Brant, William (MOH), CPT

Captain William Brant enlisted in the Union Army on May 16, 1861, serving as a Corporal in Company A, 1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to Sergeant of Company A on February 4, 1862, he fought at this rank at the Battles of Five Forks, Glendale and Second Bull Run. He was then advanced to 1st Sergeant on September 1, 1862, serving in this capacity in the Battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the Mine Run Campaign.

Re-enlisted in the Union Army in December 1863, when the enlistment of the surviving men of the 1st New Jersey Infantry expired by law in June 1864, the majority of the remaining veterans were mustered out. However, the men who had re-enlisted were consolidated into the 1st New Jersey Veteran Battalion. On February 2, 1865 William Brant was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in Company B of the Battalion.

On April 3, 1865 his unit participated in the final assaults in the Confederate positions at Petersburg, Virginia, where he captured the battle flag of the 46th North Carolina (CSA) Infantry, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for this on May 10, 1865.

He received the brevet of Captain, US Volunteers on April 2, 1865. On May 11 he was promoted to full Captain, and was mustered out of Union service on June 29, 1865, having served the entire length of the War.