Louis Wagner (American general)
| Louis Wagner | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
August 4, 1838 Giessen, Germany |
| Died | January 15, 1914 (aged 75) Germantown, Pennsylvania |
| Place of burial | Ivy Hill Cemetery Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Colonel Brevet Brigadier General
|
| Unit | 88th Pennsylvania Infantry |
| Commands held | 5th Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | 9th Commander-in-Chief, Grand Army of the Republic |
Louis Wagner (August 4, 1838 – January 15, 1914) was a German-born American military infantry officer who served in the Union Army and as the 9th Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, 1880-1881.
Wagner was born August 4, 1838 in Giessen, Germany. He moved with his parents to the United States at age 11 and eventually learned the trade of a lithograph printer.
Wagner enlisted in August 1861 with the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and was mustered in September 13, 1861 and commissioned 1st lieutenant of Company D. He rose to the rank of captain of Company D and was wounded in action at the Second Battle of Bull Run and captured, but paroled and recovered in hospital at Alexandria, Virginia; for his distinguished service during the battle, he was promoted to major of the regiment.
Wagner was wounded in action again at the Battle of Chancellorsville and returned to Philadelphia where he was recovering but deemed unfit for service in the field. During his recovery, Wagner was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and he volunteered for the command of Camp William Penn, the first United States Army training camp for African American soldiers. 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.
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