Knefler, Frederick

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KNEFLER, FREDERICK

KNEFLER, FREDERICK (1833–1901), U.S. army officer. Born in Hungary, Knefler immigrated to the United States in 1859 and volunteered for the Union army in 1861 on the outbreak of the Civil War. He rose from the rank of private to captain in the 11th Indiana regiment within a year and from captain to colonel in the 79th Indiana within another year. He fought in all the great battles in the west, taking part in the assault on Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga and Sherman's Atlanta campaign, and was promoted to brevet brigadier general in 1865 shortly before the end of the war. In the late 1870s he was appointed by President Hayes to head the Pension Bureau.