| Will Smith |
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| Dr. Bender is Will Smith's great great-granduncle. He graduated from the Pennsylvania Homeopathic Medical School. Before he set up his own practice, he worked with his cousin Dr. Jacob J. Bender. He enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers September 11, 1862. For some unknown reason the regiment was mustered out September 24, 1862. May 1, 1863, he enlisted in the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers with the rank of 1st Lt (Assistant Surgeon). In the Official Records there is an accommodation signed by his commanding officer Col. William Rickard. It states that he was present at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and took a medical knapsack onto the field of battle to attend to the wounded. He was promoted to Captain during his commission. July 17, 1865, he was mustered out of the Army. He went to Kansas and then Colorado. In 1867, he returned to his hometown of Carlisle, Pennsylvania and resumed his medical practice. |
| Will is a teacher. He has taught history and currently is teaching science and math at Desert Springs Middle School in Desert Hot Springs, CA |
| How I became involved in Civil War reenacting |
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| My wife, Phyllis, went to an event at Silver Falls State Park with a group of our friends. The next day our family went to the event. We were so excited, all three of us signed up with the 9th Virginia Dismounted. Two years later, we signed up with the Rockbridge Artillery. Due to an ear problem, my doctor highly suggested that I find a different group. Since, my ancestors were involved with Pennsylvania units during the Civil War. Phyllis and I signed up with the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. I have verified three family members that fought in the Civil War. They were my great great-grandfather (168th Pennsylvania), my great great-granduncle(105th Pennsylvania), and my great great-granduncle Jacob S. Bender Assistant Surgeon (29th Pennsylvania). |
| My Persona |