John Briant/Bryant

Born: Abt 1823 in White County, Tennessee

Died: 21 May 1863 in military hospital in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee

No photos available

Company I, 5th Tennessee Cavalry, USA

24 Nov 1862-21 May 1863

John was the son of James Briant and Jane Gentry.  During the 1800s period of time, the surname was almost always spelled Briant.  In most cases, descendants of our generation have changed the spelling to Bryant.  John first married Eglantine S. Yeager.  They had three children between 1848 and 1852.  Eglantine died in 1853.  John remarried to Celia Maynard in 1860.  They had one child born in 1861.

John saw no action in the Civil War.  He enlisted on 24 Nov 1862 with his relatives and other neighbors on Mine Lick Creek.  Several who joined on that day were mustered into Company I, of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry.  Almost immediately after being mustered in, he was admitted to the hospital and died there of "mumps and fever".

John's children had it tough in their childhood.  Mom died leaving the first three ages 1 to 5 years old.  John remarries when their ages are 8-13.  Then, John dies leaving four kids ages 2-16.  Finally their mom/step-mom dies when they are ages 4-17.  Affidavit of son, John, states that after the kids were orphaned, no guardian was appointed and no one seemed to have much interest in their welfare.  Wow, talk about falling through the crack.

John is likely buried in the Nashville National Cemetery in Madison, Davidson County, Tennessee.  However, there is some uncertainty regarding this as there are multiple Johns and Js with various death dates and military units buried there.  I have not yet did enough research on this question to be sure.