Abner Clark Harding (February 10, 1807 – July 19, 1874) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and a Brigadier General in the U.S. army fighting for the North in the Civil War.

[1] During the American Civil War, Harding enlisted as a private in the Union Army in the 83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

[3][4] His 800 troops held off 2500 Confederates[3][4] and resulted in the Union controlling Middle Tennessee.

However, he was not a candidate for re-election in 1868 after serving in the 40th Congress, and later engaged in banking and railroad building.

[6] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress