Charles Garrison Harker Charles Garrison Harker ( December 2 , 1837 – June 27 , 1864 ) was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War . He was killed in action at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in northern Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign . Fort Harker in Kansas , an active garrison of the United States Army from 1866 to 1872 , was named in his honor . Early life and career . Harker was born on December 2 , 1835 , in Swedesboro , New Jersey . As a youth , he worked as a clerk in a retail store owned by U . S . Congressman Nathan T . Stratton . Through the influences of Stratton , Harker received an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point , New York . Harker graduated in 1858 with the brevet rank of second lieutenant in the 2nd U . S . Infantry and was assigned to garrison duty at the United States Army post on Governor ' s Island in New York Harbor . Subsequently , Harker served at outposts in the Oregon and Washington territories . Civil War service . With the outbreak of the Civil War , Harker was assigned to duty in Ohio to help train newly recruited volunteer soldiers . He was promoted to first lieutenant of the 15th U . S . Infantry on May 14 , 1861 , and then to captain on October 24 , 1861 . He was subsequently appointed as colonel of the 65th Ohio Infantry , a regiment in the forces of Brig . Gen . Don Carlos Buell . He became the regiment ' s colonel on November 11 , 1861 . Harker and the 65th OVI participated in the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh , as well as the subsequent Siege of Corinth , Mississippi . In late June , he took over command of the 20th Brigade , 6th Division , Army of the Ohio , replacing James A . Garfield . Later that year , he was involved in the Battle of Perryville in Kentucky . Harker received praise for his significant contributions during the Battle of Stones River at the end of the year while leading the 3rd Brigade , 1st Division , Left Wing of XIV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland . In 1863 , he was in command of the 3rd Brigade , 2nd Division , IV Corps , Army of the Cumberland , Military Division of the Mississippi . He again drew the attention of his senior commanders with a determined stand against Confederate attackers during the Battle of Chickamauga in northern Georgia . In recognition of his performance and service , he was promoted to fill an opening as a brigadier general , dating from September 20 , 1863 . After participating in the fighting around Chattanooga and the assault on Missionary Ridge , he and his men helped relieve Maj . Gen . Ambrose E . Burnside during the Siege of Knoxville . In mid - 1864 , as the Atlanta Campaign began , Harker commanded a brigade under Maj . Gen . Oliver O . Howard . On May 7 , he successfully held the peak of Rocky Face Ridge despite determined Confederate efforts to dislodge his men . In June William T . Sherman ' s Union army attempted to displace Confederate troops from their fortifications on Kennesaw Mountain . Harker was shot from his horse and mortally wounded during a failed attack on June 27 , 1864 . His body was shipped back to his native Swedesboro , New Jersey , where it was buried in Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery . In popular culture . Harker is portrayed by Bob Gunton in the 1989 Civil War film , " Glory " .