JONES - BIBB COUNTY, GA - OBITS Hiram Garrett Vanzandt Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: David V. Clinard" Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/bibb.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Hiram Garrett Vanzandt of Jones & Bibb Counties Hiram Garrett Vanzandt, born in Jones County, was the last surviving Confederate Veteran in Bibb County. He lived to 100 years. Here are two tributes to this gentleman as they were published in the Macon Telegraph newspaper in Bibb County, Georgia over 50 years ago. He was my great-great grandfather's (James M. Vanzandt) brother. PAGE FOUR SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 18, 1947 The Macon Telegraph Veteran Observes 100th Birthday The Sidney Lanier chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, today is sponsoring a program to celebrate the one hundredth birthday anniversary of Hiram Garrett Van Zandt, the sole survivor of the Confederate Army now living in Bibb County and one of the few in the entire state. This celebration birthday would be interesting if only for the fact that the life of this venerable citizen spans a large part of the most important history of the United States. When Mr. Van Zandt was born, James K. Polk sat in the White House as the eleventh president of the United States. Twenty-two chief executives have succeeded to that important post since our oldest citizen came into the world on January 18, 1847. Queen Victoria had covered only 10 of the 64 years of her unprecedented reign. Only 14 years before the birth of Mr. Van Zandt the first railroad to carry passengers, extending from Charleston to Augusta, had been completed. The population of the United States was slightly more than 20 million. Most of the comforts and conveniences which we now accept as matters of course were still in the womb of time. Special interest attaches to this survivor of the lost cause. A vast majority of his comrades who wore the grey have passed over the river to rest in the shade of the trees. Only here and there throughout the entire country is there a survivor of either the Union or Confederate Army to "shoulder his crutch and show how fields were won." War has taken on a new aspect since Mr. Van Zandt in his teens served as a Confederate scout at Andersonville. Such redeeming qualities as war could boast - if indeed, there be anything to redeem mass slaughter - such as the observance of certain humane regulations imposed by international law, have given place to Nazi brutality and bloody efficiency of the machine as applied to military activities. But the army of the Confederacy still stands high in the pages of history by reason of its courage and fortitude. The percentage of casualties among the wheat fields of Gettysburg still remains almost at the peak in the toll of death and injury. The bitterness of sectionalism has long since passed away and we all join in thanks to divine Providence that this is a united country. But it is hoped that the fundamental principle of states rights which lay at the heart of the Confederate cause will always be honored and certainly we will continue to cherish the heroism displayed by those who defended "the storm-cradled nation that fell." The Sidney Lanier chapter, UDC, is to be commended for having observed the birthday anniversary of Mr. Van Zandt for many years preceding this climax. The warmest congratulations are extended to this solitary veteran who embodies for us all that was best and noblest in the Confederate Army and government. (copied from editorial page - The Macon Telegraph, Jan. 18, 1947. Macon, GA) IN MEMORIAM The United Daughters of the Confederacy Magazine January 1948 Hiram Garrett VanZandt, 1847 - 1947, Bibb County, Georgia's only Confederate veteran, died on Wednesday, November 5, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. B. Richard Jarrell, in Round Oak. He would have been 101 years old on January 18. Until a few years ago he lived at his home on Bloomfield Road, Bibb County, where he enjoyed his garden, his radio and the daily papers; but after the death of his wife, he went to live with his daughter in Jones County, near Dames' Ferry. Mr. VanZandt was born in Jones County, where his family had settled well over one hundred years before. At the age of 17 he joined the Confederate army and served as a private in Company A, Third Georgia Reserves, under Captain John McManus of Macon. While this regiment was stationed at Andersonville prison, as a scout his duty was to round up escaped prisoners. When Camp Lawton, near Millen, was established and Andersonville prison was abandoned, Mr. VanZandt went with his company to Camp Lawton. Because of illness he was sent home on furlough, where he was at the time the war ended, having served eight months. For many years the Sidney Lanier Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Macon, has feted him on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and his birthday, the latter being celebrated with a shower of gifts and a birthday cake. His one great ambition of a few years ago was to live to see the end of the war with "Germany and Japan." On his last Christmas, he stated his dearest wish was "better eyes with which to see and better ears for hearing what is going on around him." He maintained a keen interest in current events, especially as to "what's doing in Washington." Among his hobbies in past years was "fiddling." Despite a recent illness and his enfeebled condition, his last birthday made him very happy, surrounded as he was by his family and friends, particularly those of his church. He was a member of Pine Forest Baptist Church. He was buried in Macon Memorial Park, his casket being covered with a Confederate battle flag. David Clinard