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Posted inAsk Prof. History

When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?

You may not believe that the last soldier of the American Civil War died well into the 20th century.
by Mr. History10/2/20187/5/2022
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Question: When did the last soldier of the Civil War die in the United States?

— Martha Dailey


Dear Ms. Dailey,

The last verified Civil War participant, Albert Henry Woolson, was born in Antwerp, New York on February 11, 1850. His father was first in the family to enter service, but died of wounds suffered during the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. Albert enlisted as a drummer for Company C of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment on October 10, 1864, but the unit never got to see action before the war ended. Woolson was discharged on September 7, 1865, went into carpentry postwar and died in Duluth, Minnesota on August 2, 1956. His grave can be found at that city’s Park Hill Cemetery.

Sincerely,

Jon Guttman

Research Director, HistoryNet.com

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    Citation information

    Mr. History (1/28/2023) When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?. HistoryNet Retrieved from https://www.historynet.com/last-soldier-civil-war-die/.
    "When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?."Mr. History - 1/28/2023, https://www.historynet.com/last-soldier-civil-war-die/
    Mr. History 10/2/2018 When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?., viewed 1/28/2023,<https://www.historynet.com/last-soldier-civil-war-die/>
    Mr. History - When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?. [Internet]. [Accessed 1/28/2023]. Available from: https://www.historynet.com/last-soldier-civil-war-die/
    Mr. History. "When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?." Mr. History - Accessed 1/28/2023. https://www.historynet.com/last-soldier-civil-war-die/
    "When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?." Mr. History [Online]. Available: https://www.historynet.com/last-soldier-civil-war-die/. [Accessed: 1/28/2023]

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