How the last American Civil War veterans lived, loved and died

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1913

At the 50th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, Union (left) and Confederate (right) veterans shake hands at a reunion, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Image: Public domain

The greatest parade in American history has finally come to an end. The Grand Army of the Republic has marched off to join the shadows and no matter how long the nation exists there will never be anything quite like it again.

LIFE MAGAZINE, AUG. 20, 1956

c. 1913

A veteran of the Union Army shakes hands with a Confederate veteran at the Gettysburg celebration, in Pennsylvania.

Image: Corbis

For 90 years after the last shot of the American Civil War was fired, the men who had fought for the Union and the Confederacy, respectively, continued to meet, and in doing so wielded considerable political power in the nation that had divided them. Read more...

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