Arthur G. Lynch was born in Pontiac, At the time the Regiment was formed Arthur was an 18 year old farmer from Greenfield. He enlisted in Company B on August 2. Lt. Rexford was the recruiting officer. Arthur was mustered into Federal service on August 13, 1862. His enlistment papers describe him as being 5' 7 1/2" tall and having light eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion. He was due a $100 federal bounty, $25 of which was paid immediately, with a $4 premium on enlistment.
Arthur was promoted to Corporal on September 1, 1863 to replace John
Pardington, who had been killed at Gettysburg. He was promoted to Sergeant on May 1,
1864.
Curtis (p.247) relates an interesting tale:
"Just before the regiment started from near Culpepper upon this campaign [Spring, 1864], the men discussed their chances in the battles which they knew were before them. Two comrades, Arthur G. Lynch and John M. Reed, of B, declared they would rather be killed than to lose a leg and have to hobble around for life. Laughingly, each agreed to kill the other, should he lose a leg. Both of them, within two weeks, had been in battle, both were wounded, both lost a leg, and both were dead!"
The same page in Curtis lists Lynch under the casualties near
Spottsylvania Court House: "May 17. Sergt. Arthur G. Lynch, leg amputated and died,
B."
This date and cause of death is confirmed by Lynch's death certificate. The Michigan
Adjutant General's records indicate a May 5, 1864 date of death. Since the Regiment was
not heavily engaged on either day, it is possible that he was wounded earlier. The State
Adjutant General does indicate that Arthur died in the field hospital, probably shortly
after the amputation.
Curtis (p. 371) adds another twist: "Sergt. Arthur G. Lynch, at Spottsylvania, May 17, 1864; age 19 (in Battery)." His service with the Iron Brigade battery is problematic. Augustus Buell doesn't list him in "The Cannoneer" and Arthur G. Lynch is not on the February 1863 muster roll for Battery B, 4th U. S. Artillery, either.
Arthur G. Lynch is buried in the National Cemetery at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Most of the Union dead from the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Chancellorsville, and Fredericksburg were relocated there after the war. Since he died at the field hospital, his name and grave site were recorded, leading to an identified burial in the National Cemetery (as opposed to an "UNKNOWN").
Last Updated: 04/07/99
Webmaster: Rob Richardson
robr@advnet.net
All original material © Copyright 1997, 1999 Rob Richardson