Have you ever wondered to yourself, “When did the last Civil War Veteran die?” Well, the last Civil War Veteran to die was Albert Henry Woolson on August 2, 1956. Following his father’s enlistment, Woolson enlisted with Company C, 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment, as a drummer boy at the age of 14 on October 10, 1864. He was discharged on September 7, 1865, and never saw action. Today, Woolson is buried at Park Hill Cemetery after receiving his full military honors from the National Guard for his service.
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The Last Living Civil War Veteran
In 1861, shots fired from Confederate forces at Fort Sumter in South Carolina 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. Today, when children across classrooms in America ask the question, “When did the last Civil War Veteran die?” they’ll learn about a man and a legacy that helped reunite their nation.
Albert Henry Woolson Joins the Union
Born in Antwerp, New York, in 1850, Albert Henry Woolson would live to be 106 years old, though some disputes have been made due to the lack of recordkeeping at the time. His father, Willard Woolson, left his family and enlisted in the Union Army in Company I, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which led Albert to follow in his footsteps.
While with Company C, Albert Henry Woolson and his fellow soldiers would travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and build winter quarters for the Union. While he would not participate in any fighting, the Company would serve a garrison duty until the fall of 1865. Soon after the Surrender at Appomattox Court House, he was discharged from the service, 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. The Civil War continues to be a divisive subject among Americans and is a wound that may never fully heal. Still, the bravery to help America regain her wholeness is noble.
Although others would make claims, Albert Henry Woolson, who was the last Civil War Veteran, is the only verified soldier that can lay claim to the title of the oldest Civil War Veteran to serve and the last to pass from this Earth. When did the last Civil War Veteran die? During a time when Mr. Woolson could see the fruits of his and so many others’ labor.
Remembering the Last Veteran of the Civil War
There have been conflicts, battles, and wars involving America for many years, but none are quite like the events of the Civil War. The 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 that helped forge it.
When did the last Civil War Veteran die?
In spirit, never, 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 Veteran 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.
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