Louis Wagner (American general)
Louis Wagner | |
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| Born | August 4, 1838 Giessen,Grand Duchy of Hesse |
| Died | January 15, 1914(aged 75) Germantown,Pennsylvania |
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel BrevetBrigadier General |
| Unit | 88th Pennsylvania Infantry |
| Commands held | 5th Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | 9th Commander-in-Chief,Grand Army of the Republic |
Louis Wagner(August 4, 1838 – January 15, 1914) was aGerman-bornAmericanmilitary infantry officer who served in theUnion Armyand as the9th Commander-in-Chiefof theGrand Army of the Republic,1880-1881.
Early life and military career[edit]
Wagner was born August 4, 1838, inGiessen,Germany.He moved with his parents to the United States at age 11 and eventually learned the trade of alithograph printer.
Wagner enlisted in August 1861 with the88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantryduring theCivil Warand was mustered in September 13, 1861, and commissioned1st lieutenantof Company D. He rose to the rank ofcaptainof Company D and was wounded in action at theSecond Battle of Bull Runand captured, but paroled and recovered in hospital atAlexandria,Virginia;for his distinguished service during the battle, he was promoted tomajorof the regiment.
Wagner was wounded in action again at theBattle of Chancellorsvilleand returned toPhiladelphiawhere he was recovering but deemed unfit for service in the field. During his recovery, Wagner was promoted tolieutenant colonel,and he volunteered for the command ofCamp William Penn,the first United States Army training camp forAfrican Americansoldiers. Upon a surgeon's recommendation, Wagner received the command and was detached from his regiment during the entire time that the camp was in operation.
Wagner was eventually promotedcoloneland served as commander of the 5th Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard until the war's end.
For meritorious service during the war, Wagner received a promotion tobrevetbrigadier generalof U.S. Volunteers, March 13, 1865.
Post-war service[edit]
After the war, Wagner served as commissioner of public works for Philadelphia and was very active in theGrand Army of the Republic,both at the local, state, and national levels.
Wagner was a charter member and first commander of G.A.R. Post #6 inGermantown,November 13, 1866. The following year he was elected Commander of the Pennsylvania Department and both Junior Vice-Commander and Commander-in-Chief in 1870. He served as Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief, 1871-1872. Wagner was elected 9th Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. in 1880 at the national encampment inDayton,Ohio.
During his membership with the G.A.R., from 1868 to 1913, he only missed two national encampments.
Wagner died January 15, 1914, at his home in Germantown and is buried inIvy Hill Cemetery,Philadelphia.[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Grand Army of the Republic.Final Journal of the Grand Army of the Republic, 1866-1956(Washington, DC: U.S. Govt. Print. Off.), 1957.
- ^Eicher, John; Eicher, David (2001).Civil War High Commands.Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. p. 547.ISBN0-8047-3641-3.Retrieved5 July2022.
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