Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 6 November 2005

Page
1020

ALBERT BRANT, P. O. Morrow, was born in Warren Co., O. Feb. 12, 1842; son of Abraham and Hester (Jeffries) Brant, the former a native of N. J., born March 6, 1807, and the latter, a native of Warren Co., born Nov. 23, 1812; the father emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1814, who in the following spring settled in Warren Co. The grandfather of our subject served in the war of 1812; the father of our subject served for nine years as County Infirmary Director, and for a period of over thirty years as a Justice of the Peace in the township of Union. Albert Brant enlisted in company A. 4th O. V. C., Sept. 10, 1861, and served under Gen. O. M. Mitchell as a scout or courier. During the campaign from Bowling Green, Ky., to Huntsville, Ala., he was with his command in every engagement of that department, except Stone River (being a prisoner at that time) until after the battle of Chickamauga; he served as a scout during the celebrated Wheeler raid. In November preceding the battle of Mission Ridge, he was sent for by Gen. Crook, who asked him if he could carry a message to Gen. Sherman, who was at that time making his way up the Tennessee River; Mr. Brant replied that "he could, if any man could." Gen. Crook said "he could take one, or five, or a hundred men, just as he chose," so as to deliver it to Gen. Sherman safely and quickly, as it was of great importance; he chose one man and proceeded down the Tennessee River; he found the river guarded at every point,

After dark they started on one of the most perilous voyages ever undertaken. The Elk River empties into the Tennessee at the mouth of the famous "Muscle Shoals." These shoals consist of fifteen miles of tumultuous rapids, rushing with terrible force through a narrow and rocky channel. Sometimes the canoe would almost strike the rocks, and almost sink. The men kept the center of the stream, to keep as secure as possible from the rebel pickets, which lined each side of the river. This was the fourth night from the army, and the heroic scouts were almost dead from hunger, exposure and loss of sleep, not having slept since the departure from the Elk River, and having had nothing to eat except corn bread and raw bacon, procured from the negroes in scanty supply. Taking the last meal at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, before starting down the Elk River, they walked all that night, and lay concealed all the next day on an island, making thirty-nine hours without a bite to eat. The men landed once in going down the Tennessee, but found nothing but a deserted plantation. Finally, they found a plantation where they got some corn bread, and what was more to their liking, news from Sherman's advance guard. An old darkey told them that the Yankees had come near capturing his young master that evening, together with his whole company, at Florence, Ala., and that his master was in the house at the time, while the company was encamped a short distance up the road. Mr. Brant took the old negro into his confidence, told him his name and business and asked him the distance to Florence; he was told that it was twelve miles distant, that the river was closely guared [sic] at every point, and that the camp referred to was on the road to Florence, so that it would be necessary to exercise great caution. Therefore, Mr. Brant and his companion took a canoe and traveled by river to Florence, where they arrived at 9 o'clock, and made their way into the Union camp without being seen by the pickets. Making their way to headquarters, they were introduced to Gen. Hugh Ewing. When told by Mr. Brant that he was a courier from Chattanooga, and the bearer of important messages, Gen. Ewing was incredulous, but was finally convinced of the truth of the story. Gen. Ewing received the scouts very kindly, and relieved their necessities, which were pressing, as the men had not had a meal for four days. Mr. Brant was sent on to Gen. Sherman by Gen. Ewing with a strong guard and a personal letter to Sherman. They reached Gen. Sherman's quarters at evening, having ridden thirty-five miles since noon,