James Albert Hard
James Albert Hard (July 15, 1843 – March
12, 1953) was the last verified combat veteran of the Civil War and the
second-to-last verified veteran overall; only drummer-boy Albert Woolson
post-deceased him. Though he claimed to have been born in 1841, research in 2006
found that the 1850 Census indicated a birth date of 1843. His war service
record from 1861 was also located.
He died in Rochester, New York, at the claimed age of 111. Census research
indicates, however, that he was probably a year or two younger and may have
inflated his age to gain service. He is recorded as having joined the Union army
on May 14, 1861, aged '19.' The 1850, 1910 and 1920 censuses, however, indicate
that he was born in 1843 and 1842. Hard is also the current record holder for
the oldest verified person born in 1843.
Hard is reported to have fought as an infantryman in the 37th New York Volunteer
Infantry Regiment at the battles of First Bull Run, Antietam, and
Chancellorsville, and to have met Abraham Lincoln at a White House reception.