behind AotW

A Rensselaer graduate and civil engineer, William M. Pratt enlisted as a Private in Company K, 8th Connecticut Infantry in May 1862 and was twice wounded and captured at Antietam. He was rescued by Federal cavalrymen and returned to duty and was Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment at the end of the war.

Pratt was one of at least 4 RPI civil engineers at Antietam. L to R, Pratt, A. Pardee, J. Knap, W. Roebling.

The list of his graduating class of engineers at the top is from the Proceedings of the Semi-centennial Celebration of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1874). His photograph is from the Connecticut State Library, online from John Banks.