Civil War Veteran Died Just Short of Memorial Day 1941-- Part 1

From the May 27, 2013, M Live "Look Back: Civil War veteran died at age 95, days short of Memorial Day 1941" by David LeMieux.

Charles Albert Nichols marched in a lot of Memorial Day parades in his life, living much longer than might be expected considering life expectancy back during the Civil War was less than 40 years and casualty rates around 25%.

The 5'6" farmer lived to be 95.

His obituary in the Muskegon Chronicle says he enlisted on February 13, 1864.  Another source lists Feb. 15, 1865.  Either way, it was in the 16th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, formed in the fall of 1861 and fought in nearly every major eastern battle

On January 2, 1865, the 761 officers and enlisted in the regiment were given a 6 1/2 week furlough.

They marched in the Grand review in Washington, D.C. on May 23, 1865, and were discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

--Old Secesh