| Aaron Simon Daggett | |
|---|---|
Daggett during the Civil War-era |
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| Born | June 14, 1837 Greene, Maine |
| Died | May 14, 1938 (aged 100) West Roxbury, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/branch | Union Army |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War Indian Wars Spanish-American War |
| Awards | Purple Heart |
Aaron Simon Daggett (June 14, 1837 – May 14, 1938) was the last surviving Union general of the American Civil War when he died at the age of 100.
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Daggett was born in Greene, Maine, in 1837. He attended Bates College (then called the Maine State Seminary) in Lewiston, Maine, in 1860.
Daggett enlisted as a private in the 5th Maine Volunteers on April 1861, and became a second lieutenant in May 1861. He fought at the First Battle of Bull Run, and became a captain in August 1861. Daggett went on to fight at West Point, Gaines' Mill, Golding's Farm, White Oak Swamp, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Rappahannock Station, and Fredericksburg.
He became the major of the 5th Maine in January 1863 and fought at Second Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, and Cold Harbor where he was wounded. In March 1865, he was appointed a brevet colonel and then brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers for "gallant and meritorious services during the war."
After the war, Daggett became a captain in the 16th U.S. Infantry in 1866. He had also been brevetted as a major in the Regular Army for gallant and meritorious services at Rappahannock Station and lieutenant colonel for services at the Wilderness. Daggett believed in the abolition of slavery and fought alongside African-American soldiers during the Civil War with the 5th Maine.
Aaron Daggett went on to fight in: the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War and in China, and the Philippines and received the Purple Heart and the Gold Star. Daggett was temporarily promoted to the rank of brigadier general of the volunteers during the Spanish American War and was present at the Battle of San Juan Hill. In 1900 he became a brigadier general of the regular Army before retiring to Auburn, Maine. Daggett died at the age of 100 at his home in West Roxbury, Massachusetts on May 14, 1938, making him the last surviving general of the Civil War.
Daggett's grandson was a prominent civil rights activist at the University of New Hampshire.[1]
