| Notes |
- Find-a-Grave notes
Josiah P. Day came to Bernardston at twelve years of age, and was educated at district schools and Goodale Academy. He began to learn the blacksmith's trade when seventeen, serving three years, then found employment as a journeyman blacksmith in different places.
On August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Tenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, which was in the following battles: in 1862, the siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks (two battles), Charles City Cross-roads, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1863, the Mud Campaign, St. Mary's Heights, Salem Heights, Franklin Crossing, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, and Mine Run. In 1864, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. Mr. Day's record was an eventful one and he saw much hard service.
His first battle was Antietam, and in all he participated in fourteen or fifteen engagements, having two narrow escapes from death. At Salem Heights, they had driven the Rebels into the woods and received orders to halt and lie down. Mr. Day was on his knees, arranging his knapsack, and just dropped on his face when a ball struck the knapsack and lodged in his underclothing. At another time he was on one knee with his gun before him when a ball from a sharpshooter struck the gun barrel directly in front of his face, cutting the gun strap and stock in two and glancing off.
He was honorably discharged from the service July 1, 1864. At the close of the war he returned to Bernardston and re-engaged in the blacksmith business, but owing to poor health, brought on by the hardships of army life, it was several years before he was well able to stand the wear and tear of his work. Mr. Day could be found most of the time at the forge in the shop that he purchased in 1867.
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1837 - 1911 (74 years)
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