His remains lie in a mass Confederate grave site known as Confederate Mound, which is the largest mass grave in the western hemisphere. It is marked by a tall spire with a statue of a Confederate Infantryman on it's peak and at the base contains four bronze plaques with the names of those interred.

James T Brannan, age 43, was 2nd Sergeant in Captain Samuel H Terral's Company, "The Clarke County Rescuers" 37th Regiment, Brigade of Mississippi Volunteers commanded by Colonel Robert McLain. His brother, David L. Brannan, age 35, was 2nd Lieutenant and their nephews were Privates James H. Hurst, age 22, Isaac L. Hurst and Philip A Hurst, age 18. They were mustered in March 1862, for a term of three years.

In December, 1862, the 37th Infantry was ordered to march from Corinth to Vicksburg to reinforce the garrison assigned to defend northwest Mississippi. On May 17,1863 the Federal Artillery began firing on the Confederate positions and continued a steady fire for forty eight days and nights. After the long period of shelling, the Union Forces launched a determined attack along the Graveyard Road, where the Thirty Seventh was one of the front line regiments. The attack was repulsed several times and the troops stayed in the trenches without relief. More than one fourth of the 37th was killed or wounded. The Confederate Forces at Vicksburg capitulated to General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863. The captured "Grey" soldiers were paroled as "unexchanged" prisoners, signing documents stating they would not bear arms nor serve in any capacity against the Union Army.

However, James continued to fight and was captured by forces under Major General Thomas on December 15, 1864, near Nashville, Tennessee, and died soon after in the infamous Camp Douglas. It is estimated that from 1862–1865, more than 6,000 Confederate prisoners died from disease, starvation, and the bitter cold winters; the largest number of prisoners held at any one time was 12,000 in December, 1864. Many were initially buried in unmarked graves in Chicago's City Cemetery but in 1867 were reinterred at what is now known as Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery (5 miles south of the former Camp Douglas).

James was from a family of 18 children. His father, Henry, was a Minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and was pastor at the newly founded Mt Pleasant Church in the community of "Whynot" in Lauderdale Co., MS, until his death in 1862.

He was survived by his wife Nancy Monk Brannan; sons: William Bourne 16, James Edward (Champ) 13, Henry Hubbard 9,and Charles Davis 3; and daughters: Eliza Jane 19, Susan C 17, Nancy Ellen 15, Mary Francis 11, Sallie Aurelia 6, Margaret 8, Rose 4, and Josie 2.

Source: THE HENRY AND UNITY BRANNAN FAMILY, A SAGA OF THE FIRST WESTWARD MOVEMENT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO MISSISSIPPI, by: Jean Brannan Banes and Robert E Banes