WHEN DID THE LAST AMERICAN CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIE?
Have you ever wondered to yourself, “When did the last Civil War Veteran die?” The last Civil War Veteran to die was Albert Henry Woolson on August 2, 1956. Today, Woolson is buried at Park Hill Cemetery. This was after receiving his full military honors from the National Guard for his service.Suggested read:All-Black Female 6888th Central Postal Battalion To Be Recognized
The Last Living Civil War Veteran
In 1861, shots fired from Confederate forces at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This would spark the American Civil War’s opening act. Throughout this dark time in American history, millions of people on both sides would enter a conflict that threatened to destroy the very fabric of our nation. These events were closer than we might like to remember but grow further away with every second that passes. The proof is the passage of time that has now consumed each person who served in the war, including the last Civil War Veteran to die, Albert Henry Woolson. A man who saw the fruits of the sacrifice he and others provided on the battlefield come to life.However, before he was a Veteran, Albert Henry Woolson was simply a boy inspired by his father to serve his country.
Albert Henry Woolson Joins the Union
Born in Antwerp, New York, in 1850, Albert Henry Woolson would live to be 106 years old. However, some disputes have been made due to the lack of recordkeeping at the time. His father, Willard Woolson, left to enlist in the Union Army in Company I, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which led Albert to follow in his footsteps as a Drummer Boy at the age of 14 on October 10, 1864. While with Company C, Albert Henry Woolson and his fellow Soldiers would travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee. They would then build winter quarters for the Union. travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and build winter quarters for the Union.Albert would not participate in any fighting but did serve on garrison duty for Company C until the fall of 1865. Soon after the Surrender at Appomattox Court House, Albert was discharged on September 7, 1865, before ever seeing action, as the Civil War was over.
“We were fighting our brothers. In that there was no glory,” said Veteran Woolson.
The boy who would become the last living Civil War Veteran took no pleasure in the cause. Today, the Civil War continues to be a divisive subject among Americans. It is a wound that may never fully heal. Still, the bravery to help America regain her wholeness is noble. In addition to being the last Civil War Veteran, Albert Henry Woolson, is the oldest verified Soldier who lived on after the conflict.
Remembering the Last Veteran of the Civil War
There have been conflicts, battles, and wars involving America for many years. None are quite like the events of the Civil War. The alternative outcomes of a split country can only be speculated, but the ramifications would be grand. Would the United States find a peaceful solution if the Confederacy had won? What would the face of slavery and civil rights look like today? Would another nation have stepped in and taken advantage of our broken country? We’ll never quite know. One thing we do know is that the outcome of the Civil War produced a resolution that would once again unite Americans, though with some resistance. As time continues to march forward, we must remember our history and the Veterans who helped forge it. When did the last Civil War Veteran die? In spirit, they never did, because his legacy is continued in the Veterans that serve today. Just like many other Veterans before and after him, Woolson was a man who portrayed many heroic traits and was ready to answer the call of service for his country when necessary. Yes, knowing when the last Civil War Soldier died may not be a bit of trivia necessary for everyday life, but it is important to know as an American. The name Albert Henry Woolson should live on as a testament to honor, bravery, and service for every single American citizen. More in military history:Who Was Mikhail Gorbachev? Today in History… Updated by Buddy Blouin