BTGaL WHT meeting sn61Q at BI00QS nall, had enlisted to go to war. He came out with a card in The Bulletin ask ing one hundred young men to go with him and organize a company for the 18th regiment that was forming at the time
 On the evening of August 6. 1862, l visited the recruiting office with my mind fully made up to enlist for the war and go in Bromley's company
 On the 12th the members were re- quested to meet at the recruiting of fec at 1 p. m, to form company and camp had been located. Distance about two miles. At 2 p. m, with drum and fife we began our march to the camp, Cheers greeted us all along the line of march.
 The cam was known as Camp Aiken, son-in-law of Connecticut's War Governor, William A. Buckingham. At camp we were assigned two rows of tents, mattresses and army blankets Included. After medical examination, uniforms were given to us. Then be- how to march and drill and also do- Ing guard duty.
 A meeting of the company was call- ed to elect officers. Isaac H. Bromley was elected captain, Samuel T. c. hMerwin, a lawyer, first lieutenant, | 11CA11y Es AOW1CSs ECGOIlQ I0QLSndnI.a 1n due time we were selected a color company, also known as Company c. It was considered very great honor to be the color company of regiment. With cheers and congratulations we pledged ourselves to be true and to carry the flags with honor. We are now getting experience of a soldiers life in camp. Then follows the first entry, under date of August IT. Under the date of his last entry, July '. 1865, MT. Lynch says: The 18th Regiment, Connecticut Vol unteeds, disbanded. Its members free citizens again The separation was somewhat sad. We were happy that the end had come. Now that the last goodbye, as we grasped each other by the hand. looking into each others face. sad but happy. Our slider life and guard duty. No more marching by day and night in all kinds o1 weather. No more camp life. sleeping on the ground in all kinds of weather No more the long roll to call us out in the night. No more the danger from battle, sickness or suffering from hunger and thirst. These things al helped to make the life of soldier 6 very serious one. Left Hartford at p. m bound foI Norwich singing, "Oh Happy Day." I The last two pages of the book art I given over to statistics of member. ship. killed. wounded. prisoners. and
 the list of battles and slKirmishe.
 through which the regiment passed
 MT. Lynch concludes with. the fol. kowing!
 During the campaign of 1864. iron May 1st to November list. the 1sti Rediment. Connecticut Volunteers, ar, credited with having marched ovel thirteen hundred miles, and I marcher
 every step of it Did not lose al
 hours duty.