Born: Nov 14, 1842 Died: Dec. 19, 1959 Military Record: Forage Master with Company C, 5th Regiment, Hood's Brigade. He was responsible for finding food for his brigade. Biography: Walter W. Williams was born in Itawamba County, Mississippi on November 14, 1842. He was the son of George Washington Williams and Nancy Marcus Williams. The family moved to Texas in 1870 and settled in the small rural community of Murphriesborough in Brazos County. When Walter was just a young boy, he joined the Confederate States Army (CSA). He served as a Forage Master with Company C, 5th Regiment, Hood's Brigade. His duty was to find food to feed his outfit. Walter W. Williams married twice in his life. With his first wife, Florence Humphries Williams, he had 7 children. After her death he married Ella Holiday. He and Ella moved to Robertson County, in the Shiloh community, and together they had 12 children. "Uncle Walt" as he was affectionately called, lived to be 117 years old. He was the last surviving soldier of the Confederacy. It was only after he turned 100 years old that he began attracting national attention as one of the few remaining Civil War veterans. When he was 100 years old he took his first plane ride. Afterwards he told his daughter, Mrs. Carrie Williams James, that cars were now too slow for him. He rode his first horse at the age of 103, and shot his first deer when he was 107 years old. He was 105 years old when he entered the hospital for the first time in his life. He couldn't understand why he was being fussed and fretted over, telling the staff, "I've got no time to go to the hospital, I'm too darn busy." He told them he wanted to be home reading the huge stacks of mail he'd received during his illness. He received many honors in his later years. He was made an Admiral in the Nebraska "Navy". A group called the "Confederate High Command" of St. Petersburg, Florida, made him a 5-star General, an unknown rank in the Civil War. At the age of 106 years old, he received papers from Washington, DC making him an Honorary Colonel in the U.S. Army, for the distinction of being one of the oldest living Civil War veterans. When he was 107 years old, he went to the courthouse in Franklin, Texas to receive a documental seal from Governor Allan Shivers. The papers proclaimed him an Honorary Colonel of the Governor's staff. He was able to read these papers without the aid of glasses. When he was 112 years old he danced on a television program. At the age of 113, he was presented a special Civil War medal by Assistant Secretary of the Army Hugh M. Milton, III. In 1956, at the age of 114 years old, he received the Congressional Gold Medal. In April of 1956, at the age of 116 years old, President Eisenhower appointed Mr. Williams an honorary member of the Civil War Centennial Commission. Walter W. Williams was a man who never grew old. He'd often reply, "I'll be around when you're dead and gone." He'd often say, "I'm just sticking around to see what will happen." Each year his family would hold a reunion at his home to celebrate his birthday. On his last birthday, at 117 years old, an American Legion band serenaded him with songs of Dixie, Casey Jones, and Waiting for Robert E. Lee. The old Colonel requested loud music, lots of people, and pork ribs for his birthday. He received several stacks of mail, and many congratulatory telegrams from admirers. He also received flowers from his admirers. One such display of flowers was from the florists of Huston Texas, they had sent him an arrangement with 117 roses. A 5-tier birthday cake topped with 2 Confederate flags, and a picture of Colonel Williams in uniform, was presented by Huston television station KPRC. This was his last birthday, and he was mourned by people all over. Huston and Texas were proud to claim him as their own. The last survivor had gone to join his comrades-in-arms. Williams was a rare distinction, symbolic of a bygone era.