Col. ROBERT E. BRYANT - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

COL. BRYANT DEAD LAST SURVIVOR OF MEXICAN WAR IN COUNTY HAS PASSED AWAY Hero of Two Wars

Prominent in Business Affairs of His Home City Robert E. Bryant, one of the leading citizens of this county, died at half past one at his home on west Main street Friday after a lingering illness of two years or more. His death was due to infirmities of old age brought on by repeated attacks of paralysis. For many years he was engaged with the Crawfordsville Casket company, being active in its organization. He was a partner with William Robertson. After the death of Mr. Robertson several years ago, Mr. Bryant retired on account of failing health and has not since been actively engaged in business. He was of a modest retiring disposition, and had no enemies. His career ws one to be proud of, as he was very successful in a business way and missed no opportunity to serve his country when his services were needed in time of war. He has the distinction of being the last survivor of the Mexican war in this county.

When the civil war broke out he again enlisted and came out a colonel after serving through the war. Col Bryant was the son of Col. J.B. Bryant, who was prominent in Indiana's affairs as a member of the constitutional convention and the legislature, dying as a result of wounds he received in the civil war. Mr. Bryant was born in Washington D.C. on June 5, 1827, and came with his parents to Crawfordsville in 1835, and has resided here ever since except when he was serving his country. Mr. Bryant attended the common schools and was a graduate of Wabash college, and later served as one of the trustees of the college for a number of years. When the Mexican war broke out he enlisted as a private and became a member of Company K, First Indiana volunteers. He was later promoted and served through the war. At the close of the Mexican war in 1847, he with other citizens organized the first telegraph system through this county and became its operator. He married Miss Ellen Sweeter on February 28, 1848. She died few years later. He was appointed local agent for the Monon railroad in this city in 1855 and held this position till he resigned to enter the union army in 1861. He was appointed captain and commissary of subsistence on the staff of Col. Lew Wallace, and was later attached to General Grant's staff as commissary of subsistence. He was taken prisoner at Corinth, Miss., but was soon exchanged, returned to Gen. Grant and was made a Major and was later brevetted to colonel for meritorious service. He served till the end of the war, and again returned to Crawfordsville to engage in industrial pursuits as stated above. In 1874, with the late William Robertson, he organized the Crawfordsville Casket company, and was actively identified with the operation and management. For a short time thereafter he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business in connection with various enterprises, but was finally forced to give up active business entirely. On May 4, 1874, Mr. Bryant was married to Sue H. Rice, and she with two children, Frank R. Bryant of Chicago and Mrs. Chase Harding of this city survive. Mr. Bryant was a member of McPherson Post, G.A.R., of this city, and of the Masonic fraternity. He has been identified with Center Presbyterian church since its organization and was its oldest elder in years and point of service. Mr. Bryant was a man whom everybody liked. He had no enemies. His character was irreproachable. He was genial, kind and manly. In his prime he was one of the strong forces in the business affairs of Crawfordsville. He will long be remembered for his many sterling traits of character The funeral arrangements have not been made, but it will most likely occur on next Monday. - thanks to Kim H

Many people will read with interest the brief and autobiography which was found amongst the papers of Col. R.E.Bryant. The captain as he was familiarly called, wrote this sketch, it seems, several years prior to his death. He passed through many stirring scenes, while serving in the Mexican and civil war. He was quite active in business activities of this city, his narration as follows: "I was born June 5, 1827, in Washington, D.C. I have a vivid recollection of the cholera in 1833, when the cart carrying the dead passed our house every hour. The boxes were piled up as high as space would allow. Our neighbors all or nearly all died. The attack was sudden and collapse quick - well in the morning, dead at night. I also remember very distinctly in the same year just before or after the cholera, the falling meteors. "They came down thick and fast like snow making the night light as day.

"we removed to Crawfordsville in 1835, travelling by steamboat and canal to Louisville, Ky., expecting to go to Logansport via the Wabash river, but the water was too low We could not cross the falls of the Ohio, so we returned to Madison, Ind. There my father hired two wagons and we journeyed to Indianapolis and thence to Crawfordsville. Here my father found an old friend. We stopped a few days with him, the days lengthened into weeks, months and years. Being an ardent Whig, my father soon fell into the political strife, and being a man of exceptional social qualities, of a commanding presence and an able speaker, he was elected to the legislature time and time again. Old citizens will readily recall the year when Brice Bryant, Carl and McCafferty wee in the field. The excitement ran high, and it was not unusual in those days for neighborhoods to adjust their differences by a few-for-all fight on the day of election. At that time the whole county voted in Crawfordsville and I can recall some bloody scenes after the different parties had fired up on liquor.

"Crawfordsville was but a village at the time I write. We had a fine flouring mill on the branch just north of the Monon depot. A large woolen mill a little farther up the stream and a chair factory where the waterworks are now owned. It was run by Mathias Vancleave. "Wabash college was in its infancy, occupying a large wooden building in the woods near where Bluff street intercepts Lane avenue. My father was a member of the constitutional convention, and with Prof. Caleb Mills was fairly instrumental in training the splendid common school system of the state. In 1812 he moved to Williamsport and represented Warren county often in the legislature. When the war broke out he raised a company and was elected captain. On the formation of the Tenth Indiana Volunteers, he was appointed lieutenant colonel, being wounded at the battle of Rich Mountain. He never recovered, but died in 1865. My mother was from English stock, but was born in this country. She died in Williamsport, Ind., in the year of 1859.

"I believe it was in 1846 I volunteered as a private for the Mexican war with Henry S. Lane as captain of the company, and was mustered into the First Regiment of Indiana Volunteers as fourth corporal, Colonel James P. Drake commanding. I served one year in Mexico and returned to New Orleans about the first of July 1847. We crossed the gulf, going over on the bark Kazan, which was wrecked on Padre Island, north of the Rio Grand river. The boat was a total loss, but we reached the shore safely by the aid of the ship's boats. Our stay on the island was about ten days. The heat was intense and there was nothing but sand, which made a comfortable bed. For water we dug holes in the sand and used it: but the water was not good. The island where we landed was about a quarter mile wide. After landing at the island we landed at Brazos. From there we marched to the Rio Grand, where we went into camp. There had been a severe storm and the beach for several miles was strewn with vast qualities of boxes and barrels containing and endless variety of merchandise from some vessels wrecked on the coast. There were casks of wine and whiskey, boxes of boots and shoes, claret wine, lemons, cigars and a host of other articles. When we reached our camp each soldier was heavily loaded with all he could carry, some so full inside they could hardly navigate themselves.

At the mouth of the river we camped in the sand, and with intense heat and poor water the men sickened rapidly to our misfortune, the storms were so great boats were driven off and our medical stores became exhausted. Our provisions ran out and sickness and death rapidly increased. We were ordered to Camp Belknap some ten or twelve miles up the river. This camp we made by clearing the brush and small growth from a high piece of ground, a half mile back from the river. Soon after taking possession the rainy season set in. The river raised until all the plain between our camp and the landing was overflowed with water, and it being unfit for use we had to wade for half a mile through deep water for cooking and drinking. Our sick list increased and many died. "After returning to New Orleans in 1847 I remained there as clerk for Major Van Ness and assisted in paying off the troops. The yellow fever raged, as an epidemic while I was there, but my health remained good.

After my return home the people of Crawfordsvile became anxious to have the telegraph line built through the county. A public meeting was held and considerable stock was subscribed to aid the enterprise. I was selected as operator here and went to Dayton, O., the nearest office, to learn the business. On my return was married, February 28, 1848, to Miss Ellen Sweetser. After the line was extended to Lafayette, I was sent there to open an office, remaining two years. Then extensions were made to Logansport, Toledo, South Bend, Michigan City, and Chicago - also south to Covington, Terre Haute, Vincennes. To Evansville from Terre Haute a line was built to St. Louis, Mo., and I was elected superintendent of the whole company, taking in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. I remained as superintendent two or three years when the Western union Telegraph Company absorbed the entire system and I retired. In the year 1855 I was appointed agent of the Monon Railway company at Crawfordsville; also agent of the American Express company, and remained as such until the war commenced in 1861.

"I went to Holly Springs, Mass., after the army moved south from there, the rebels under General Van Dorn attacking and capturing the town defeating the troops stationed there. They took me prisoner. General Grant fell back as soon as he heard of the rebel force being in his rear, and having a rebel captain, proposed to General Van Dorn that a special exchange be made for me, provided General Pemberton was willing. The rebel and myself were both put on parole. He started to report the arrangement to General Pemberton and I waited at Holly Springs for news. It Pemberton died not agree I was to deliver myself to General Van Dorn to be sent where ever directed. General Pemberton agreed to the exchange. Telegrams were sent to City Point, thence to Washington, ratified by our war department, and notice of the same sent to Van Dorn. Then I was at liberty to go. The exchange being made, I was released from my parole and at once reported to the war department and was ordered to join General Grant for duty at Vicksburg. I had in the meantime received a few weeks furlough and returned north for health. Soon after reaching Vicksburg there came an order from the war department for an officer to be selected to take charge of the department of supplies at St. Louis, to relieve Colonel T.J. Haines of the United States army, who was in charge. The selection fell on me and I went to that place and was placed on duty. I had to supply all western troops and forts, all of General Sherman's army than on its march to Atlanta; all the troops on the Mississippi river, which included General Grant's army at Vicksburg; all posts in Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. After getting the the run of things I made a remarkable success of my administration at St. Louis to the surprise of myself, Colonel Haines and several others. The magnitude of the work to be done seemed at first far beyond my ability, but I left nothing undone and the war department was so well pleased that I received notice of my promotion to brevet major, and later on a second promotion as brevet lieutenant colonel. These commissions are signed by Edwin Stanton and Abraham Lincoln. The should be treasured up as papers of great value. Starting in as private, I reached by faithful service brevet lieutenant colonel, for which I am grateful." -- thanks to KH