They are rare living links to history, these children of Civil War soldiers.
Yes, children.
As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the war, it is amazing to consider that offspring of those who fought are still among us. It doesn’t seem possible that the math could add up. But it does.
There are no fewer than four children of Civil War veterans living in Virginia; they are classified as “real” sons and daughters, by the heritage groups that keep track. Two “real” Confederate daughters remain — sisters, in fact, who live in Danville and Rocky Mount — while a “real” Confederate son resides in Roanoke. The only “real” Union child, a daughter, lives in Varina in Henrico County.
All were born of marriages between aging veterans and teen brides. None of the four has any or much memory of his or her father because they all were young children when their fathers died. Nonetheless, they all represent fascinating connections to a long-ago conflict.
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This post and link is amazing.I can recall when my father had a newspaper laying on our kitchen table with a half page photo of Walter Williams.He was the last living Civil War vet that I am aware of and was around 116 years old when he died in 1959.In the photo he was wearing either a General's uniform or a Colonel's.Ike gave him that honorary rank.In the actual Civil War he may have been a drummer boy? Not 100% sure.
ReplyDeleteI also remember when Walter Williams died in 1959. I was just a kid (obviously) and couldn't comprehend how this could be because the Civil War seemed like ancient history.
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