JOHN LYNDE CARTER -- 118th INFANTRYTRIED ON LINCOLN'S HAT - In early 1863, before John Lynde Carter was inhis first engagement, he was in Washington at Matthew Brady'sphotographic studio. He joined the 118th Infantry in August 1862, and heand two fellow officers, John Cunningham and Edward Riggs, thought theywould go to the studio to leave the negatives of their photos, so theycould order more when they18th i wanted. While they were there,President Lincoln came in to get a full-length portrait done. They had awonderful exchange with the president, and while Lincoln was getting hisphoto taken, the three young officers tried on his hat. They decidedthat the hat fit Lieut. Riggs best.You can read the whole episode in John Cunningham's book, "Three Yearswith the Adirondack Regiment" starting on page 51 at:https://books.google.com/books?id=e19KAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=3+years+adirondack&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibofXq9prfAhWDpYMKHTH2Dr8Q6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q=liutenants%20riggs%2C%20carter&f=false\ The three were in the field starting in April 1863, at the Siege ofSuffolk. John was promoted adjutant at Fort Keyes at Gloucester Point,VA, in July 1863, and was with the regiment until May 16, 1864, atDrewry's Bluff. He was wounded there and was discharged for disabilityon October 11, 1864, having lost an arm. John returned to the NorthCountry and his parents, Samuel Carter and Charlotte Lynde. He marriedElizabeth Sherman and died in 1912. They are buried in the RiversideCemetery in Plattsburgh.The death notice in the Plattsburgh Daily Press - October 6, 1912.The entire community was shocked yesterday morning when it becamerumored that Major John L. Carter had passed away. John Lynde Carter wasborn in Plattsburgh in 1837. He was the son of Samuel and Charlotte(Lynch) Carter who settled in Plattsburgh in 1816. In 1862 Mr. Carterleft, his business in Ellenburg, to accept a \'commission as firstlieutenant of Company B 118th Regiment NY Volunteers. He saw two yearsof hard service and took part in some of the most desperate engagementsof the whole war. In the battle of Drewry\'s Bluff, May 16, 1884, hereceived a severe wound in his arm and was taken prisoner and placed inLibby Prison where the next day his arm was amputated. Four months spentin that terrible prison, the horror of which was greatly augmented bythe Major\'s wound. On Oct. 11, 1861 he was. Honorably discharged fromthe service. He was united in marriage on November 9, 1871, to ElizabethA. Sherman, daughter of the late Bentley R. Sherman, of Plattsburgh, whosurvives him.
