Sylvester Lynn was a member of the 7th NJ Infantry Regiment, Co. C. While his enlistment date is not known, the epitaph on his gravestone says that he was involved in every engagement Co. C attended until he was wounded on picket duty, on Nov. 6th, 1864, right before the battle of Petersburg, VA. He died of his wounds a month later on December 15, 1864. He was 23 years old.

While originally buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his final resting place can be visited at Hilltop Cemetery in Mendham, NJ.