The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-02-21
GEORGE F. BRANHAM.
His Record as Soldier and Busi-
ness Man


George. f. Branham is the only living
son of the late Hon. d. G. Branham, and
was born in jefferson county, Feb. 26th
1874. At the age of fifteen he was an ap
prentice in railroad shops at North Mad
ison learning the trade of machinist. The
day on which was fought the first battle
of Bull Run, Branham stopped his lathe
and, with six other apprentices, enlisted
as privates i'll company K, Sd Indiana cav.
airy, then being organized by A. w. Hen
bricks, now of the firm OF Hendricks
Hord 4 Hendricks. He served with his
company until he was taken prisoner, June
25th, 1868, having been engaged in the
Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Beverly
Ford and Aldie, the last named being the
place where he was csptured. From there
he was taken to Richmond via Winches-
ter and Staunton, and from there to Bell
Island, where he arrived July lst, '63; but
only remained until July 9Th. On that
DAY numb, r of prisoners were exchang-
ed, but Branham's name was not among
the lucky ones. The rebel guard was
calling over the names of those persons
who were TO be exchanged, and one name
was called to which no one answered 1t
was called the second and third times, and
then Branham responded and was roughly
ordered to hurry up or he would be sent
back 10 prison and kept six months longer
for being so slow. He considered himself
lucky to get out on any terms, as some of
the BOYS captured at the same lime were
kept prisoners for nine months. AS a
great many of our boys In prison at that
time died or were shot while trying to
escape by swimming the James River, it
is pr. sumed that the poor iellew who did
not answer to his name had been one Of
those unfortunate ones. The exchanged
prisoners were taken from Bell Island to
Annapolis, Nd, where Branham took
leave for home; and when he returned to
his company in Virginia, it was with
lieutenant's commission in his pocket. At
the close of this campaign (lS63), he was
mustered out as private, returned home,
and Immediately went to work recruiting,
and by December of that same year was
in camp, 1st lieutenant of company III,
10th Indiana cavalry. His regiment was
ordered to Nashville, Tenn. In May,
1864, he was in the battle of Frank
lin, and also that of Nashville, December
l4th of the same year. At the last
mentioned battle and also during that
campaign Branham was icspector general
of the 1st brigade, 1st division, 7th cavalry
of the Army OF the Mississippi. He was
promoted to captain of company f, De-
cember IA.
At the battle of Shoal Creek, General
Hammond. brigade commander, compli-
mented him to General Wilson, corps
and requested he be men,
toned in General orders for bravery. At
the close OF this campaign, Capt Branham
returned to his regiment and took CON-
mand of his commany. His regiment was
ordered to New Orleans and from there to
Mobile, and was engaged in the battles of
Mobile, Spanish Fort, and Fort Blakely,
and was also among the forces that started
on the raid for Andersonville to release
the prisoners confined there. But before
they had proceeded very far on this praise
worthy errand, were met by the news that
peace had been declared east of the Chat
river, and the command at once
returned to Vicksburg. Miss. Captain
Branham was mustered out of the service
Sept. Is, 1865. For about five years after
the close of the war he was engaged in the
building of railroads under the superin-
tendance of his father. For the past eight
years he has been actively engaged in bus
mess in this city. He is member of the
well known firm of Cobb and Branham.
He has been a resident of Indianapolis
for the past II years, and as to being a
friend to the colored people, it is only ne
cessary to look at his record. He has had
in his employ more colored men than any
coal dealer in the city, and pays them 1.50
per day. This % or so per cent more
day than is paid by other employers in
the same business. Truth.