IN A SHOCKING DISCOVERY, FUNERAL HOME UNCOVERS THE REMAINS OF 30 CIVIL WAR VETERANS
You aren’t going to find Civil War Veterans in your community; however, one funeral home did discover that the cremated remains of 30 had been in their possession unknowingly. While the remains were labeled with names, nobody knew they were American Civil War Veterans until recently. Now, after proper studies have been conducted and confirmed, these Union fighters are finally receiving a proper military burial.
How Many Civil War Veterans Are Still Alive?
There are no remaining Civil War Veterans still alive these days, as the last one passed away in 1956. Known as Henry Albert Woolson, he joined the Union when he was only 14 years old.
Others have claimed to be survivors who served in the Confederacy, but they could never be verified with some being frauds altogether.
Furthermore, James Hard passed in 1953, which was the last American Civil War Veteran to survive and actually see action. The war was over before Woolson would see a battlefield.
Finally, because so much time has passed, there are also few if any children of Civil War Vets still alive.
In 2014, there were less than 35 still alive and with a decade between that data and this writing, it’s likely that these numbers have dwindled even more.
Even though there are no more American Civil War Veterans, that doesn’t mean everyone has been found or rightfully been put to rest.
The nature of the conflict and in an era where recordkeeping pales heavily to methods available today, sometimes, things slip through the cracks.
While unfortunate, these reasons and more are why Civil War Vets are sometimes discovered at historic sites or even funeral homes, with the latter being the case in 2024, after a shocking discovery in Seattle.
How the Missing America Project Pieced Together a Mystery
For decades, the cremated remains of 28 Civil War Veterans were stored in a funeral home and storage facility in Seattle, Washington. The cardboard and copper urns of these Veterans were located in the basement of this funeral home, with nothing identifying them other than their name.
The funeral home suspected that the urns had an important connection to history, but didn't know what kind. So, they turned to the Missing in America Project, which is an organization that is dedicated to locating and identifying the unclaimed, cremated remains of Veterans.
Thanks to the Missing In America Project, the Union Soldiers have been identified using years of genealogical research, and they were given a proper military burial with honors.
When asked about the project, Tom Keating (the coordinator of the Washington State branch) stated, "It's amazing that they were still there and we found them. It's something long overdue. These people have been waiting a long time for a burial."
Who Were the Veterans that Were Found?
Most of the Veterans were interred in August 2024 at Washington’s Tahoma National Cemetery.
In a traditional Civil War ceremony, the 4th U.S. Infantry Regiment dressed in Union uniforms, while firing musket volleys, and singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Each Civil War Veteran’s name and unit were read aloud. Additionally, there were stories being shared about their lives and service before their final burial.
Among the Civil War Veterans, one survived thanks to a pocket watch that blocked a bullet, while another deserted the Confederates and ended up joining the Union.
The Veterans had seen action in many of the major battles that took place during the Civil War, including the Battles of Gettysburg, Stones River, and the Atlanta campaign.
Sadly, no living descendants were found; however, there were still people who came together for the reburial ceremonies to honor their legacies.
Reburials are often celebrated by local communities, but can also lead to controversy depending on the nature of the ceremony.
Veterans without family connections in Washington State are now buried at Tahoma and other cemeteries for Vets.
Byron Johnson, a Union Army hospital steward from Pawtucket, was buried with honors at his family’s plot in Rhode Island.
Find Civil War Veterans Through the National Parks Service
Because America’s deadliest conflict was in our backyard, it stands to reason that there are many different, intricate ties among American families to Veterans of the Civil War.
Regardless of whether they fought for the Union or the Confederacy, the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System is available through the National Parks Service (NPS) using original information maintained by the National Archives.
You can search for Soldiers by clicking the link; however, it’s worth noting that the information available is more surface-level than anything else.
Thankfully, the NPS also has information on obtaining service records online, as do we:
Civil War Veterans may have passed but they remain connected to many complex issues our nation is still struggling to find solutions to in modern times. It’s important to remember their efforts and the sacrifice it took to bring our nation back together.
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