Nathaniel Sisson was born on May 25th, 1845 in Meigs County, Ohio. Upon the breakout of the Civil War in 1861, Sisson immediately attempted to enlist because he believed that no state had the right to simply secede from the Union. However, he was turned down for being too young at the time. He returned home to continue school and began working in carpentry. Two years later and upon the secession of the western counties of Virginia, which formed the state of West Virginia, Sisson once again enlisted. Now eighteen years old, he was accepted and joined the 18th Volunteer Cavalry of West Virginia. He was assigned the role of bugler for the company under General Capehart. Sisson saw combat on thirteen different occasions and had a few close calls, including having his horse shot out from underneath him. On April 9th, 1865, at Appomattox Courthouse, Sisson was ordered to sound a charge. However, before they could begin, the Confederates came forward with a white flag of surrender. The battle never took place, and General Robert E. Lee instead surrendered his army. Accordingly, Nathaniel Sisson is credited with blowing the last bugle charge of the Civil War. His bugle is currently on display at West Point.