John J. Williams

The last soldier killed in action in the Civil War was Private John J. Williams who died 

at the Battle of Palmito Ranch in far south Texas on May 13, 1865.  The battle was a 

Confederate victory, but the war was essentially already over due to Lee's surrender 

to Grant in April, which both sides knew about.  The Union commander had never been 

in combat, and wanted to be able to say that he had, so he broke an informal truce and 

attacked the Confederates.  He should have been the one shot, not Private Williams.