Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-03-31
a NEW HAVEN oFF1oER,s sMoRn

Return of a Relic of the Late War to
Hts owner After a Lapse of Twenty
One Years.
Lieutenant Augustus P. Day, formerly of
this city, now of Brooklyn, L. l., entered
the Union army as officer of the Fifteenth
G. V. in 1862 and was presented with val
liable sword by his friends in New Haven,
He was with his regiment all through the
war, large portion of the time acting as
captain, until April, 1864, when he was or
dered to Plymouth, N. c., as acting assistant
adjutant general on the staff of Colonel
Beach, Sixteenth G. ", acting brigadier
general commanding Connecticut brigade,
and was taken prisoner at the capture of
that place April 90, 1854, after
gallant and desperate defense made
by our troops against overwhelming Con-
federate force. Lieutenant Day surrendered
the sword in question to Col E. S. Badger,
of Raleigh, N. c., and at the same time he
was deprived of all his personal effects. From
Plymouth he was removed to Libby prison,
Richmond, which was overlooking with
was successfully taken to Danville, Macon,
Savannah and Charleston prisons. In Charles
ton Lieutenant Day with others was placed
under the fire of our forces who were then
Smelling the city. From Charleston he was
sent to Columbia. Here on October II, 1864,
the prisoners voted for the presidential can
didates then in the field. The result shows
that imprisonment and starvation had net
diminished their patriotic ardor. The vote
for President stood: Lincoln, ,024; Mcclellan,
143. They were hurried away from Colum
bia on account of the near approach of Gen.
eral Sherman's dreaded army, then on its
famous march through the heart of
the South, and Lieutenant Day was
kept travelling about for the same reason I'M
til released at Wilmington, February 2Sth,
1865, shortly after the capture of that place
by our own gallant Gen. Terry, having been
in prison over ten months From there
Lieutenant Day with other released prison
ers found transportation North in an old
schooner which they manned and differed
themselves and shortly reached New Haven.
his starting point, after three years and
one days service. In April, 1866,
Immediately after Lees surrender, Lieut.
Day went back to Danville, Va, TO recover
the remains of the brave and lamented Major
Osborn of the Fifteenth G. v, who was cap
suAOu oo 'tAAAiSooAA1 4N' w., Whl1O SdlIdAGly
leading battalion of his regiment, and died
in Confederate Hospital at Danville, April
9th, of wound received in the action As
is well known Lieutenant Day succeeded in
his mission, and Major Osborn now sleeps
in the old cemetery in this city. Lieutenant
Day spent two successive birthdays in Dan
vile, one when first captured and one at
the close of the war, above. His many
friends in this city, particularly those who
joined in presenting the sword twenty-one
years ago, will be glad to learn that through
the exertions of his relatives here it has been
to Lieutenant Day with great kind
ness and courtesy by brother of the Colonel
Badger to whom the sword was surrendered,
but who has since died. With true southern
politeness the sword and scabbard were rem
ovated and put in complete order before be-
ing sent North