American Civil War Veterans: Fascinating Historical Photos Show The Life Of Last Civil War Fighters

The 1.5 million Union and 600,000 Confederate veterans were the prominent members of the post-war society. They dominated political offices, served as governors, senators, and congressmen, while countless others served in state and local offices. They also served as members of veterans’ organizations and as participants in Memorial Day commemorations and July Fourth celebrations. Although many veterans lived happy and peaceful life, while the majority of them suffered post-traumatic stress, insomnia, paranoia, and physical disabilities. Some found it more difficult to readjust to civilian life.

Federal pensions were awarded to Union veterans and they received monthly pensions varied from a few dollars a month to as much as $25 or $30 depending on the extent of one’s disability. These pensions and monthly payments were a major burden upon the federal budget, because 30 percent of federal expenses were going to these welfare programs.

Several veterans’ associations were formed after the war to support the veterans. Some consisted of all the men living in a single town or county, while others were formed by survivors of specific armies, corps, regiments. Two organizations, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and The United Confederate Veterans (UCV) dominated. A number of “soldiers’ newspapers” were also published to support the activities such as ‘the American Tribune’, ‘National Tribune’, and Ohio Soldier. Memorial Day parades and speeches made it easy for Americans to think of Civil War veterans as distinguished old men with gray beards, elegant bearings, and bittersweet memories of lost comrades.

Here below are some historic photos that show the life of American Civil War veterans.

#1 Parade of the Grand Army of the Republic during the 1914 meeting in Detroit, Michigan. 1914.

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#2 Civil War veterans attend the funeral of General Horace C. Porter. 1921.

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#3 Chattanooga, Tennessee — A group of Confederate cavalry veterans gather at a reunion. 1921.

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#4 Elderly Civil War veterans playing cards together. 1930.

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#5 Rochester, New York — The Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Veterans join a parade down main street during Rochester’s centennial. 1934.

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#6 Children listening to grandfather stories of Civil War, 1930s.

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#7 At the 50th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, Union (left) and Confederate (right) veterans shake hands at a reunion, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 1913.

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#8 A veteran of the Union Army shakes hands with a Confederate veteran at the Gettysburg celebration, in Pennsylvania. 1913.

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#9 Civil War veterans on Fourth of July, or Decoration Day, on review on the main street of Ortonville, Minnesota. 1880.

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#10 Marion, Indiana — Veterans eat their meals in the dining hall of the National Soldiers’ Home, a facility for the care of disabled American veterans, many from the Civil War. 1898.

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#11 Manassas, Virginia — Veterans of the Civil War meet on the Bull Run Battlefield for a reunion celebration. 1913.

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#12 Richmond, Virginia — J. F. Griffin, at 81 the last surviving member of the Louisiana Tigers, holds a Second Naval Jack flag at the 32nd Annual Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans at Richmond. 1922.

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#13 Washington, D.C. — President Harding receives veterans of the Confederate Army who have been attending their annual reunion at Richmond, Virginia. Old soldiers who fought under the Stars and Bars during the Civil War are shown here with the president, who welcomed them to the White House. 1922.

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#14 Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — Veterans of the Civil War pose at High Water Mark Memorial. 1931

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#15 Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — Union Civil War veterans stand in front a monument at Gettysburg. 1931.

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#16 Washington, D.C. – Captain R.D. Parker, age 90, who played a drum at Lincoln’s inauguration, as he took part in the final parade of the Grand Army of the Republic in Washington, D.C., closing the 70th annual encampment. The Grand Army of the Republic was an organization founded in 1866 for veterans

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#17 At the Memorial Day parade, Civil War veteran, George W. Collier, 97, shows Alwin Sharr, 9, a boy scout cub, how he aimed his rifle during the war. 1939.

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#18 John S. Dumser, 101-year-old veteran of the Civil War. 1949.

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#19 Elderly Civil War veteran Thomas Evans Riddle. 1953.

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#20 Self-proclaimed “Confederate Civil War veteran” William Lundy sitting on his porch. 1956.

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#21 Self-proclaimed “Confederate Civil War veteran” sitting on his porch. 1956.

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#22 Self-proclaimed “Confederate Civil War veteran” walking through his yard. 1956.

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#23 Self-proclaimed “Civil War veteran” Walter W. Williams. 1953.

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#24 Serenaded Walter Williams lying in bed with a cigar. 1959.

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#25 Williams with friends. 1959.

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#26 Walter Williams lying in bed with cigar, surrounded by family and friends. 1959.

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#27 107 years old last remaining GAR Civil War Veteran Albert Woolson, relaxing on the couch while a little girl helps him sort through some mail. 1954.

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#28 107 years old last remaining Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Civil War Veteran Albert Woolson (seated) sitting in the front porch wearing a military hat and blanket while people and photographers are passing by. 1954.

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#29 Boys standing at attention for the funeral of a Civil War veteran who was the last member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 1956.

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#30 Elderly Civil War veterans playing cards together.

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#31 Three Civil War veterans, circa 1900s.

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#32 Civil war veterans standing near cannon, 1920s.

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#33 The London branch of the US Civil War Veterans parade through the city on America Day, 1971.

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#34 Two Elderly Confederate Veterans Holding Georgia Battle Flag of American Civil War during Confederate Reunion, Washington DC, June 1917.

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#35 President Harding receives veterans of the Confederate Army who have been attending their annual reunion at Richmond, Va. 1922

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#36 Two GAR Civil War Veterans from Kansas at the parade, 1920s.

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#37 George C. Eldridge (left) and Mark S. Coxson, Civil War veterans and the grand marshal and adjutant of the Memorial Day parade, stand with boy scouts on Riverside Drive, 1930.

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#38 Captain R.D. Parker, age 90, who played a drum at Lincoln’s inauguration, 1936.

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#39 Civil War veterans march up Riverside Drive during the Memorial Day Parade, 1937.

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#40 Civil War Veterans solving the Jig-Saw Puzzles, 1938.

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#41 Veterans with Posters and Banners Awaiting American Troops from Spain, 1938.

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#42 A Civil War Veteran sits with a child during a parade circa 1940’s in New York

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#43 Two 99-year-old veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) of the US Civil War standing in front the US flag, 22nd March 1946.

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#44 John Salling, who claimed to be 106 years old. He was one of the oldest living Civil War veterans, 1960.

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#45 Mr. and Mrs. John B. Fuller, both active in veteran affairs, decked their yard at 1228 Monroe St. again Thursday with American flags.

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#46 Colonel George Edward Gouraud (1841-1912), veteran of the American Civil War

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#47 81-year-old J F Griffin, last surviving member of the Louisiana Tigers, of which he was colour bearer, at the 32nd annual reunion of the United Confederate Veterans at Richmond

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#48 Veterans Posing on White House Grounds, 1922.

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#49 Two members of the Grand Army of the Republic fraternal organization of veterans of the US Civil War at Southern Pacific station, 1926

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#50 Veterans marching in the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Day Parade in New York on May 30, 1938.

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#51 President Franklin D Roosevelt talking to Colonel Vance, an old Confederate veteran from the American Civil War, on the 75t anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

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#52 95-year-old Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Julius F. Howell (right), of Bristol, with Gen. Howell is 124-year-old Major James Monroe, Jr of Jacksonville.

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#53 Elderly confederate soldier and veteran Jasper Brown lying in bed.

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#54 (left to right) Captain William Banks of Houston, Private A. T. Fuller, 93, of DuBuch, R.P. Scott, 93, of Dallas and Riggan, 98, of Warren, NC, at the Golden Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans

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