Charles Lincoln was born in Rensselaerville, New York, on Jan 28, 1840. His mother, Ada, died in Watertown, Wisconsin on May 13, 1852. Charles' father, Leonard, brought his four children to Minnesota and established a farm near Dover located in the southeastern part of the state.

Charles was a 21 year old bachelor, when he enlisted at the nearby town of St Charles. He was mustered into the service at Ft Snelling on April 29, 1861, and placed in Company K. Lincoln stood 5' 8 1/2" tall. He had hazel colored eyes, dark hair and a light complexion. His younger brother, Joseph, volunteered in November 1861, and also served in Company K.

He was captured on July 21, 1861, at their first battle, the Battle of Bull Run. He was initially sent with the other captured Minnesotans to prisons in Richmond. From there he was sent to Charleston, South Carolina. He was not treated well while in prison and his physical health deteriorated. On May 11, 1862, he was paroled. He was discharged per order on May 24, 1862. He returned to Dover.

His health must have returned to some degree. On Nov 28, 1863, he voluntered once again. As a veteran he would have received a cash bounty for re-enliting. Horatio Bingham, who had also served in the 1st Minnesota Inf, was the recruiting officer for the 2nd Minnesota Cavalry. On Jan 4, 1864, Lincoln was mustered into service and joined Company L, of the 2nd Minn Cav. He received a commission as a 2nd lieutenant. Unfortunately, his health failed and he came down with a serious fever. His father traveled from Dover and was at his bedside when he died at Ft Ridgley on Sept 9, 1864, just nine months after he had re-entered the service. The cause of death was listed as typhoid fever, a name commonly given for the death of soldiers from fever in those days.

Sources:

St Paul Pioneer Press, January 1864.

Richmond Prisons 1861-1862, William H Jeffrey, p 255.

Military Pension records, Father of Charles Lincoln, National Archives, Washington D C.

Charles E Lincoln