Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-15
GENERAL JOHN BRATTON.
A Gallant Old Warrior and Statesman
Crosses the River.

Crosses the River.
General John Bratton died at his
home in Winnsboro last Wednesday
night at $50 o'clock from heart trou.
BILE, and was buried Friday morning
at 10 o'clock. The following brief
sketch of his useful life is from the
Columbia Register:
General Bratton was one of the
most distinguished gentlemen of the
state, and the descendant of family
that has been identified with the de-
velopment of South Carolina since its
reception into the union of the states.
From time to time its members have
been honored by the people with i'm.
portant trusts, and during the Revolu-
ton none fought more valiantly for
the independence of government than
they.
Colonel William Bratton, the pro.
genitor of the family in this state, was
a Virginian and came to York county
previous to the Revolution. He was
among the first pupils of Mt. Zion COL
lege at Winnsboro, from which he
graduated. He made that town his
home and spent the remainder of his
life there. He became physician.
He was twice married the first time
to a daughter of General Winn, and
the second to Miss Isabella Means.
To this latter marriage four children
we're born, of which the subject of
this sketch was the youngest.
He attended Mt. Zion and gradu-
ated at the South Carolina college.
He later graduated in medicine at the
medical college in Charleston and
practiced his profession in his native
county until the outbreak of the war.
He enlisted as a private, was soon
made captain and served in that ca
pacity at the bombardment of Fort
Sumter. When his company was call
ed on to enlist in the Confederate
service they refused, and Bratton,
with 20 others, enlisted as privates
and helped to fill up another company
of the Sixth regiment, which did en-
list. The regiment was ordered to
Virginia. There was some trouble
about the re-enlistment of the regi-
ment; but finally a new battalion was
formed which finally became regl-
ment and he was elected the colonel.
On the battlefield of the Wilderness
he conducted himself with the greatest
valor and brilliancy, and was made
brigadier general. General Lee sent a
telegram to the war department at
Richmond on the night of the second
days fight, requesting the immediate
promotion and confirmation of Colonel
Bratton. His request was fully COM
piled with the next day. When Lee
surrendered at Appomatox, General
Bratton commanded the largest brigade
of the surrendered army.
At the close of the war he returned
to Fairfield, and since that time his
history has been coextensive with that
of the state. He was elected to the
state senute in 1866, and was delegate
to the taxpayers convention. In 1876
he was chairman of the state delega-
ton to the national Democratic con.
vention and was for number of years
the chairman of the party in his coun-
ty. In 1880 he was chairman of the
state Democratic executive committee,
and in 1881 he was elected comptroller
general to fill a vacancy. In 1884 he
was elected to congress to fill the un-
expired term of Congressman Evans,
deceased.
For many years he was a trustee OF
the state college. In 1859 he married
Miss Elizabeth P. DuBose, daughter of
Theodore S. DuBose, and they had
three children, two of whom survive,
DR.. William Bratton having died in
the past few months.