Miss Valencia, that is fantastic history given all the current & past family Benham military..

John Henry Benham Jr is from Connecticut. Joined as Sergt major 99 NY infantry 28 May 1861. Stayed a year as a white officer in 79 USCT 2 Mar 1863 thru 7 Mar 1864. (Like the movie Glory) Left military completely 1871. Died 1901. Source: U.S. Army Historical Register 1789-1903 Vol 1. Record 9212-9217

His relative Brigadier General Henry Benham led a Union campaign in 1861 against Secessionville, SC. It didn't go well and he returned to desk in DC. Benham was under General Hunter in the Department of the South based in Hilton Head. When Gen Sherman finally got to the sea, half the waiting troops in Hilton Head were Black including the famous 55th Mass. Nearby, a great national cemetary in Beaufort has many USCT graves. We should see if any Benhams are there.

My grandfather Willie Benham had two brothers John and Henry Benham who were lost to us around WWI.

There was a Rebel Capt Calhoun Benham from California who was adjutant to Gen Cleburne in NW Georgia. Cleburne in 1864 wanted Jefferson Davis to free Negros and use colored troops, but Calhoun Benham vigorously protested. By the time Gen Lee relented and measure passed Confed congress, it was March 1965 and Appamattox was the next month. Source: Richmond, Va Dispatch 8/5/1904.

The Benham Guard in the San Francisco 1856 State of Insurrection was named after this Rebel. www.militarymuseum.org/BenhamGuard.html

5 of my 6 brothers are military veterans. My 18year old John Robert wants to go now, but I don't want him in Baghdad. Please God.

There are some current Black Civil War renactors based in Atlanta. A few years go, I went to a demo campsite near my home.