Augustus Barr was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania and later reside in Dauphin County where he made his living as a farmer. Barr mustered into service as a private in Co. F, 54th Pennsylvania Infantry on December 2, 1861. Company F was captured on or about February 2, 1864 at Patterson Creek, West Virginia and was sent to Andersonville prison camp in Georgia, where seventeen members of the company died, including August Barr, who died on April 22, 1864.