My great, great, great, great, grandfather William Pinckney Brantley was born on May 7, 1822 in North Carolina. Around 1849, William married Liza Bittle, who was born c. 1833 in North Carolina. The 1860 census from Chesterfield County, South Carolina shows them having six children. It is assumed he moved his family from North Carolina to South Carolina between the years 1850 and 1852.

William was 40 years old when he enlisted at Cheraw, S. C. on December 26th 1862. He was enrolled as a private in Co. A, 4th SC Cavalry, by Capt. J. C. Craig for the duration of the war. The unit was officially organized in January of 1863 under Col. B. H. Rutledge. Between January and June the unit was under Major William Stokes and participated in operations in and around Beaufort, Bluffton and the Combahee River.

Private Brantley was then detailed to detached service as an ambulance driver by order of Col. Rutledge, No. 107, dated 25 June 1863. His muster rolls show that he was paid an extra allowance for his horse of $24.40 per BI-monthly pay period. This duty lasted till December 31, 1863 when he was permanently assigned to ambulance driver duty by Lt. Walker, S.O. 230, at which time the extra pay allowance ended. Some time between February and August of 1864 Private Brantley was again reassigned to J. W. Mc Curry, A.Q.M, (Assistant Regimental Quartermaster).

In May of 1864 the unit was reassigned to Butler's Brigade, Hampton's Division of Stuart's Corps, (later Dunovant's Brigade, Butler's Division, Hampton's Corps), in Virginia. There they were involved in engagements such as The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Trevillian Station and the defense of Petersburg.

In February of 1865 Private Brantley along with the rest of Hampton's Crops moved south and participated in the Carolina's Campaign, which ended in the surrender of General Johnston's Army in April.

The finial Muster Roll of Company A, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteer Cavalry shows Private Brantley present at Greensboro in April, 1865 but there are no records of a parole. The notation:
BRANTLEY, W. Pinckney (37*) Private from Chesterfield County. Departed Greensboro, NC after Apr. 9, 1865 *Age is incorrect

William Pinckney Brantley is buried at New Hope Baptist Church in Chesterfield beside his second wife Rosanne.