Walter
Washington Williams who claimed to be the last living Confederate veteran died
December 19th 1859.
Walter
Washington Williams was born in Itawamba County, Mississippi, he said in 1842.
Williams
claimed to have served in Confederate General John Bell Hood’s brigade,
beginning in 1864 as a forgemaster.
Research into his military service has never been proven, nor even has
his age been verified.
When the war
ended Williams moved to Texas, where he settled on a farm in Eaton, Texas.
When the
rest of the “last Claimants” had died, Williams became celebrated as the “last
Confederate veteran”. Williams died
December 19th 1859 in Houston, Texas at the home of his daughter. The chairman of the Civil War Centennial;
Ulysses S Grant III, said the Williams death was an occasion for national mourning,
which United States President Dwight D Eisenhower had declared. He is buried in the Mount Pleasant Church
Cemetery in New Baden, Robertson, Texas.
His name is listed on the “Soldiers and Sailors of the Confederacy”
monument at the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Battlefield, with the inscription, “Walter
Washington Williams -- who was recognized by the government of the United
States as the last surviving Confederate veteran died 1959 at the age of 117
years."
His grave isn't in New Baden. It's technically in Franklin, Texas. The Robertson County part is correct. I just visited there today.
ReplyDeleteDeath year referenced as 1859, should be 1959.
ReplyDeleteYes, they said 1859 TWICE in that short article !!!!! Finally, at the very end of the article the correct year of 1959 was noted. I wish people would PROOF READ -- before posting !!!
DeleteOldest stolen valor that I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't a General, he was allowed that recognition.
ReplyDeleteFfs, get the date right, do these people get paid for writing this article, disgusting
ReplyDeleteI don't believe he was 117 years old !!!! And I believe he was way too young to have been in the CIVIL WAR. !!!! Perhaps he was in the 3.5 month long SPANISH - AMERICAN WAR between APRIL & AUGUST 1898 !!!!
ReplyDeleteHe could have joined at 16.They did that back in the day.
ReplyDeleteAlso you need to think about the whole age thing. Number one, in that time there was no age limit for joining the war & specially in the South. Men, women & children of all ages faught for their cause & to protect their land & property. Secondly, kids were in listed as drummers in their bands, they carried their country's & regimens flags. Both the United States & the Confederate States.
ReplyDeleteAlso he was 117 when he died. He was Not buried in Texas either. You all need to research the history & the documentation. The Confederacy should have won, we ALL would be better off today!