Born at Washington, D. C., he graduated from West Point and was breveted to 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Artillery, July 1, 1836. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Artillery, August 6, 1836. He served on Topographical duty, July 18-September 15, 1836 before entering in the Florida War, 1836-1837, with field battery and on Ordnance duty, being engaged in the Battle of Wahoo Swamp, November 19-21, 1836; on Northern Frontier during the Canada Border Disturbances, Buffalo, NY, 1838; and conducting recruits to Wisconsin, 1838; and at Sackett's Harbor, NY, 1838. He became 2nd Lieutenant, Ordnance, July 9, 1838, and served as Assistant Ordnance Officer at: Frankford Arsenal, PA, 1838 and Ft. Monroe Arsenal, VA, 1838-1842. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, Ordnance, May 22, 1840.

Hagner served as Assistant Ordnance Officer at North Carolina Arsenal, 1842 and Ft. Monroe Arsenal, VA, 1842. He was on duty inspecting and classifying muskets at arsenals, 1842-1845 and as Assistant Ordnance Officer at Washington Arsenal, D. C., 1845-1846.

During the Mexican War, Hagner was engaged with the Siege Train at the Siege of Vera Cruz, March 9-29, 1847 and the Battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17-18, 1847. He was breveted to Captain, April 18, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battle of Cerro Gordo. He was engaged in the Skirmish at Amazoque, May 14, 1847; Battle of Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847; Battle of Chapultepec, September 13, 1847; and Assault and Capture of Mexico City, September 13-14, 1847, where he was wounded at the San Cosme Gate. He was breveted to Major, September 13, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battle of Chapultepec.

He served on professional duty in Europe, inspecting laboratories, manufactories of percussion caps, and procuring information on the systems of artillery, and the armament and equipment of troops, 1848- 1849; on special duty in Washington, D. C., 1849; in command of Charleston Arsenal, SC, 1849-1851 and Frankford Arsenal, PA, 1851- 1860; and as Inspector of Powder, 1851-1855. He was promoted to Captain, Ordnance, July 10, 1851. He was a Member of Ordnance Board, March 21, 1854-January 19, 1858, and June 12-18, 1860; and in command of Leavenworth Arsenal, KS, 1860-1861 and of St. Louis Arsenal, MO, 1861.

Peter Valentine Hagner

Hagner entered in the Civil War as Inspector of Contract Arms and Ordnance Stores, April 25, 1861-December 25, 1863. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Ordnance, June 1, 1863. He was in command of Watervliet Arsenal, NY, December 25, 1863-August 12, 1866. He received brevets to Colonel and Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services in the Ordnance Department. He served as a Member of the Board for the trial of Breech-loading Arms, April 5-June 8, 1866 and of the Board for trial of Major Houston's Modified Gun Carriage, 1866-1867. He was promoted to Colonel, Ordnance, March 7, 1867.

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