John G. Bryan & the Civil War
John G. Bryan was the fifth child, and first son born to James Bryan Jr. and his wife Mary Goodge Bryan. He was born December 18, 1833 in Upper Middleton Twp, Fayette County, Pennsylvania and died May 30, 1891.
Three of James and Mary's sons served in the Civil War. John served from September 19, 1862 to May 31, 1865. Samuel Bryan, born in 1841 was killed in the battle of Five Forks, and James Hamilton Bryan (1836-1919), served from 1863-1865.
John G. Bryan enlisted as a Private, Co. C, Purnell Legion, Maryland Cavalry Volunteers. He also served in Co.I of the 8th Regiment of MD Vol Infantry, Army Corps commanded by George W. Sheeley. He enlisted on September 9th, 1862, and was mustered in on the 19th of September, 1862. At the time of his enlistment, his personal description stated that he was 28 years old, 5 feet 9 inches, dark complexion, dark hair and blue eyes. He reportedly worked as a carpenter before enlisting.
The following letter detailing some of his experiences accompanied his request for a pension and was found in the National Archives. This letter was stamped "Received July 16, 1889". Some spelling has been corrected and punctuation added to help the reader.
Stoners July 5, 1889
Mr. Lemon don't think that I must be foolish in sending this statement to you as you read you will finde it true in the first place. I enlisted in Purnell Calvary Co. and commanded by Capt. Theador Clayton and we was ordered to Maryland Heights winter of 1863. I think we was there 3 months and I was put on special duty to haul hay from Harpers Ferry for the company. I crossed the Potomac river on Pontoon bridge so when I was on Harpers Ferry side as I got loaded long comes this rebel. He says can I go over with you to your lines. I told him he could. He had nothing on but pants, shirt and and old hat and shoes so when I got over on Maryland side there was a man had a tent put up he was a photographer so I stopped my team and ask him if he could take it he said he could so I send this to you so you can see me with my whip under my arm and hold of line with this rebel setting on the hay on the wagon. He told me he was in Richmond the time Macleland (?) shelled it he said they was shelled clear out, Macleland could easy went in so I took this rebel to Capt. Clayton and my Capt. asked him if he wanted to join his company. He did, his name is Jerome Ambrester (?) so he got wounded on the head in August 1864 so if you can hear from him if he is still living you will find this statement true of this photograph so you can see.
I was always put on special duty then we was ordered to Wellington, Delaware there I was detailed out by Assistant Quarter Master Capt. Galegar (?) to take care of government horses we was there one year and 9 days then on 22 of May, 1864, we was dismounted and attached to Purnell legion infantry June 8th 1864 then transferred to 8th Maryland infantry Co. J(?) November 17th, 1864. Then the next place I was put on special duty was at the siege of Petersburg August 5th, 1864 to report to Stonebroker in charge of ambulance train and I was put on to help carry men off the field so I was sent wonee(?) with 7th Maryland to the left of Petersburg to carry men off the field and I saw the house the rebels sharpshooters was in set on fire by one of our men and I sam him after he fired house hauling with a rope something it look like bed clothes so the 7th got out at dark. I could Mr. Lemon, make a statement of everything to you of my hardships, but it wouldn't be of any use for if I hadn't of been put on special duty and away from my company, it seems they can't recollect me.
Now Lieutenant Purnell knows I got struck on hand after we crossed the Chickahominy (VA) River June 13, 1864 for he wanted me to go to hospital, but I stuck to my company till I was sent to ambulance train so now before I was sent back, it was my turn to go for water back from the brest works. It was the last week in July 1864, and they was a diehard to go out in so I past Lieutenant Purnell, he told me to keep my head down so I couldn't think wat he meant, so when I got far enough I thought it was safe but I wasn't so I cot a mean scrape from a frebelebel so after I got out and my canteens filled why here comes two carrying a man back of his head shot off. So when I got back I showed Lieutenant Purnell where I cot hit on the head so I don't suppose he could minde (remember) everything about me, and I have wrote whatever I could hear where he was and my letters returns so I can't say if he is living and if it hadn't been John Mentzer log behind 5th of April 1865. I couldn't get him. He wrote to me he recollect me so he came to see me for I wrote to him a long time so I gave him up and then you sent me a blank to make an affidavit of my own and the very day I mailed it here comes Mentzer, so he said the reason he didn't answer so long time he was sick and I can't say if I made a mistakes in my affidavit or not for I know it was the thirteenth of June struck in hand and 5th April I got reptured (hernia). When Cottom first made my claim him about getting hit on the head he said I wasn't in line of duty so he didn't send it in to you. I often told him about it. He is one of your Cleveland men, so is Kettering.
If you please, don't send my papers to Kettering. I paid him a dollar in advance for what he has done. So now Mr. Lemon, I have done all that lays in my power to get proof of Privates of Commissioned officer so I will see Cottom and see if he won't send Strauch he belong to 155 Pa. Vols we lived 2 years neighbor before I enlisted. He was the same company my brother was in got killed 5 forks and Strauch knows I got ruptured for I showed him. He thinks cause he belong to Penna Regiment he wouldn't do, but he knows nothing about my hand so Cottom knows Strauch.
Next is, I don't suppose they are any credit of me being of special duty on the records a Washington at all that I can't say but you will see by this photograph that I was and if you know Jerome Anbesler whereabouts if he is living and if can minde of me bringing him over to our lines to Capt. Clayton and if he could minde of him setting on the wagon while this was taking. I have a large one hung in my house, it is painted from this one.
So now Mr. Lemon, if Strauch lest memory is no good why it is all I can do for if it hadn't been that on them devilish headed lawmakers having such a law passed, why the poor broken down soldiers could have a better show and I hope we will get a law that the only proof a soldier needed would be to prove this soundness before he enlisted, for I could easy do that. For, I was raised not far from where I live now and I hope you will excuse my mistakes as I am poor writer and speller for I never had any schooling, only what I could pick up myself. Here is some advertisement I put out of soldiers haters(?) paper if it is so you have a little say for the broken down soldiers to give them what belongs to them instructing Corporal Tanner in the right way. Please keep on in doing so and may God help your and Corporal Tanner in doing right for the old veterans who suffered so now the duty they have done for their country.
I will state here again, I don't think I can get any more proof only what I have send. If I could, I would for here is not a man around here what knows I dissure (?) it only soldiers haters. I will state here again, don't send my papers to Kettering.
Now Mr. Lemon, if the proof is not sufficient I have sent to aide you in my claim for pension as it appears. Commissioners of pensions must have more proof which I don't think I can get so what more can I do then what I have done.
Don't be spited of me sending this photograph so you can see I was on special duty. Keep it please if it is from at poor soldier or GAR. post.
East Hunington
No 193
Truly,
John G. Bryan
Box 49, Stoners
Westmoreland Pa.
don't forget me
[Bryans in the Civil War]
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