Minnesota drummer boy Albert Woolson
was last Civil War survivor; died in 1956

When Albert Henry Woolson died in 1956, he was acknowledged as the last surviving member of the Union Army. That distinction was extended and he also became known as the undisputed last surviving Civil War veteran on either side. 

That final acknowledgement occurred after three men who claimed Confederate Civil War status was discounted.

In his final days, Woolson, who lived in Duluth, Minn., died at St. Luke's Hospital  on Aug. 2, 1956, at what was thought to be age 109, of a "recurring lung congestion condition." He was buried with full military honors by the National Guard and is buried at Park Hill cemetery.  Following his death, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower said:

"The American people have lost the last personal link with the Union Army ... His passing brings sorrow to the hearts of all of us who cherished the memory of the brave men on both sides of the War Between the States."

Albert enlisted as a drummer boy in Company C, 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment, on Oct. 10, 1864. The company never saw action and was limited to garrison duty. Woolson was discharged on Sept. 7, 1865.

In mid-2006, new census research indicated that Albert was actually only 106 years old, being listed as less than one year old in the 1850 census. However, previous research in 1991 has suggested he was younger than claimed, but that data does not affect his veteran status. (However census data is well known to be incorrect by two or three years in thousands of verified cases, but with the later mentioned CSA veterans the problem extends to 10-15 years).

Woolson was born Feb. 11, 1847, in Antwerp, N.Y., and joined the Union army after his father, Willard, had enlisted. Willard was wounded at the Battle of Shiloh and was transported to an Army hospital in Windom, Minn., where he died from his wounds.

Following the war, Albert returned to Minnesota and was employed as a carpenter. In 1953, he became senior vice commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), which became a powerful political organization composed of Union Civil War veterans. Life magazine ran a seven-page article following Woolson’s death that included much information about the GAR. The organization was dissolved following Albert’s death as he was its last surviving member.

A monument of Woolson was erected at Gettysburg as a memorial to the GAR.