1906 obit PA veteran Frederick W. Bender

This was found on a Phila rootsweb Civil War posting
Obituary 13 April 1906, died 4 April 1906

FREDERICK W. BENDER

The funeral of Frederick W. Bender, a veteran of the Civil War, who died on
Wednesday of last week, aged 73 years, took place on Saturday morning from his
late residence, 14 Maplewood Avenue. Services were held at St. Vincent de Paul's
Church, East Price Street, and interment was made at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery,
Mt..Airy. Phila. PA

Mr. Bender, who was a. Frenchman by birth and a man of a most engaging
personality, besides being a hero of the Civil War, fought in the French
revolution of 1848, and the Franco-Prussian War, and at the time of his death he
carried with him several scars, the result of wounds he received. He was a
cannoneer in the French artillery, stationed in the city of Paris when King
Louis Philippe was dethroned and driven into exile. General Cavignac,
commander-in-chief of the army, was made dictator, and when the infuriated
populace fired-on the soldiers Cannoneer Bender was wounded by a bullet striking
him in the leg.

When the Civil War broke out Cannoneer Bender, like many others in the French
army, resigned and came to this country and enlisted on the Union side. He first
served in the Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and the Government, learning he
was an experienced gunner, induced him to accept service on the gunboat
Princeton. From this vessel he was transferred to the sloop of war Tuscarora as
a gunner. He was with Farragut at the passing of Fort Morgan, and he joined in
the storming of Fort Fisher, where he was wounded, and in many other important
naval engagements.

When the Franco-Prussian War was declared Mr. Bender went back to his native
land and joined the artillery corps. He had charge of a gun at the battle of
Gravelotte, where the German cavalry, under the command of General Steinmetz,
were frightfully slaughtered while attempting to break the French lines. He was
in the city of Paris when the red flag, the symbol of anarchistic freedom, held
sway and the Tuileries were converted into hospitals. When the war ended he
returned to this country. Mr. Bender was often heard to declare that the
American soldier has no equal as a fighter. Mr. Bender leaves a widow and three
daughters, Miss Mary Bender, Miss Lizzie Bender and Mrs. John J. Lamb.