Emery D. Bryant was born in September of 1824 in Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts, the son of Massachusetts natives Caleb Bryant (b. 1781) and Avis Round (b. 1784).
His parents were married in Rehoboth, Massachusetts on April 1, 1804.
According to one source, sometime in October of 1838, Emory enlisted in Captain Hannibal Day’s company (Company F), in the Second Regiment of Infantry, in Boston, Massachusetts, for five years, and subsequently fought in the Seminole War in Florida. It was further claimed that he was discharged at Buffalo, New York, on February 2, 1843. (He was probably only 14 at the time he enlisted although he later claimed to have been 21.) Another source reported that he had “served four years in the army in Florida, and also as First Lieutenant in the Massachusetts volunteers in the Mexican War. He was through many of the principal engagements, and was wounded at the battle of Monterey [sic].”
His parents were living in Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1850 and also in 1868 when Emory died. His mother was living in Providence, Rhode Island in 1875.
By the mid-1850s Emery had left Massachusetts and moved westward eventually settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and for some years worked as a cordwainer/shoemaker.
He married Michigan native Louise V. Smith (1834-1902) on July 30, 1860, at Richland, Kalamazoo County; they had at least one child, a son, Emory Addison (b. 1863). Louisa had been working as a school-teacher in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County where she lived with her widowed mother and two brothers Willliam and Addison, both of whom would also join the 3rd Michigan.
By early 1861 Emery had left Grand Rapids and moved to Muskegon where he resumed his trade as a shoemaker. Because of his military background he soon became closely involved in the first “Union” meetings held in Muskegon soon after the fall of Fort Sumter in mid-April. These meetings soon resulted in the organization of a local militia company, the “Muskegon Rangers”, captained by Bryant, and which would form the nucleus of Company H of the Third Michigan infantry. According to local newspaper accounts, Bryant drilled the men several hours every day.
On Wednesday evening, April 24, a large number of citizens in Muskegon held a “war” meeting in the basement of the Methodist church,
for the purpose of taking some measures for the organization of a volunteer military company, and for raising money to aid the State in equipping the brave soldiers she will send forth to battle for our country’s flag and the nation’s honor. The large room was crowded and the enthusiasm manifested, showed plainly enough that the citizens of Muskegon of all political parties, are [devoted] to the Union, and will [support] the Government and uphold the Administration and [rally] to the [call] in defense of the Stars and Stripes. Eloquent and patriotic speeches were made by the Rev. A. St. Clair, Hon. Chauncey Davis and W. H. Smith, Esq., which were interrupted by frequent cheers from the enthusiastic audience. W. V. Wood, C. Davis, R. W. Morris, and A. Trowbridge, were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions towards the state loan. It was determined to make an effort to organize a military company at once, and several signed their names on the spot as volunteers.
The next evening another meeting was held at the church, “at which there was an even larger attendance than at the first. Speeches were made by the Hon. C. Davis, Rev. L. Earl, Dr. C. W. Bigelow, W. H. Smith, E. D. Bryant and H. Nicholson, Esq.” there was yet a third meeting planned for Friday evening.
These “union” or “war” meetings proved very effective in recruiting men for the militia company Emery was then in the process of organizing.
On Friday, April 26 Bryant wrote to Michigan Adjutant General John Robertson informing him that “Muskegon is wide awake and responds freely to the call of our beloved country. Since last Wednesday I have enrolled sixty names and will soon have my complement required by law. I would like you to send me all the necessary papers to organize a company of volunteers under the laws of Michigan [and] the tactics you wish me to drill by so we may be in readiness when called upon. We wish to organize and report next week, please notify me what provisions the State has made in regard to the equipments, pay, when it commences how much, etc. Our company is to be called when organized the Muskegon Rangers.”
On Saturday evening, April 27, “another large and most enthusiastic Union meeting was held at the basement of the Methodist Church” in Muskegon. “Patriotic and stirring speeches were made by Hon. C. Davis, W. H. Smith, Esq., and others.” On the following day, the Muskegon Rangers “marched to church . . . both in the forenoon and evening, to the music of drum and fife.”
On Wednesday evening, May 1, “an immense crowd assembled at the” Methodist church, “again to manifest their devotion to the Union. Capt. T. J. Band presided. The room was tastefully and appropriately decorated. Many ladies were present, and the Muskegon Rangers were out in full force, with music, flag and badges. They presented a really fine appearance. The assemblage was addressed by Rev. L. Earl, Rev. A. St. Clair, Dr. C. P. Bigelow and W. H. Smith, Esq., of this place, and Hon. W. M. Ferry of Ferrysburgh. Each of the speakers addressed some appropriate remarks to the Rangers, telling them, if called upon, to defend their country’s flag on the field of battle, never to falter in the fight, and sooner than see the Stars and Stripes dishonored, to perish every one of them. The Star Spangled Banner, the Red White and Blue, and other patriotic airs were sung by the Muskegon Union Glee Club in an excellent manner.” It was reported on May 4 that the citizens of Muskegon also subscribed $1,200 “for the benefit of the volunteer company just organized here. The families of our noble volunteers will not be allowed to suffer.”
According to the Muskegon Reporter of May 4, the “Rangers . . . a fine volunteer company, numbering one hundred men, has been organized in our village. They are a fine looking set of young fellows, and for patriotism and pluck, bone and muscle, we do not believe they can be surpassed by any other volunteer company in the State. They are now drilling six hours each day, and are making good progress.” The “Rangers” were commanded by Captain Emery D. Bryant and First Lieutenant Charles D. Spang and Second Lieutenant William L. Ryan. “It is expected that this company will form a part of the Third Regiment, and will probably be ordered away soon. We believe the Muskegon Rangers will give a good account of themselves, when the hour of conflict comes.”
Recruiting men for the new company had indeed been successful and by the middle of May the “Rangers” had reached full capacity of nearly 100 officers and men. On May 14, the Muskegon Rangers, under the command of Captain Emery Bryant, left Muskegon on the tug Ryerson and arrived in Grand Haven where they took supper. “A fine military company,” wrote the Grand Haven News on May 15, “numbering ninety-five volunteers from Muskegon, passed through our village yesterday on the way to their place of rendezvous, Grand Rapids. Muskegon has certainly patriotically responded to the present emergency of our country, and her example is worthy of imitation. May her soldiers win bright and fadeless crowns of honor and distinction.” The “Rangers” arrived in Grand Rapids on Tuesday evening, and, with a reportedly full complement, the men spent the night at the Eagle Hotel and Barnard House. Although it rained all day on Wednesday, May 15, the Rangers reported to Cantonment Anderson, located about two miles of the city on the old County fairgrounds. Frank Siverd, who was from Lansing and had just enlisted in Company G described them as “a fine class of men”.
The company did not remain in camp that evening but instead returned to the city to spend the night in various hotels. Siverd wrote to the Lansing newspaper “They were dissatisfied about something and left for home the next day.” However, one “Ranger”, George Vanderpool, made no mention in his diary of the company leaving for home. On Thursday, the 16th, the Rangers did parade through the city and stopped at the Bronson House, but they did not return to Cantonment Anderson. The following day, Friday, the company was still in the city awaiting orders from Captain Bryant.
In fact, there had been “a serious misunderstanding” between the Rangers and Colonel Dan McConnell, commanding the Third Michigan infantry. Earlier in the month the company had received orders from McConnell to report to Grand Rapids to join the Regiment, then nearing its full capacity of 10 companies, but when it arrived it was discovered that a company from Georgetown in Ottawa County had been placed in the Third Regiment “and the Muskegon Company, so to speak, were ‘left out in the cold.’” Bryant was reported to have threatened to take the company to Detroit or perhaps to return to Muskegon. More specifically, what happened was
Colonel McConnell required two things, 1st, that the Company, after inspection by the regimental surgeon, should consist of only the number of men prescribed by the U.S. call; and 2nd, that there must be at least one person fully capable of instructing the Company in the prescribed drill. The colonel reserving a right, in case there should be no such person in the Company, to select one non-commissioned officer for the "Rangers". These were the primary causes of dissatisfaction. And from these have arisen a hundred rumors of a distorted and audacious character.
The superior officers to the colonel would have had just cause to censure him, had he disobeyed their orders; and he did only that which it was absolutely necessary he should do under the circumstances. So uncertain were the ultimate intentions of the Muskegon Company, that the Military Board did not assign them to our regiment; but placed the Georgetown company in the position which the "Muskegon rangers" were to have had. At length, (on Tuesday evening of last week) the Muskegon Company appeared in our city; and the next day, ascertained that they really did not belong to the 3rd regiment, at all, in addition to the other real or fancied grievances of which they complained. But Colonel McConnell immediately opened a correspondence by telegraph, with the military board at Detroit, and eventually obtained permission for the "Rangers" to be placed in the 3rd regiment, in case they complied with the conditions which had been accepted by the remaining companies. Further objections were then interposed, and the Rangers were allowed until 8 o'clock Thursday evening to decide upon their action. No answer being given, the Colonel received the Georgetown company, and ordered them to appear at Cantonment Anderson at as early a a date as possible. I understand that they will arrive in our city tomorrow evening.
This crisis soon passed, however. “We are pleased to announce,” noted the Grand Rapids Enquirer, “that all difficulties which may have existed in regard to the Muskegon Company have been satisfactorily arranged, and the ‘Rangers’ have been regularly received as a component part of the ‘3rd Regiment’. This will be gratifying news, not only to our own citizens, but to the people of that region of country from which the ‘Rangers’ hailed.” At last, on Saturday, May 18, the company marched back to its quarters in Cantonment Anderson. The “Rangers” were designated Company H.
Emery enlisted at the age of 36 as Captain of Company H on May 13, 1861 (the day the Third Michigan was mustered into state service), although as we have seen the company did not in fact actually join the Third Michigan until May 18. Emery was joined by his brothers-in-law Addison and William W. Smith, who also enlisted in Company H.
When the Third Michigan left Grand Rapids for Washington on June 13, 1861, Emery was accompanied by his wife, Louisa. On July 5, Frank Siverd of Company G, wrote home to Lansing that Mrs. Bryant “is the only lady in camp. She moves about as if she were an angel of mercy, daily she may be seen carrying some nice dish to some of the sick members of the company; she has a smile and a kind word for everyone -- many times her presence is worth exceedingly more than a Physician's prescription, and I am sure she can exert as much influence, without speaking a word, as a dozen chaplains can by preaching.” (In fact she would eventually be widely noted for being a "volunteer nurse" and eventually burie din Arlington National Cemetery.)
During his service in the Third Michigan Bryant ran afoul of the military authorities on more than one occasion. On September 3, 1861, the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac promulgated Special Order No. 28, which announced that Bryant was to be court-martialed, charged with violating Article 42. He reportedly left camp and remained AWOL overnight near Hunter’s Farm, Virginia. He was subsequently placed under arrest. The members of the court were appointed and the trial was set to begin at the camp of Israel Richardson’s Brigade (of which the Third formed a part) in Virginia. The trial was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 5, but no further record of this court martial is found. However, Emery was still under arrest in October of 1861, but reported present for duty from November through December. (One of the members of Company H, Private Charles Brittain, wrote home to his family on October 9 that “the captain is not released yet and I don’t know when he will be. . . .”
As commanding officer of a company, one of his duties was to soothe concerns of families about the health and well-being of their sons and husbands. On November 21, 1861 he replied to inquiries from the father of George Lemon, one of the men in Company H.
I received your letter today [Bryant wrote] concerning your son George W. Lemon who is in my company. The reason of your not hearing from [him] is undoubtedly since he has been in the hospital he has been too sick to write, and they have not the conveniences near them. He has had the typhoid fever, he was taken to our Regimental Hospital (which is on our grounds and I can see them every day) about four weeks ago. He has been a very sick boy, but is now convalescent, is considered out of danger if he does not have a relapse. I went to see him as soon as I received your letter. He told me to write you [that] he had the best of care a plenty to make him comfortable. The food is generally what the boys mostly complain of, that is when they begin to get better, their appetite craves more than their stomach will digest and the doctors are very particular about what they eat and how much while they are in the hospital. Our doctors have had better luck with the typhoid fever than any other Regiment around us. They have not lost one patient and we have had as many as twenty at a time in the hospital. This disease is a lingering one,it takes one some time to get over it. It will probably be some weeks before he will be able for duty. He complains much of his feet being sore; if it weren't for that he would be able to walk out now. Anything I can do or my wife for his comfort we shall do willingly. My wife has a particular interest for him as a cousin of his (Martha Hurlburt) and she used to be schoolmates. She and George often conversed about Mishawaka, South Bend and those he knew of her acquaintances. I will see that George is furnished with stationary at the hospital so he may write you. If he should have a relapse and does not get along as well as he ought I will let you know.
On January 7, 1862, while the Third Michigan was in winter camp in Virginia, Emery applied for a leave of absence of 15 days due to ill health. “I think,” he wrote to the assistant Adjutant General from Camp Michigan, “a change of climate and diet for a few days will tend to restore my health.” The same day Regimental assistant surgeon, Dr. George B. Wilson, certified that having “carefully examined this officer” he found “that for about six weeks past he has had a severe cough -- the result of bronchial irritation -- which has not been relieved by the ordinary remedies, but continues to harass and weaken him.” In Wilson’s opinion, Bryant was “unfit for duty” and would remain so for at least 15 days. And furthermore, “under the circumstances a temporary change of climate would materially expedite his recovery.” According to Wilson, Bryant intended to visit his family home in Massachusetts.
It is unknown if Bryant received his furlough. In fact, he was under arrest in late January of 1862, when he was court-martialled for allegedly stealing property from a private home near Pohick Church, Virginia. Held at Johnson’s House, opposite General Heintzelman’s headquarters near Fort Lyon, Virginia on January 30, 1862, the Court charged Bryant with violation of the 54th article of war. Specifically, in that he “did enter a house and take therefrom and carry away, a window sash, and glass therein contained. He then and there, not having been ordered so to do, by the commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States. This near Pohick Church, Va., on the 25th day of Dec. A.D. 1861.” To both charge and specification he pled not guilty. The Court proceeded to take extensive testimony. Major Byron Pierce of the Third Michigan was the first witness called; all other persons required to give evidence were directed to withdraw and remain in waiting until called for.
Question by Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: I know nothing of the taking of any property. I saw him with some property. Question: Where did you see him and what did you see in his possession?
Answer: On a reconnaissance made that day to Pohick church, I saw him on horseback, half way between Pohick church and our camp, returning to the camp, with a window sash and lights.
Question: Do you know where he got the property?
Answer: I do not.
Question: Do you know what he did with that property?
Answer: [I] do not; it was the only time I saw it.
Lieutenant Robert M. Collins, Regimental Quartermaster was then called to the stand and sworn in.
Question: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: No sir; I don't know that I do.
Question: Did you see him with any property not his own that day?
Answer: I saw him with a window sash on his horse on that day while returning from a reconnaissance about half or three quarters of a mile this side of Pohick Church.
Question: How do you know that it was not his own property?
Answer: I have no knowledge that it was not his own property.
Question: When did you first see him with that property?
Answer: Coming from a small house about three quarters of a mile this side of Pohick Church. Question by the Court: Was the house occupied when you passed it?
Answer: It was not, it was nearly torn to pieces.
Question by the Court: Have you seen the window sash since?
Answer: I have, or one that much resembled it.
Question by the Court: Where have you seen it?
Answer: In Capt. Bryant's tent door.
Question by the Judge Advocate: How lately, before passing the small house had you seen him?
Answer: Not since leaving Pohick.
Question: Did you see him at the house?
Answer: I did not.
Question by the Court: Did the accused make any remarks to while in possession of the sash? Answer: I told him the Col. had just given orders for every one to come away from that house and let things be, and I said to Capt. Bryant “you are setting a bad example”, he replied, “I might as well have it to save it”.
Question by Accused: Who was present when that conversation took place?
Answer: Surgeon Bliss was riding along with us.
Question: Was there any one else within talking distance?
Answer: I think not.
Collins was excused and Regimental Surgeon Zenas E. Bliss was then called and sworn.
Question by the Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th Dec. last?
Answer: I know of his having certain property in his possession at that time.
Question: Did you see him enter any house? take therefrom any property and carry it away, not his own?
Answer: I did not.
Question: What was the property you speak of knowing that he had, and when did you see it? Answer: A window, near Pohick Church.
Question: Had you ever seen that window before?
Answer: I had not.
Question: Do you know whose it was?
Answer: Do not.
Question: Do you know where it came from?
Answer: Do not.
Question by the Court: How many lights had the window?
Answer: I should judge about six, from the way in which it was carried under his arm.
Captain Stephen L. Lowing of Company I was then called to testify.
Question by the Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: I was in company with him coming from Pohick Church; he rode around to the back side and called to me. I rode around to where he was, he asked me to hold his horse a short time. I did so. he went into the house, I heard a noise, and saw a window sash taken out from upstairs. Soon after Capt. Bryant came out with a window sash in his hand. He got on to his horse and carried the window away.
Question by the Court: Have you seen the window since?
Answer: I don't know. I have seen a window in Capt. Bryant's tent door, but don't know as it is that one.
Question by the Court: How does the window in his tent door correspond with the one you saw him bring from the house?
Answer: Should think it the same, am not very definite about it.
Question by the Court: How many squares of glass do you think there were in the sash? Answer: I think about six, am not certain.
Question by the Court: When you saw the window wrested from its place in the house did you see the person who took it?
Answer: I saw the man's arm but could not see the person enough to identify him.
Question by the Judge Advocate: was any one in the house at the time or before Capt. Bryant went in?
Answer: There was not that I saw, after he went in. I saw men go in at the front door. Question: How could see them?
Answer: Saw them through a window.
Question: Was the house in condition to be occupied when you first got there?
Answer: I don't know why not, everything seemed to be all right outside.
After Lowing was excused, Lieutenant Almon D. Borden of Company K was called and sworn.
Question: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: No sir; I don't know that I do.
Question: Did you see him with any property at that time?
Answer: I saw him with a six-light sash on the road from Pohick Church, on his horse returning to camp about half a mile from camp.
Question: Do you know where that sash came from?
Answer: I do not.
Following the testimony of Almon Borden, Captain Israel C. Smith of Company F called to the stand.
Question by the Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: I don't know that I do, but while passing a house this side of Pohick I saw Capt. Bryant and three or four men, perhaps more, in the house. The Col. ordered the men out. I next saw Capt. Bryant at a stream about a mile this side, he then had a sash. This was the first time I saw him with a sash in his hand, when I saw him in the house I don't know that he had anything there.
Question by the Court: Do you know for what purpose Capt. Bryant was in that house? Answer: I do not.
Captain Smith was excused and the Prosecution called its last witness, Private Roderick R. Ackley of Company “and in response to questions said” that he had been “standing near my Captain's tent in camp, saw Capt. Bryant come into camp with a window sash, but don't know where he got it.”
The prosecution closed its case and the Court adjourned until 10:00 a.m. the next morning, Friday, January 31, when Captain Bryant presented his defense. He called Private E. J. Wright of Company H to the stand.
Question by the Accused: Do you know the condition of a small two story frame house about half a mile this side of Pohick Church previous to Dec. 26th last, is so state its condition. Answer: About three weeks before the 25th I was in that neighborhood, there are two frame buildings near each other, one is of one story and the other of two. That of two, had the doors and windows all shattered, I don't think there was a whole pane of glass in the house. Question: Was there any furniture in it?
Answer: There was a chair and bureau broken.
Question by the Judge Advocate: When did you first see the house and what was its condition then?
Answer: More than two months ago. It was then in good condition a family had just left it. Question: When did you next see it?
Answer: I was there about two weeks afterwards, and the doors were then all to pieces, and the windows shattered, it was six weeks ago at least, that I first saw it in a ruinous condition.
Captain Bryant then presented his written defense statement.
It is with feelings of deep regret and sorrow that I am compelled to strand before you to defend and refute the charges brought against me by the Colonel commanding my Regiment. I am charged with the violation of the 54th article of war, but he has failed to bring one single evidence to substantiate the charge. The specification alleges that I did take and carry away a window sash from a house a half mile from Pohick Church, and he has brought two witnesses to prove the taking and carrying away a sash & glass as alleged in the Specification from the said house. I look upon the Charge as complaint, as one of annoyance and not for public utility or justice he would have filed in charges long ere this against officers of this Regiment who has torn down houses, barns, etc. and brought the roofs and boards in camp to cover log houses. It seems to me his complaint was brought for no other reason than to whip them over my back. The defendant's evidence introduced proved there were no whole sashes or doors in the house and had there been such taken as there were no whole sash in the said house. Therefore I submit the case to the wisdom to the judgment of the court.
As there were no witnesses who could place him as the culprit, the court found him not guilty and he was released from arrest.
Emery quickly resumed his duties and was present with his company in March and April of 1862. According to one source, in fact, Louisa worked with Dorothea Dix in caring for the wounded during and after the battles of Yorktown and Williamsburg in May of 1862.
In late April or early May Emery was listed as absent sick, possibly from consumption which would eventually kill him, and he was probably sent first to a hospital in Alexandria before he was transferred on May 7 to a hospital at Annapolis, Maryland. (However at least one source thought he was a malinger during this period.)
He remained at Annapolis through August, although he was supposedly on convalescent duty by perhaps as early as July 14. Bryant again ran into trouble with the authorities. In July the Regiment reported Bryant “absent sick without proper authority”, and in August he was listed as being AWOL since May 9, 1862 (about the time he was sent to the hospital).
In fact, Emery was on detached service at Fort McHenry, Maryland until he was dropped from the company rolls on September 20, 1862. He was honorably discharged on account of sickness by Special Order no. 289, War Department, dated October 11, following his resignation also dated October 11, on account of disability due to heart and lung disease on. (Curiously he was also reported as being dismissed on September 22, 1862, pursuant to Special Order No. 90, Army of the Potomac, regarding deserters.)
Although one source reported that both Emery and Louisa returned to Kalamzoo after his discharge form the army, it appears from correspondence found in Bryant’s pension record that he attempted to join the Veterans’ Reserve Corps in late May or early June of 1863, possibly in Michigan, but in any event he was apparently unsuccessful. He may have remained in Washington to pursue his entry into the VRC or perhaps he came back to Michigan and then sought to join the “Invalid Corps.” (The VRC was made up of men who while ambulatory were generally incapable of performing regular military tasks due to having suffered debilitating wounds and/or diseases and were assigned to garrison the many supply depots, draft rendezvous, camps, forts, prisons, etc. scattered throughout the northern cities, thus freeing able-bodied men for regular military duty.)
In any case, sometime in 1863 Emery applied for a pension (no. 9592) but the certificate was never granted. Dr. D. W. Bliss who had served as the first Regimental Surgeon in the Third Michigan and went on to command Armory Square hospital in Washington later in the war, wrote in late March of 1864 to the Pension Office that in his opinion he had always considered Bryant “a malinger. I know this to be the opinion of the Surgeon of his regiment (Surg. Z. E. Bliss) during the the Peninsular Campaign. I certainly do not believe he ever done [sic] sufficient duty or suffered exposure to produce permanent disability. He left the Regt at Williamsburg, Va. and fell out before the battle.”
Emery eventually did return to Michigan where reentered the service as First Lieutenant of Company H, in the First Michigan Colored Infantry (which became the One hundred and second United States Colored Troops), and was commissioned on January 20, 1864, listing his residence as Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County (recall that his wife's family was from Kalamazoo). “The First left the state March 28, 1864, for Annapolis, Md., where it joined the Ninth corps. It was soon detached and sent by transports to Hilton Head, S. C., where it arrived on the 19th of April. During the next two months the different companies were on picket duty at St. Helena and Jenkins Islands, and on Hilton Head Island. The regiment then occupied Port Royal and assisted in constructing fortifications and other fatigue duty.”
On May 23, 1864, the First Michigan Colored Infantry was reorganized as the One hundred and second U.S. Colored Infantry and attached to the District of Hilton Head, South Carolina (Dept. of the South) and District of Beaufort, South Carolina (Dept. of the South) to August when it was transferred to the District of Florida (Dept. of the South) until October. It was attached to the Second Separate Brigade (Dept. of the South) to November. One hundred and second United States Colored Troops (or First Michigan Colored Troops).
The 102nd USCT was garrisoned first at Port Royal, South Carolina from the time it was organized until June 15 when it moved to Beaufort and remained in garrison there until August 1. It was then moved to Jacksonville, Florida from August 1-3, on picket duty at Baldwin until August 15 and participated in the attack on Baldwin August 11-12 as well as in the raid on the Florida Central Railroad August 15-19. It was at Magnolia until August 29, moved to Beaufort August 29-31 and remained on duty there until after the first of the year, engaged in outpost and picket duty on Port Royal, Lady and Coosa Islands.
But Emery was still too ill to undertake any serious military responsibilities, and was apparently suffering from the debilitating effects of his lung disease. He was taken sick about September 10, 1864, and although he remained sick through the end of the year, in October he was reported to be serving with Company G, and was furloughed, probably as a result of his poor health, on December 26, 1864. He apparently returned to duty, however, and was reported as Captain of Company B or D by May of 1865, commissioned May 6, replacing Captain Arad Lindsey (also formerly of the Old Third), who had been killed on November 30, 1864.
The 102nd USCT participated in various actions throughout South Carolina, particularly in the Charleston area, throughout early 1865, and in fact moved to Charleston on April 29, thence to Summereville on May 7-8, to Branchville on May 18, to Orangeburg on May 25 and remained on provost duty there until they left for Winsboro, July 28-August 3, where they remained in garrison until September. The regiment moved to Charleston and Emery was mustered out of service with the regiment at Charleston on September 30, 1865. From Charleston the regiment returned to Detroit where it was paid off and disbanded on October 17, 1865.
After the war Emery returned to Michigan and settled in Kalamazoo where he was living in 1867 working as a shoemaker and cordwainer.
Emery died of consumption on November 18, 1867, in Kalamazoo, and was reportedly buried in Riverside cemetery, Kalamazoo.
Louisa applied for and received pension (no. 109,662), eventually drawing $17.00 per month.
She was living in Colorado Springs, Colorado Territory in 1869, but soon returned to Kalamazoo. By 1870 she was teaching school and living with her mother Rachel and her invalid brother William, who had also served in the Third Michigan in Kalamazoo village; another brother Addison too had served in the Old Third and had died during the war. Also living with her was her 7-year-old son Emery. Louisa was still in Kalamazoo in 1873, but eventually moved to Washington, DC. By 1883 she was residing at 915 F Street northwest, in Washington, DC. By the time she died in 1902 Louisa was living at 1332 New York Avenue in Washington.
Louisa was buried in the old Officer’s Section at Arlington National Cemetery (no. 1258); her headstone lists her simply as a “Civil War Volunteer Nurse.”
His parents were married in Rehoboth, Massachusetts on April 1, 1804.
According to one source, sometime in October of 1838, Emory enlisted in Captain Hannibal Day’s company (Company F), in the Second Regiment of Infantry, in Boston, Massachusetts, for five years, and subsequently fought in the Seminole War in Florida. It was further claimed that he was discharged at Buffalo, New York, on February 2, 1843. (He was probably only 14 at the time he enlisted although he later claimed to have been 21.) Another source reported that he had “served four years in the army in Florida, and also as First Lieutenant in the Massachusetts volunteers in the Mexican War. He was through many of the principal engagements, and was wounded at the battle of Monterey [sic].”
His parents were living in Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1850 and also in 1868 when Emory died. His mother was living in Providence, Rhode Island in 1875.
By the mid-1850s Emery had left Massachusetts and moved westward eventually settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and for some years worked as a cordwainer/shoemaker.
He married Michigan native Louise V. Smith (1834-1902) on July 30, 1860, at Richland, Kalamazoo County; they had at least one child, a son, Emory Addison (b. 1863). Louisa had been working as a school-teacher in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County where she lived with her widowed mother and two brothers Willliam and Addison, both of whom would also join the 3rd Michigan.
By early 1861 Emery had left Grand Rapids and moved to Muskegon where he resumed his trade as a shoemaker. Because of his military background he soon became closely involved in the first “Union” meetings held in Muskegon soon after the fall of Fort Sumter in mid-April. These meetings soon resulted in the organization of a local militia company, the “Muskegon Rangers”, captained by Bryant, and which would form the nucleus of Company H of the Third Michigan infantry. According to local newspaper accounts, Bryant drilled the men several hours every day.
On Wednesday evening, April 24, a large number of citizens in Muskegon held a “war” meeting in the basement of the Methodist church,
for the purpose of taking some measures for the organization of a volunteer military company, and for raising money to aid the State in equipping the brave soldiers she will send forth to battle for our country’s flag and the nation’s honor. The large room was crowded and the enthusiasm manifested, showed plainly enough that the citizens of Muskegon of all political parties, are [devoted] to the Union, and will [support] the Government and uphold the Administration and [rally] to the [call] in defense of the Stars and Stripes. Eloquent and patriotic speeches were made by the Rev. A. St. Clair, Hon. Chauncey Davis and W. H. Smith, Esq., which were interrupted by frequent cheers from the enthusiastic audience. W. V. Wood, C. Davis, R. W. Morris, and A. Trowbridge, were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions towards the state loan. It was determined to make an effort to organize a military company at once, and several signed their names on the spot as volunteers.
The next evening another meeting was held at the church, “at which there was an even larger attendance than at the first. Speeches were made by the Hon. C. Davis, Rev. L. Earl, Dr. C. W. Bigelow, W. H. Smith, E. D. Bryant and H. Nicholson, Esq.” there was yet a third meeting planned for Friday evening.
These “union” or “war” meetings proved very effective in recruiting men for the militia company Emery was then in the process of organizing.
On Friday, April 26 Bryant wrote to Michigan Adjutant General John Robertson informing him that “Muskegon is wide awake and responds freely to the call of our beloved country. Since last Wednesday I have enrolled sixty names and will soon have my complement required by law. I would like you to send me all the necessary papers to organize a company of volunteers under the laws of Michigan [and] the tactics you wish me to drill by so we may be in readiness when called upon. We wish to organize and report next week, please notify me what provisions the State has made in regard to the equipments, pay, when it commences how much, etc. Our company is to be called when organized the Muskegon Rangers.”
On Saturday evening, April 27, “another large and most enthusiastic Union meeting was held at the basement of the Methodist Church” in Muskegon. “Patriotic and stirring speeches were made by Hon. C. Davis, W. H. Smith, Esq., and others.” On the following day, the Muskegon Rangers “marched to church . . . both in the forenoon and evening, to the music of drum and fife.”
On Wednesday evening, May 1, “an immense crowd assembled at the” Methodist church, “again to manifest their devotion to the Union. Capt. T. J. Band presided. The room was tastefully and appropriately decorated. Many ladies were present, and the Muskegon Rangers were out in full force, with music, flag and badges. They presented a really fine appearance. The assemblage was addressed by Rev. L. Earl, Rev. A. St. Clair, Dr. C. P. Bigelow and W. H. Smith, Esq., of this place, and Hon. W. M. Ferry of Ferrysburgh. Each of the speakers addressed some appropriate remarks to the Rangers, telling them, if called upon, to defend their country’s flag on the field of battle, never to falter in the fight, and sooner than see the Stars and Stripes dishonored, to perish every one of them. The Star Spangled Banner, the Red White and Blue, and other patriotic airs were sung by the Muskegon Union Glee Club in an excellent manner.” It was reported on May 4 that the citizens of Muskegon also subscribed $1,200 “for the benefit of the volunteer company just organized here. The families of our noble volunteers will not be allowed to suffer.”
According to the Muskegon Reporter of May 4, the “Rangers . . . a fine volunteer company, numbering one hundred men, has been organized in our village. They are a fine looking set of young fellows, and for patriotism and pluck, bone and muscle, we do not believe they can be surpassed by any other volunteer company in the State. They are now drilling six hours each day, and are making good progress.” The “Rangers” were commanded by Captain Emery D. Bryant and First Lieutenant Charles D. Spang and Second Lieutenant William L. Ryan. “It is expected that this company will form a part of the Third Regiment, and will probably be ordered away soon. We believe the Muskegon Rangers will give a good account of themselves, when the hour of conflict comes.”
Recruiting men for the new company had indeed been successful and by the middle of May the “Rangers” had reached full capacity of nearly 100 officers and men. On May 14, the Muskegon Rangers, under the command of Captain Emery Bryant, left Muskegon on the tug Ryerson and arrived in Grand Haven where they took supper. “A fine military company,” wrote the Grand Haven News on May 15, “numbering ninety-five volunteers from Muskegon, passed through our village yesterday on the way to their place of rendezvous, Grand Rapids. Muskegon has certainly patriotically responded to the present emergency of our country, and her example is worthy of imitation. May her soldiers win bright and fadeless crowns of honor and distinction.” The “Rangers” arrived in Grand Rapids on Tuesday evening, and, with a reportedly full complement, the men spent the night at the Eagle Hotel and Barnard House. Although it rained all day on Wednesday, May 15, the Rangers reported to Cantonment Anderson, located about two miles of the city on the old County fairgrounds. Frank Siverd, who was from Lansing and had just enlisted in Company G described them as “a fine class of men”.
The company did not remain in camp that evening but instead returned to the city to spend the night in various hotels. Siverd wrote to the Lansing newspaper “They were dissatisfied about something and left for home the next day.” However, one “Ranger”, George Vanderpool, made no mention in his diary of the company leaving for home. On Thursday, the 16th, the Rangers did parade through the city and stopped at the Bronson House, but they did not return to Cantonment Anderson. The following day, Friday, the company was still in the city awaiting orders from Captain Bryant.
In fact, there had been “a serious misunderstanding” between the Rangers and Colonel Dan McConnell, commanding the Third Michigan infantry. Earlier in the month the company had received orders from McConnell to report to Grand Rapids to join the Regiment, then nearing its full capacity of 10 companies, but when it arrived it was discovered that a company from Georgetown in Ottawa County had been placed in the Third Regiment “and the Muskegon Company, so to speak, were ‘left out in the cold.’” Bryant was reported to have threatened to take the company to Detroit or perhaps to return to Muskegon. More specifically, what happened was
Colonel McConnell required two things, 1st, that the Company, after inspection by the regimental surgeon, should consist of only the number of men prescribed by the U.S. call; and 2nd, that there must be at least one person fully capable of instructing the Company in the prescribed drill. The colonel reserving a right, in case there should be no such person in the Company, to select one non-commissioned officer for the "Rangers". These were the primary causes of dissatisfaction. And from these have arisen a hundred rumors of a distorted and audacious character.
The superior officers to the colonel would have had just cause to censure him, had he disobeyed their orders; and he did only that which it was absolutely necessary he should do under the circumstances. So uncertain were the ultimate intentions of the Muskegon Company, that the Military Board did not assign them to our regiment; but placed the Georgetown company in the position which the "Muskegon rangers" were to have had. At length, (on Tuesday evening of last week) the Muskegon Company appeared in our city; and the next day, ascertained that they really did not belong to the 3rd regiment, at all, in addition to the other real or fancied grievances of which they complained. But Colonel McConnell immediately opened a correspondence by telegraph, with the military board at Detroit, and eventually obtained permission for the "Rangers" to be placed in the 3rd regiment, in case they complied with the conditions which had been accepted by the remaining companies. Further objections were then interposed, and the Rangers were allowed until 8 o'clock Thursday evening to decide upon their action. No answer being given, the Colonel received the Georgetown company, and ordered them to appear at Cantonment Anderson at as early a a date as possible. I understand that they will arrive in our city tomorrow evening.
This crisis soon passed, however. “We are pleased to announce,” noted the Grand Rapids Enquirer, “that all difficulties which may have existed in regard to the Muskegon Company have been satisfactorily arranged, and the ‘Rangers’ have been regularly received as a component part of the ‘3rd Regiment’. This will be gratifying news, not only to our own citizens, but to the people of that region of country from which the ‘Rangers’ hailed.” At last, on Saturday, May 18, the company marched back to its quarters in Cantonment Anderson. The “Rangers” were designated Company H.
Emery enlisted at the age of 36 as Captain of Company H on May 13, 1861 (the day the Third Michigan was mustered into state service), although as we have seen the company did not in fact actually join the Third Michigan until May 18. Emery was joined by his brothers-in-law Addison and William W. Smith, who also enlisted in Company H.
When the Third Michigan left Grand Rapids for Washington on June 13, 1861, Emery was accompanied by his wife, Louisa. On July 5, Frank Siverd of Company G, wrote home to Lansing that Mrs. Bryant “is the only lady in camp. She moves about as if she were an angel of mercy, daily she may be seen carrying some nice dish to some of the sick members of the company; she has a smile and a kind word for everyone -- many times her presence is worth exceedingly more than a Physician's prescription, and I am sure she can exert as much influence, without speaking a word, as a dozen chaplains can by preaching.” (In fact she would eventually be widely noted for being a "volunteer nurse" and eventually burie din Arlington National Cemetery.)
During his service in the Third Michigan Bryant ran afoul of the military authorities on more than one occasion. On September 3, 1861, the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac promulgated Special Order No. 28, which announced that Bryant was to be court-martialed, charged with violating Article 42. He reportedly left camp and remained AWOL overnight near Hunter’s Farm, Virginia. He was subsequently placed under arrest. The members of the court were appointed and the trial was set to begin at the camp of Israel Richardson’s Brigade (of which the Third formed a part) in Virginia. The trial was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 5, but no further record of this court martial is found. However, Emery was still under arrest in October of 1861, but reported present for duty from November through December. (One of the members of Company H, Private Charles Brittain, wrote home to his family on October 9 that “the captain is not released yet and I don’t know when he will be. . . .”
As commanding officer of a company, one of his duties was to soothe concerns of families about the health and well-being of their sons and husbands. On November 21, 1861 he replied to inquiries from the father of George Lemon, one of the men in Company H.
I received your letter today [Bryant wrote] concerning your son George W. Lemon who is in my company. The reason of your not hearing from [him] is undoubtedly since he has been in the hospital he has been too sick to write, and they have not the conveniences near them. He has had the typhoid fever, he was taken to our Regimental Hospital (which is on our grounds and I can see them every day) about four weeks ago. He has been a very sick boy, but is now convalescent, is considered out of danger if he does not have a relapse. I went to see him as soon as I received your letter. He told me to write you [that] he had the best of care a plenty to make him comfortable. The food is generally what the boys mostly complain of, that is when they begin to get better, their appetite craves more than their stomach will digest and the doctors are very particular about what they eat and how much while they are in the hospital. Our doctors have had better luck with the typhoid fever than any other Regiment around us. They have not lost one patient and we have had as many as twenty at a time in the hospital. This disease is a lingering one,it takes one some time to get over it. It will probably be some weeks before he will be able for duty. He complains much of his feet being sore; if it weren't for that he would be able to walk out now. Anything I can do or my wife for his comfort we shall do willingly. My wife has a particular interest for him as a cousin of his (Martha Hurlburt) and she used to be schoolmates. She and George often conversed about Mishawaka, South Bend and those he knew of her acquaintances. I will see that George is furnished with stationary at the hospital so he may write you. If he should have a relapse and does not get along as well as he ought I will let you know.
On January 7, 1862, while the Third Michigan was in winter camp in Virginia, Emery applied for a leave of absence of 15 days due to ill health. “I think,” he wrote to the assistant Adjutant General from Camp Michigan, “a change of climate and diet for a few days will tend to restore my health.” The same day Regimental assistant surgeon, Dr. George B. Wilson, certified that having “carefully examined this officer” he found “that for about six weeks past he has had a severe cough -- the result of bronchial irritation -- which has not been relieved by the ordinary remedies, but continues to harass and weaken him.” In Wilson’s opinion, Bryant was “unfit for duty” and would remain so for at least 15 days. And furthermore, “under the circumstances a temporary change of climate would materially expedite his recovery.” According to Wilson, Bryant intended to visit his family home in Massachusetts.
It is unknown if Bryant received his furlough. In fact, he was under arrest in late January of 1862, when he was court-martialled for allegedly stealing property from a private home near Pohick Church, Virginia. Held at Johnson’s House, opposite General Heintzelman’s headquarters near Fort Lyon, Virginia on January 30, 1862, the Court charged Bryant with violation of the 54th article of war. Specifically, in that he “did enter a house and take therefrom and carry away, a window sash, and glass therein contained. He then and there, not having been ordered so to do, by the commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States. This near Pohick Church, Va., on the 25th day of Dec. A.D. 1861.” To both charge and specification he pled not guilty. The Court proceeded to take extensive testimony. Major Byron Pierce of the Third Michigan was the first witness called; all other persons required to give evidence were directed to withdraw and remain in waiting until called for.
Question by Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: I know nothing of the taking of any property. I saw him with some property. Question: Where did you see him and what did you see in his possession?
Answer: On a reconnaissance made that day to Pohick church, I saw him on horseback, half way between Pohick church and our camp, returning to the camp, with a window sash and lights.
Question: Do you know where he got the property?
Answer: I do not.
Question: Do you know what he did with that property?
Answer: [I] do not; it was the only time I saw it.
Lieutenant Robert M. Collins, Regimental Quartermaster was then called to the stand and sworn in.
Question: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: No sir; I don't know that I do.
Question: Did you see him with any property not his own that day?
Answer: I saw him with a window sash on his horse on that day while returning from a reconnaissance about half or three quarters of a mile this side of Pohick Church.
Question: How do you know that it was not his own property?
Answer: I have no knowledge that it was not his own property.
Question: When did you first see him with that property?
Answer: Coming from a small house about three quarters of a mile this side of Pohick Church. Question by the Court: Was the house occupied when you passed it?
Answer: It was not, it was nearly torn to pieces.
Question by the Court: Have you seen the window sash since?
Answer: I have, or one that much resembled it.
Question by the Court: Where have you seen it?
Answer: In Capt. Bryant's tent door.
Question by the Judge Advocate: How lately, before passing the small house had you seen him?
Answer: Not since leaving Pohick.
Question: Did you see him at the house?
Answer: I did not.
Question by the Court: Did the accused make any remarks to while in possession of the sash? Answer: I told him the Col. had just given orders for every one to come away from that house and let things be, and I said to Capt. Bryant “you are setting a bad example”, he replied, “I might as well have it to save it”.
Question by Accused: Who was present when that conversation took place?
Answer: Surgeon Bliss was riding along with us.
Question: Was there any one else within talking distance?
Answer: I think not.
Collins was excused and Regimental Surgeon Zenas E. Bliss was then called and sworn.
Question by the Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th Dec. last?
Answer: I know of his having certain property in his possession at that time.
Question: Did you see him enter any house? take therefrom any property and carry it away, not his own?
Answer: I did not.
Question: What was the property you speak of knowing that he had, and when did you see it? Answer: A window, near Pohick Church.
Question: Had you ever seen that window before?
Answer: I had not.
Question: Do you know whose it was?
Answer: Do not.
Question: Do you know where it came from?
Answer: Do not.
Question by the Court: How many lights had the window?
Answer: I should judge about six, from the way in which it was carried under his arm.
Captain Stephen L. Lowing of Company I was then called to testify.
Question by the Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: I was in company with him coming from Pohick Church; he rode around to the back side and called to me. I rode around to where he was, he asked me to hold his horse a short time. I did so. he went into the house, I heard a noise, and saw a window sash taken out from upstairs. Soon after Capt. Bryant came out with a window sash in his hand. He got on to his horse and carried the window away.
Question by the Court: Have you seen the window since?
Answer: I don't know. I have seen a window in Capt. Bryant's tent door, but don't know as it is that one.
Question by the Court: How does the window in his tent door correspond with the one you saw him bring from the house?
Answer: Should think it the same, am not very definite about it.
Question by the Court: How many squares of glass do you think there were in the sash? Answer: I think about six, am not certain.
Question by the Court: When you saw the window wrested from its place in the house did you see the person who took it?
Answer: I saw the man's arm but could not see the person enough to identify him.
Question by the Judge Advocate: was any one in the house at the time or before Capt. Bryant went in?
Answer: There was not that I saw, after he went in. I saw men go in at the front door. Question: How could see them?
Answer: Saw them through a window.
Question: Was the house in condition to be occupied when you first got there?
Answer: I don't know why not, everything seemed to be all right outside.
After Lowing was excused, Lieutenant Almon D. Borden of Company K was called and sworn.
Question: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: No sir; I don't know that I do.
Question: Did you see him with any property at that time?
Answer: I saw him with a six-light sash on the road from Pohick Church, on his horse returning to camp about half a mile from camp.
Question: Do you know where that sash came from?
Answer: I do not.
Following the testimony of Almon Borden, Captain Israel C. Smith of Company F called to the stand.
Question by the Judge Advocate: Do you know Capt. Emery D. Bryant?
Answer: I do.
Question: Do you know of his taking any property not his own from any house on or about the 25th of Dec. last?
Answer: I don't know that I do, but while passing a house this side of Pohick I saw Capt. Bryant and three or four men, perhaps more, in the house. The Col. ordered the men out. I next saw Capt. Bryant at a stream about a mile this side, he then had a sash. This was the first time I saw him with a sash in his hand, when I saw him in the house I don't know that he had anything there.
Question by the Court: Do you know for what purpose Capt. Bryant was in that house? Answer: I do not.
Captain Smith was excused and the Prosecution called its last witness, Private Roderick R. Ackley of Company “and in response to questions said” that he had been “standing near my Captain's tent in camp, saw Capt. Bryant come into camp with a window sash, but don't know where he got it.”
The prosecution closed its case and the Court adjourned until 10:00 a.m. the next morning, Friday, January 31, when Captain Bryant presented his defense. He called Private E. J. Wright of Company H to the stand.
Question by the Accused: Do you know the condition of a small two story frame house about half a mile this side of Pohick Church previous to Dec. 26th last, is so state its condition. Answer: About three weeks before the 25th I was in that neighborhood, there are two frame buildings near each other, one is of one story and the other of two. That of two, had the doors and windows all shattered, I don't think there was a whole pane of glass in the house. Question: Was there any furniture in it?
Answer: There was a chair and bureau broken.
Question by the Judge Advocate: When did you first see the house and what was its condition then?
Answer: More than two months ago. It was then in good condition a family had just left it. Question: When did you next see it?
Answer: I was there about two weeks afterwards, and the doors were then all to pieces, and the windows shattered, it was six weeks ago at least, that I first saw it in a ruinous condition.
Captain Bryant then presented his written defense statement.
It is with feelings of deep regret and sorrow that I am compelled to strand before you to defend and refute the charges brought against me by the Colonel commanding my Regiment. I am charged with the violation of the 54th article of war, but he has failed to bring one single evidence to substantiate the charge. The specification alleges that I did take and carry away a window sash from a house a half mile from Pohick Church, and he has brought two witnesses to prove the taking and carrying away a sash & glass as alleged in the Specification from the said house. I look upon the Charge as complaint, as one of annoyance and not for public utility or justice he would have filed in charges long ere this against officers of this Regiment who has torn down houses, barns, etc. and brought the roofs and boards in camp to cover log houses. It seems to me his complaint was brought for no other reason than to whip them over my back. The defendant's evidence introduced proved there were no whole sashes or doors in the house and had there been such taken as there were no whole sash in the said house. Therefore I submit the case to the wisdom to the judgment of the court.
As there were no witnesses who could place him as the culprit, the court found him not guilty and he was released from arrest.
Emery quickly resumed his duties and was present with his company in March and April of 1862. According to one source, in fact, Louisa worked with Dorothea Dix in caring for the wounded during and after the battles of Yorktown and Williamsburg in May of 1862.
In late April or early May Emery was listed as absent sick, possibly from consumption which would eventually kill him, and he was probably sent first to a hospital in Alexandria before he was transferred on May 7 to a hospital at Annapolis, Maryland. (However at least one source thought he was a malinger during this period.)
He remained at Annapolis through August, although he was supposedly on convalescent duty by perhaps as early as July 14. Bryant again ran into trouble with the authorities. In July the Regiment reported Bryant “absent sick without proper authority”, and in August he was listed as being AWOL since May 9, 1862 (about the time he was sent to the hospital).
In fact, Emery was on detached service at Fort McHenry, Maryland until he was dropped from the company rolls on September 20, 1862. He was honorably discharged on account of sickness by Special Order no. 289, War Department, dated October 11, following his resignation also dated October 11, on account of disability due to heart and lung disease on. (Curiously he was also reported as being dismissed on September 22, 1862, pursuant to Special Order No. 90, Army of the Potomac, regarding deserters.)
Although one source reported that both Emery and Louisa returned to Kalamzoo after his discharge form the army, it appears from correspondence found in Bryant’s pension record that he attempted to join the Veterans’ Reserve Corps in late May or early June of 1863, possibly in Michigan, but in any event he was apparently unsuccessful. He may have remained in Washington to pursue his entry into the VRC or perhaps he came back to Michigan and then sought to join the “Invalid Corps.” (The VRC was made up of men who while ambulatory were generally incapable of performing regular military tasks due to having suffered debilitating wounds and/or diseases and were assigned to garrison the many supply depots, draft rendezvous, camps, forts, prisons, etc. scattered throughout the northern cities, thus freeing able-bodied men for regular military duty.)
In any case, sometime in 1863 Emery applied for a pension (no. 9592) but the certificate was never granted. Dr. D. W. Bliss who had served as the first Regimental Surgeon in the Third Michigan and went on to command Armory Square hospital in Washington later in the war, wrote in late March of 1864 to the Pension Office that in his opinion he had always considered Bryant “a malinger. I know this to be the opinion of the Surgeon of his regiment (Surg. Z. E. Bliss) during the the Peninsular Campaign. I certainly do not believe he ever done [sic] sufficient duty or suffered exposure to produce permanent disability. He left the Regt at Williamsburg, Va. and fell out before the battle.”
Emery eventually did return to Michigan where reentered the service as First Lieutenant of Company H, in the First Michigan Colored Infantry (which became the One hundred and second United States Colored Troops), and was commissioned on January 20, 1864, listing his residence as Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County (recall that his wife's family was from Kalamazoo). “The First left the state March 28, 1864, for Annapolis, Md., where it joined the Ninth corps. It was soon detached and sent by transports to Hilton Head, S. C., where it arrived on the 19th of April. During the next two months the different companies were on picket duty at St. Helena and Jenkins Islands, and on Hilton Head Island. The regiment then occupied Port Royal and assisted in constructing fortifications and other fatigue duty.”
On May 23, 1864, the First Michigan Colored Infantry was reorganized as the One hundred and second U.S. Colored Infantry and attached to the District of Hilton Head, South Carolina (Dept. of the South) and District of Beaufort, South Carolina (Dept. of the South) to August when it was transferred to the District of Florida (Dept. of the South) until October. It was attached to the Second Separate Brigade (Dept. of the South) to November. One hundred and second United States Colored Troops (or First Michigan Colored Troops).
The 102nd USCT was garrisoned first at Port Royal, South Carolina from the time it was organized until June 15 when it moved to Beaufort and remained in garrison there until August 1. It was then moved to Jacksonville, Florida from August 1-3, on picket duty at Baldwin until August 15 and participated in the attack on Baldwin August 11-12 as well as in the raid on the Florida Central Railroad August 15-19. It was at Magnolia until August 29, moved to Beaufort August 29-31 and remained on duty there until after the first of the year, engaged in outpost and picket duty on Port Royal, Lady and Coosa Islands.
But Emery was still too ill to undertake any serious military responsibilities, and was apparently suffering from the debilitating effects of his lung disease. He was taken sick about September 10, 1864, and although he remained sick through the end of the year, in October he was reported to be serving with Company G, and was furloughed, probably as a result of his poor health, on December 26, 1864. He apparently returned to duty, however, and was reported as Captain of Company B or D by May of 1865, commissioned May 6, replacing Captain Arad Lindsey (also formerly of the Old Third), who had been killed on November 30, 1864.
The 102nd USCT participated in various actions throughout South Carolina, particularly in the Charleston area, throughout early 1865, and in fact moved to Charleston on April 29, thence to Summereville on May 7-8, to Branchville on May 18, to Orangeburg on May 25 and remained on provost duty there until they left for Winsboro, July 28-August 3, where they remained in garrison until September. The regiment moved to Charleston and Emery was mustered out of service with the regiment at Charleston on September 30, 1865. From Charleston the regiment returned to Detroit where it was paid off and disbanded on October 17, 1865.
After the war Emery returned to Michigan and settled in Kalamazoo where he was living in 1867 working as a shoemaker and cordwainer.
Emery died of consumption on November 18, 1867, in Kalamazoo, and was reportedly buried in Riverside cemetery, Kalamazoo.
Louisa applied for and received pension (no. 109,662), eventually drawing $17.00 per month.
She was living in Colorado Springs, Colorado Territory in 1869, but soon returned to Kalamazoo. By 1870 she was teaching school and living with her mother Rachel and her invalid brother William, who had also served in the Third Michigan in Kalamazoo village; another brother Addison too had served in the Old Third and had died during the war. Also living with her was her 7-year-old son Emery. Louisa was still in Kalamazoo in 1873, but eventually moved to Washington, DC. By 1883 she was residing at 915 F Street northwest, in Washington, DC. By the time she died in 1902 Louisa was living at 1332 New York Avenue in Washington.
Louisa was buried in the old Officer’s Section at Arlington National Cemetery (no. 1258); her headstone lists her simply as a “Civil War Volunteer Nurse.”
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