William Smith

William Smith was born on July 20,1840 in Amsterdam, New York and was of English ancestry. During the summer of 1862, he was working in Trenton, Michigan, operating a ferry across the Detroit River to Canada. He was 22. He enlisted on August 11, 1862, and was mustered into service on August 13. Not many details of Williams service have survived. Curtis (p. 146) mentions that he was one of the soldiers detailed to guard a soldier from the 19th Indiana who was executed on June 12th, 1863.

William was with the Regiment up until July 1, 1863. On that fateful day at Gettysburg, he was wounded in the arm by a Mine ball. Curtis (p, 181) indicates that he was the first soldier wounded at Gettysburg. The heavy slug caused frightful damage, necessitating the amputation of the arm. He spent several months in the hospital recuperating from his wound. He was discharged at Washington, D. C. on November 28, 1863 because of his Gettysburg wound..

He was married twice, both to women named Elizabeth. His first wife passed away in 1868. William later remarried another Elizabeth, who out-lived him. She passed away in 1925.

After the war he worked as a Deputy Customs Collector for the Detroit District of the United States customs service. Since Colonel Morrow also worked for the Customs Office at the Port of Detroit for a brief period after the War , it is possible that William's former commander assisted him in obtaining the position.

Although he was active in veterans affairs he did not belong to the G. A. R. but William was able to attend Michigan Day At Gettysburg in 1889.

William Smith died on August 29, 1897 and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit Michigan. He left his widow Elizabeth, five grown sons and 2 grown daughters. There was an extensive obituary with a sketch photo that appeared in the Detroit Free Press on August 30, 1897.

Strangely, since there was another William Smith Company B, William was officially listed in all company documents as "William Smith 2d. " At least one of William Smith attended , although exactly which is not clear.

Much of the information on this page is courtesy of William's descendant: Bob Smith Jayfd185@aol.com