George D. Wagner

George Day Wagner
George D. Wagner
Born	(1829-09-22)September 22, 1829 Ross County, Ohio
Died	February 13, 1869(1869-02-13) (aged 39) Indianapolis, Indiana
Place of burial	Armstrong Cemetery, Green Hill, Indiana
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861-1865
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Shiloh Battle of Perryville Battle of Stones River Battle of Chickamauga Chattanooga Campaign Atlanta Campaign Franklin-Nashville Campaign Battle of Franklin

George Day Wagner (September 22, 1829 – February 13, 1869) was an Indiana politician, farmer, and soldier, serving as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. His controversial actions at the Battle of Franklin in 1864 overshadowed his positive performance earlier in the war.

Wagner was born in rural Ross County, Ohio. When he was four years old, Wagner's family moved to Warren County, Indiana, where he was educated in the common schools. He became a prosperous farmer, and was elected in 1856 as a Republican to the Indiana House of Representatives. Two years later, he was elected to the State Senate. He was selected as the president of the Indiana State Agricultural Society, a post he held when the Civil War began in April 1861 with the bombardment of Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

In June of that year, Wagner enlisted in the state volunteer troops as colonel of the 15th Indiana Infantry and initially served in western Virginia. He commanded the 21st brigade in the Army of the Ohio during the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. He subsequently participated in the Battle of Perryville and commanded the 21st brigade in the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Stones River at the end of the year.