If you've ever heard of Streight's Raid, you probably know that a lot of it was a "running fight" and you may have heard of the Battle of Day's Gap? Well here's some stuff you probably didn't know. This is the Day Farm.
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The night of April 29th, Streight's men camped here at the Day Farm and the battle happened the next day. Day's Gap refers to the opening to the left in the mountain there in the background. There were lots of gaps on this mountain face and Streight was concerned about Confederate cavalry using other gaps and outflanking his men as they passed through the steep and narrow trail of Day's Gap. Turns out he was right and an engagement commenced before all the Federals had even gotten out of camp.
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Here at the Day Farm something amazing happened that only happens when you go on a tour with
@Norman Dasinger Jr The owner of the Day Farm saw the vans out on the gravel road in front of his house and came out to see what we were doing. Once Norman told him, he invited us in!!!! Inside the fence and through the gate to see the location of a field hospital that was on the property. That rock chimney marks the spot where Union surgeons treated wounded Federals and Confederates. Most people know that
Dr. William Spencer (Surgeon, 73
rd IN) was left behind to tend the wounded at a field hospital.
Link page 77 What you may not know is that
Henry R King (Asst. Surgeon, 51
st IN) was captured on the field and “sent back to Day’s Gap” as a prisoner.
These two surgeons are probably the ones who treated the wounded at the Day Farm. And those wounded Union and Confederates likely included
William Forrest - NBF's brother who was badly wounded in the leg at the beginning of the Battle of Day's Gap. Link
HERE to an account of the treatment of some wounded Federals at Day’s Gap.
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The owner of the place was pleased at our apparent interest and was happy to show us the Day Family Cemetery with all its recent improvements and good care. And there in the cemetery, he pointed out the graves, marked with stones, of 6 Confederate soldiers who died at the Field Hospital on the Day Farm.
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<to be continued>