August, Monday 25, 1862

Battle by Fayetteville.

Morning: Rest.

Coffee, sugar and crackers are distributed. The meat which was cooked for us yesterday was brought to us today.

I find a beautiful salamander which I bring to Doctor Idler, who some time ago found a small turtle, whose meat I combine with beef and crackers and prepare a good soup.

Right after that new rations of raw meat, sugar, coffee, molasses and vinegar.

Two-thirty o'clock departure direction north west to Warrenton, while in the south of us the cannonade started where it was reported enemy Skirmishers had been seen. After a ten minute march the brigade, under arms, camps in the oakforest, front facing west towards the cannonade. Four-thirty o'clock changing of front towards north west. We are forming a battle line on a hill in the forest, twenty-seventh to our left. Three men from every company as guard skirmishers for coverage in the foreground. Company C - Lint* - Kohler** - Nachtman***. The cannon thunder ahead of us seems to come closer. We camp here until darkness sets in, about seven o'clock, where the batteries which had been silent now for one hour or so have been evacuated. The utter silence was interrupted through a number of musket volleys very close by us. After that our sharpshooter pickets are called in and we march most of the night in the direction towards. N. - N.W. Warrenton. The road is the stoniest interrupted by rivers of rainwater and puddles which makes our march a very difficult one. Added to all this, there is a boundless disorder in marching and the regiment has to halt every ten minutes to let a few of the front ones pass over the road difficulties whereas they then continue to march briskly and it is therefore impossible for the last ones to catch up, consequently the whole regiment is marching completely disrupted. Even the flags are separated. About one mile before Warrenton the greater part of the regiment assembles on a high hill to enjoy a few hours of sleep. The valley before us is shrouded in thick fog which in the darkness we mistook for a large river.

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*There is no LINT listed in the Roster. The name may be LINK.

LINK, CHARLES,-Age, 34 years. Enlisted September 13, 1861, at New York city, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. C, September 14, 1861; promoted sergeant, December 1, 1862; wounded in action, July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; died of his wounds, August, 17, 1863, at New York city.

45th_Infantry_CW_Roster @p. 349

**There are four Kohlers listed on the Roster, there is only one who was an officer and he was the only on with a connection to Company C.

THOMAS, KOHLER,-Age, 33 years. Enlisted, August 29, 1861, at New York city, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. C, September 9, 1861; promoted sergeant, September 1, 1862; first sergeant, September 22, 1863; re-enlisted as a veteran, January 4, 1864; mustered out by consolidation, June 30, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.

45th_Infantry_CW_Roster @p. 338

***Although virtually all men mentioned in the diary are officers, the only NACHTMANN on the roster is not an officer. There are references to Nachtman(n) throughout the diary.

NACHTMANN, GEORGE,-Age, 39, years. Enlisted at New York icty to serve three years, and mustered in as private, Co. C, September 25, 1861; re-enlisted as a veteran, January 4, 1864; transferred to Co. C, Fifty-eighth Infantry, June 30, 1865.

45th_Infantry_CW_Roster @p. 367