I had two great-grandfathers who served in the Union Cavalry during the Civil War. The oldest living great-grandfather passed away in 1935 - or about 70 years after he was involved in the civil war. He had a huge hole in his shoulder where he had been wounded during a battle. Imagine spending 70 years dealing with something like that! So he must have been about 90 when he passed. The Army department keeps almost everything. When my other great-grandfather passed away, my great-grandmother was run around in circles by Washington while she attempted to collect the widow’s pension which she deserved. When I went to check out my great-grandfathers’ military record swith the Army, I ended up with copies of all of the letters which my great-grandmother had written, plus the letters of her friends and neighbors - all of whom had to testify that my great-grandparents had been legally married and were regarded as a married couple by the pastor of their church, their friends and neighbors. Eye-opening - to say the least!
I had two great-grandfathers who served in the Union Cavalry during the Civil War. The oldest living great-grandfather passed away in 1935 - or about 70 years after he was involved in the civil war. He had a huge hole in his shoulder where he had been wounded during a battle. Imagine spending 70 years dealing with something like that! So he must have been about 90 when he passed. The Army department keeps almost everything. When my other great-grandfather passed away, my great-grandmother was run around in circles by Washington while she attempted to collect the widow’s pension which she deserved. When I went to check out my great-grandfathers’ military record swith the Army, I ended up with copies of all of the letters which my great-grandmother had written, plus the letters of her friends and neighbors - all of whom had to testify that my great-grandparents had been legally married and were regarded as a married couple by the pastor of their church, their friends and neighbors. Eye-opening - to say the least!