Claim:
An authentic photograph taken in 1959 shows an American Civil War veteran lying on his deathbed smoking cigars before succumbing. Our rating?
From Context.
Even though the photo appears genuine, serious questions have been raised regarding its subject’s age and his claims of military service.
In October 2024, an image went viral online purporting to depict “an 116-year-old U.S. Civil War veteran on his deathbed with a cigar between his teeth”. One post claimed this photograph had been taken in Houston Texas in 1959 without disclosing who the photographer was.
At time of this writing, this post had over 7.8 million views and 32,000 likes on Twitter alone. A 116-year-old U.S. Civil War veteran died with cigar in mouth at Houston Texas hospital during 1959 pic.twitter.com/XS9k6Wuk0k
Some X users had questions about the claim made in this post. One person stated doubts were cast upon whether an alleged veteran actually participated in the Civil War while other said the facts presented were either “not accurate” or even totally inaccurate.
Image Description of Walter Williams who claimed to be a Civil War Veteran – however, journalists and historians have cast serious doubt over both his military service and age at death, thus rating this claim as unverifiable.
Life Magazine published an article, entitled, “The Last Survivor of the Civil War,” detailing both Williams’ photo and claimed service during this conflict. To quote directly: (Page 49 of Life)
Walter Williams, the last living veteran from the War between the States, lies encased by two flags he holds dear and an informal version of Confederate uniform in an uptilted bed, sleeping most of the day and only emerging for meals and occasional cigar puffing sessions. Following John Salling of Virginia’s death this spring, Walter became sole survivor; blind and feeble but living with his daughter in Houston Texas he lives primarily by himself and depends on them for care and assistance.
Since 1925, Williams was serving under General John B. Hood and assigned the task of foraging for food and horses during WWII. Following this experience he settled down in Texas to farm. Williams recalls, ‘we just split up’; so much has transpired since.
This publication presented Williams in his grave among memories he can no longer view on page 48 with this caption:
(Life Magazine) Additionally, two images showed Williams lying down with his cigar between his teeth on bed.
What Age Was Williams When He Died? In September 1959 – just months before Williams died – Scripps-Howard journalist Lowell K. Bridwell reported that Texas records indicated Williams may have been closer to being 104 instead of the claimed age 116 at death, meaning he may only have been eight at the time he claimed service in the Civil War.
(The New York Times) Bridwell found, using veteran’s pension records, that Williams listed his age in 1932 as “86,” making him 113 by 1959 based on an application made available by Texas State Library and Archives Commission. When asked “What is Your Age,” Williams responded “86 years of Age”.
(Texas State Library and Archives Commission – Ancestry.com). According to two images above from The New York Times article (above), Texas records reveal that John was only 104 when his next birthday arrived and therefore too young for active service during the Civil War.
Snopes performed a search in Itawamba County, Mississippi’s 1860 Census records (which Williams is said to have written that he was born in “Adawanda County Miss.”) and found what may be Bridwell’s reference point – on row 30 there’s Walter G. Williams aged 5, son of George and Nancy Williams listed with both middle initials: G and W throughout his life.
Officials note there is no definitive way of knowing whether all records relate to one single Mr. Williams.”
(familysearch.org) Additionally, we uncovered correspondence between Texas comptroller of public accounts Robert S. Calvert and people writing to him asking him about Williams’ age.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission- Ancestry.com.
Can There Be Evidence Williams was in the Civil War?
According to one 1959 story published in Houston Post, an assistant archivist discovered a muster roll from Hood’s Brigade — where Williams claimed he served — that listed W. W. Williams with Company D with “discharged, underage.”
(Library of Congress)
Although Bridwell and others voiced doubts regarding Williams’ age, the U.S. government held to their belief that Williams was indeed one of the oldest surviving veterans from Civil War.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania boasts a memorial statue honoring soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy that bears an inscription reading “Walter Washington Williams was recognized by the US government as being the last living Confederate veteran when he passed away at 117.” Again this contradicts claims made about him being only 116 when in reality this figure contradicted their age statement.
Bottom Line…
In general, the photo can be trusted: Life Magazine published it in 1959 and viral X post accurately described where and when it was taken: Houston Texas with him possessing a cigar in his teeth.
However, there are serious doubts as to his service in the Civil War or that he was aged 116 at the time of this photograph’s taking. We therefore deemed his claim unproven. * In order to evaluate this claim accurately we conducted several functions which checked a variety of indicators (f.b.e.v,nt and so forth): (!function(f,b evn n t and so on fbq=function()n.callMethod(‘f &bq); *
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