Bryan, Council A., 1830-1907.

Council A. Bryan was born in Washington County, Florida on January 17, 1830. The Bryan family came to Leon County in 1832. Council was educated in private schools and attended the Cokesbury Institute in South Carolina for two years. He served as the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Leon County from 1855 to 1861.

In February, 1862, Bryan enrolled in the Trapier Guards, which eventually became Company C of the Fifth Florida Infantry. The company was commanded by future Florida Governor William Dunnington Bloxham. In April of the same year the unit was mustered into Confederate service and sent to Virginia, where it became part of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Along with the Second and Eighth Florida Regiments, the Fifth was eventually organized into a Florida Brigade under the command of another future Florida Governor, Edward Aylsworth Perry. The Florida Brigade participated in all the major campaigns of Lee's Army. In particular, the Floridians were heavily engaged at Gettysburg. Council Bryan served in the Fifth Florida as a Lieutenant and then as Captain of Company C. His brother, Joseph L. Bryan, was a Sergeant in the same company.

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