Have you heard first hand stories about the Civil War?

Question

Thirty years ago I met a centurian whose father was in the civil war. He told the stories that he heard from his dad.
Have you met anyone with this type of information?

Dave B (1st answer) makes a good point.
Have you heard first hand stories once removed?
Or perhaps second hand stories?

My story took place in New York Ciity.
My deceased friend's father was a boy standing behind a white picket fence when the Union Soldiers were returning home. As they rode down the lane they threw Confederate money aand bank books along the road and the children picked them up. He passed one of them to my deceased friend who showed it to me. to the day he died.

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Answer 1

Only by way of recordings made of those veterans' remembrances by the Library of Congress under a program connected to the Federal History Project in the years of the Great Depression. Some libraries may still have those old disc records in their Federal Repository Collection.

Answer 2

Well my great aunt who lived to be 108 her grandfather was in the Civil war. He was Hung by the South for being a Spy. That's really as close to first hand as I have gotten. I mean the civil war ended in 1865 so 1965 would be 100 years after the war ended. So no I have not heard any first hand stories about the war, but my Grand Mother has, in a way. =) It would be so cool if there was someone still alive to tell there stories who was in the civil war. Heck almost all the people from World War I are dead now, and World War II vets are dying off everyday. Just think in another 20 to 50 years there will be none of them left either. That is kinda sad.

Answer 3

I haven't heard the stories from actual veterans because they would be like 150 years old. I do live where the civil war began, in Charleston, SC and we memorialize the civil war through the museums and historic sites. You can see Fort Sumpter from the Charleston Harbor.I did live reading the leters from the soldiers on both sides, fascinating. They have reenactments every year too

Answer 4

yup, from my little granny, years ago. she was alabama born and her people were confederate, obviously...I was at her house one day and she made me drag out this steamer trunk, we went through it together. she had a confederate uniform, and sword,and some old photos...she told me some stories, but I was young and stupid,and I don't remember much about them. I will always regret that. I do remember something about one man who upon leaving the army, "took off with a fancy woman" instead of going home to his wife and children. She told me he went to north florida and started a new family, and I think I may actually have some kin there now.

Answer 5

I have relatives who fought in the Civil War on the Confederate side. I have copies of letters they wrote to their families. Quite interesting this genealogy thing!