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Big Dave Van Buskirk, The Giant Who Was The Largest Civil War Soldier
A Union soldier from Indiana was the biggest man, literally, when it came to those who fought in the war between the states
When it comes to the most impactful event on American soil, it’s likely that the Civil War will never be surpassed. With approximately 10% of the American population at the time enlisting to fight, a significant portion of the country got an up close and personal view of the bloody conflict. However, none were bigger than “Big Dave” Van Buskirk, a looming giant who holds the distinction of being believed to be the largest soldier for either side in the war.
David Campbell Van Buskirk was born in Indiana in 1826. His obituary claimed that one of his grandfathers had been a Revolutionary War hero. However, he began life as a relatively ordinary person, working as a farmer.
There was something that made Van Buskirk stand out from his friends and neighbors, and that was his tremendous size. As an adult, he reached a height of nearly 6'11” and a weight that fluctuated between 375 and 390 pounds. He was an absolute behemoth.
When the Civil War began in 1861, the average soldier stood a little over 5'8” and weighed less than 150 pounds. That didn’t stop…
