Julian Bryant achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel in command of the 51st U.S. Colored Troops in March. And he held this position until fall. Meanwhile, Adjutant General Thomas began calling for a more careful screening of officers who would command black regiments.On June 14 Thomas issued an order that the status of black soldiers be changed immediately. They would, in the future, perform only their fair share of fatigue duty, thus leaving them the energy for the higher responsibility of fighting the enemy. Further, he warned any commander who forced colored troops to perform more than their share of these menial duties should be prepared to explain himself to ‘the common superior through the regular channels.’ The Bryants had realized their first major success.

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A second milestone materialized the following month. Congress passed an act after long debate, stating that black soldiers would be issued the same uniform, weapons, equipment, rations, medical and hospital attendance, pay, and emoluments, other than bounty, as other soldiers.

In September, Bryant left the command of the 51st and took on a new assignment: colonel and commander of the 46th U.S. Colored Infantry. This was significant proof of his ability, mainly because the unit had been notoriously hard to discipline. Brigadier General John P. Hawkins, in recommending Bryant for this promotion, stressed that the duties of this position necessitated very peculiar qualifications and that Bryant’s superior capabilities were obvious.

His rapid promotions and command assignments demonstrated Bryant’s leadership qualities. In his new position, he commanded the post at Milliken’s Bend, but he was soon sent to Vicksburg, where he remained for two months before departing for Memphis.

In February 1865, Bryant went to New Orleans and from there to garrison duty at Brownsville and Clarksville, Texas, on the Rio Grande River, an assignment from which he never returned. These posts constituted important geographical points in defense of foreign attack or subsequent retaliation by the Rebels. And Bryant again realized that his men were primarily assigned to the engineer service, rather than the infantry. His objections were never heard.

At Brazos Santiago, Texas, on May 14, three days after arriving at the post, Bryant, at 28 years of age, drowned as he swam in the Gulf of Mexico, an inauspicious end for a conspicuous young man.

This article was written by Karen Berfield and originally published in the April 1983 issue of Civil War Times Magazine.

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