New Britain herald., 1915-01-20
BALTAS WAGNER, OLD
 WAR VETERAN, DIES
Passes Away at Soldiers Home After Lingering IIneSS--76 Years Old.
HAD BRILLIANT RECORD IN BATTLE
Was Well Known Resident Dozen Years AgO-Father of Police Officer Fred Wagner, Adolph Wagner and Mrs. Arthur Oldershaw.


 Last taps nave sounded for another venerable veteran of the Civil war and Raltas Wagner, who thrice of- fered his life on the altar of patriotic devotion, has been mustered out of the service of the universe by the Great Commander. Mr Wagner, who was one of the best known old gentle men in this city a dozen years ago, and was the father of Police Officer Fred Wagner died at 9 o'clock last night at the Soldiers Home at Noro- ton, Conn. B. C. Porter Sons have charge of the funeral arrangements and services will be held in this city from the Erwin Mortuary chapel at o'clock Thursday afternoon. Rev. Dr. G. w. C. Hill will off1ciate and interment will be in Fairview ceme- tery.
 Fought Throughout Civil War.
 MT. Wagner was born in Germany SeVenty-six years ago and came to the United States when a young man, about a year or two before the out break of the Civil war. When the south seeded and President Lincoln issued his call for 5000 volunteers, MT. Wagner was one of the first to respond. He enlisted at Hartford on April 25, 1861, in Company E of the Third Connecticut Volunteers. He was mustered out of the service on August 12, 1862. Seeing that the war was likely to last for some time longer and realizing that his newly adopted country needed his services he again enlisted, this time in the
  Following this term of service he once more enlisted, this time in the reg ular army, being with Company of the Twenty-fourth Regular Army, Veterans Reserve corps. In 1864 he was transferred to the Fourteenth Connecticut Veterans Reserve corps in Washington.
 Had Brilliant Record.
 The war record of this old soldier is an enviable one. Thrice he was badly wounded, but each time he re- covered and returned to the firing line. He was in all the fierce battles of the war and fought during the en- tire three days at Gettysburg, com ing away unscathed. His first en- gagement was the battle of Antietam the bloodiest of the entire war. He also took part In the battles of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, the Battle of the Wilderness Spottsylvania and other fierce conflicts
 In one engagement a rebel bullet tore a wicked hole in his side, but he survived it. At another time he was shot in the leg and at another time a heavy shell from a Confed- crate artillery battery exploded near where he was stationed. Several of his companions were killed but his most serious injury was in the hand where a piece of the broken shell struck him. This wound proved to be the most lasting of any of the three and even in his later years his hand bothered him considerably at times a result of it.
 A weaver by trade MT. Wagner went to work in Broadbrook after leaving the military service and later came to Kensington where he entered the employ of the old Johnson & Hart company, where he was a chisel grinder for many years.
 About two years before the great blizzard, at the time Booths corner was razed by fire, he came to live in New Britain with his family and was employed for many years at P. &. F. Corbin's.
 Goes to Soldiers Home.
 About eleven years ago, his ad- l vanced years and the inirYities CO., incident herewith breaking down his 1 health he decided that he would like | once more to rejoin the counrades 1 with whom lad stood side by side in battle with whom he had faced death unfinchingly, so he was admitted to the Soldiers home at Nor oton, where he lived happily, being visited frequently by his family and friends
 Last summer MT. Wagners rela- lives noticed that he was fast failing in health and although he bore up bravely 1t could be seen that he was suffering with what would probably prove to be his fatal illness. Rheu- rnatism, a weakened heart and hard ened arteries combined with old age, proved too much for his feeble con- stitution, and the end came last night at g o'clock.
 Leaves Wife and Children.
 His son, Officer Wagner, was mo- -rfied of his death shortly before g o'clock this morning just as he was preparing to go out on his beat from he police station.
 Besides his son Officer Wagner the deceased leaves another son, Adolph J Wagner of Fairview street and l daughter. Mrs. Arthur II. Older shaw of Bassett street His wife also survives him. she making her ,