Pvt Nicholas Day was 18 years old when he enlisted to serve the Union cause. His compiled military records give the unusually precise height of "5 feet 4 5/8 inches," and describe him as having a "griff" complexion, black hair, and black eyes. His previous occupation is listed as farmer, marital status as single.

Nicholas Day enlisted as a private on 16 Jan 1864, at Benedict, Charles County, MD, joining Co I, 19th US Colored Infantry.

The 19th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops Research Site asserts that "Almost all the recruits in the 19th Regiment at Camp Stanton were runaway slaves from the farms and plantations in the five Southern Maryland counties," including Charles County. Camp Stanton was the USCT training facility in Benedict. "The military records ... show the occupation of most soldiers in the 19th Regiment as Farmer. These soldiers are former slaves." The website also points out that some formerly enslaved men enlisted under new names, out of fear of capture or simply to choose names for themselves.

Muster information in his compiled service records show Pvt Day as present for duty from January through June. A separate carded record at Fold3 says, "Absent on detached service since Feb 13/64 as Provost Guard ... July 1864 Absent sick or on detached service."

Sometime in July or August, Pvt Day was apparently wounded in battle. He received treatment at L'Ouverture Hospital, a facility for US Colored Troops, and "died Aug. 11, 1864, of wounds received in action," according to History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers. However, according to Registers of Deaths of Volunteers and his compiled service records, he died of consumption (tuberculosis). Possibly he had both a battle wound and tuberculosis.

Age at death is listed as 19 years. Pvt Day's inventory of effects consisted of "One (1) Knapsack, One Half (1/2) Shelter Tent, One (1) Blouse." His military records show that he was originally buried in grave 33 of Freedmen aka Contraband Cemetery.

Sources

U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865 for Nicholas Day, at Ancestry and Fold3

Carded record for 19th US Colored Infantry at Fold3

19th Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops, Research Site, via Archive.org

Registers of Deaths of Volunteers, Colored Troops vol (C-F), p 99, image 57 at Ancestry

History and roster of Maryland volunteers, war of 1861-5, vol II, p 228, via Hathitrust

American Civil War database, Library of Virginia, cites Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-65 (1899). This probably refers to vol II p 228.

"Volunteers for Freedom … Part II," Edward A Miller, Historic Alexandria Quarterly, Winter 1998, p 7, gives his date of death as 11 Aug 1864 and records his burial at Alexandria National Cemetery.

The "Gladwin Record" at FreedmensCemetery.org confirms Pvt Day's initial burial in Freedmen aka Contraband Cemetery, and later transfer to the national cemetery. After US Colored Troops gained the right to be buried at Alexandria National Cemetery, most of these soldiers' remains were transferred.

Pvt Day's interment control form (at Ancestry) gives his date of death as 17 Jan 1865. This is probably the date when his remains were transferred from an original burial location to Alexandria National Cemetery.

Roll of Honor, vol IV (1866), p 65, published by the Quartermaster General, lists him in grave 80 of the Colored Troops section. (At first, Colored Troops graves at Alexandria National Cemetery were numbered sequentially upon burial. Over time, grave numbering throughout this cemetery was revised.)

The cemetery burial register lists only the first 50 transfers from other graveyards to the Colored Troops section, and does not show Pvt. Day.

Further research

The National Archives might have a pension application, or additional medical and service records, for this soldier.