American soldier; born in Hungary in 1833. He went to America, and when the Civil war broke out he enlisted as a private in the 79th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He became successively captain, major, colonel, and brigadier-general. For meritorious service at Chickamauga he was promoted to the rank of brevet major-general. He participated in the engagements of the Army of the Cumberland and marched with Sherman to the sea. No other Jew attained such high rank in the army. After the war Knefler was made United States pension agent at Indianapolis.