I am happy a few people are curious to that subject. Ironically, my own GGGG-Grandfather served four years in the Marines before the Civil War began. He joined the First Connecticut Infantry, fought at First Bull Run, and mustered out after ninety days. He joined the Sixth Connecticut and was promoted to Captain of Company B while the new regiment formed up. From there he sailed off to South Carolina. We have a picture of him seated in the middle with Captain Dana who (arranged Lincoln's funeral arrangements)on the right and an unidentified captain on the left sitting down. We believe the picture was taken between August-September 12th, 1861. He was officially promoted on September 12th, 1861 to Captain. But in the picture he has on his First Sergeant stripes. The same rank he had on with the First Connecticut Regiment at First Bull Run. (Company A, First Connecticut.)
Now Captain Dana and Captain Benjamin Franklin Prouty worked on signal flags and developed some sort of new system (from what I have been told, from emails.) I don't know too much of what they did, but they had a big hand in the signal flags.
If you do come across "Captain B.F. Prouty", 6th Connecticut Regiment let me know, please. If I just had one single ancestor in the war, it would be so easy to find out everything on that soldier. But with over two-hundred it is very difficult. Our genealogy book, National Archives website and the Adjutant State Records at the LOC have been a huge help. Our genealogy book is in the genealogy room at the LOC, along with the Adjutant State Records. Last name "Prouty."
Around one-hundred and eighty to two-hundred served. I have found pensions for one-hundred and forty-two, we know of the ones that were killed, mortally wounded, wounded, wounded captured, ETC. That is my mother's, mother's side. The "Pellerin's" served in Louisiana Regiments. The "Whitmer's" of our blood line served in New York and Virginia Regiments. There are many more "Whitmer's" on the record books, but from our genealogy we can only claim New York and Virginia "Whitmere's."
The "Prouty's" had about 99% fight for the Union. The bulk in the New England states. But they represented all of the Union states except, three. Delaware, New Hampshire and New Jersey. California, Oregon, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas a few served in. Had one in the "First Mississippi Marine Brigade", one in the "First Indian Home Brigade." Two Prouty's served in the 74th and 81st USCT. Many great regiments and some bad luck regiments.
I was very shocked when I was handed the family genealogy books. Never knew before that, we had anyone in the war. I have had an interest in the war at a very early age, but that was a huge shock. I feel VERY blessed to know what my family in the past had done.
Have a good evening, Sir
Shawn Prouty