Frederick Knefler

Frederick Knefler was born April 12, 1834, in Arad, Hungary. While still a young boy, Knefler served and was wounded in the Revolution of 1848 in Hungary. He immigrated to the United States with his father in 1849 and learned the carpenter trade. He served as a deputy clerk for several years before being admitted to the bar. At the onset of the Civil War, he immediately offered his services and, on April 24, 1861, was mustered in as first lieutenant of the 11th Indiana Infantry. He was promoted to captain June 5, 1861. This three-month unit served under Robert Patterson before being mustered out August 10, 1861. Later that month, the regiment was remustered as a three-year unit and stationed at Paducah, Kentucky, where Knefler served as major and assistant adjutant general on the staff of Major General Lew Wallace. In August 1862, he was appointed captain of the 79th Indiana, a newly formed regiment of volunteers. Knefler led the 79th at Perryville, Murfreesboro, during the Tullahoma campaign, and at Chickamauga. At Chattanooga, he led the charge at Missionary Ridge and commanded the brigade in the Atlanta campaign against John B. Hood at Franklin and Nashville. Frederick Knefler was brevetted brigadier general on March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war. He was mustered out June 7, 1865, with his regiment and returned to Indianapolis. He formed a law partnership that ended with the death of his partner and then served as United States pension agent. Knefler died June 14, 1901, in Indianapolis and was buried there in Crown Hill Cemetery.

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