CSA bios: The Walkers

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. William S. Walker, CSA (b. 1822 d. 1899) William Stephen Walker lived a charmed life as a Confederate general, returning to duty after being captured and losing a foot. Walker was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 13, 1822, and raised by his uncle, Mississippi Senator Robert J. Walker, who also was President Polk’s Secretary of the Treasury. He received an education at Georgetown. As a first lieutenant in the Mexican War, he won brevet status to captain for “gallant and meritorious conduct” at Chapultepec. He was honorable mustered out of service Aug. 31, 1848, but was back in uniform when the Army expanded in 1855 as a captain of the First Cavalry. He resigned May 1, 1861, to join the Regular Confederate Army. He was nominated to be a captain of infantry from Florida March 16, 1861. His first duty was mustering troops into Confederate service. Promoted to colonel, he was the acting inspector general for the Department of South Carolina and Georgia. In 1862 and 1863, he was in charge of a number of different South Carolina districts. Promoted to brigadier general Oct. 30, 1862, Walker was called to assist Gen. Beauregard in the defense of Petersburg in April 1864. There, he was wounded and captured. One foot had to be amputated. He was exchanged in the fall of 1864 and returned to North Carolina. Following the war, he lived in Georgia, dying in Atlanta June 7, 1899.

Maj. Gen. William H.T. Walker (b. 1816 d. 1863) A Federal picket of the 16th Corps ended the brilliant life of Maj. Gen. William Henry Talbot Walker during the Battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864. Walker, a native Georgian from Augusta, was born Nov. 26, 1816, and a member of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) Class of 1837. He had a distinguished career prior to the Civil War. He was badly wounded fighting the Seminoles and resigned in 1838. He was reappointed to the Army in 1840 and brevetted for his conduct in the Mexican War, first to major and then to lieutenant colonel. He again was wounded, this time so badly that the surgeons doubted he would live. Besides the wounds, Walker had general poor health and could rarely sleep in anything other than a sitting position. He was one of the Army’s most experienced offers when he resigned his major’s commission Dec. 20, 1860. He was appointed a Confederate brigadier general May 25, 1861, and stationed first in Pensacola and then northern Virginia. He resigned his commission Oct. 29, 1861, but was given a promotion to major general of Georgia state troops instead. He returned to Confederate service with another appointment to brigadier general Feb. 9, 1863, and then a promotion to major general May 23, 1863. His army commander, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, proclaimed Walker the only officer in his command competent to lead a division. He led his division in the Vicksburg Campaign under Johnston and commanded the Reserve Corps at the Battle of Chickamauga. During Gen. Hardee’s attack on the Federal left in front of Atlanta, Walker encountered his fate at the hands of a Federal picket.

Brig. Gen. Reuben L. Walker, CSA (b. 1827 d. 1890) Fighting in some 63 battles and engagements, Reuben Lindsay Walker was an artillery man who received his promotion to brigadier general Feb. 18, 1865. The Logan, Va., native was born May 29, 1827, and educated at the Virginia Military Institute. He graduated with the Class of 1845 entering work as a civil engineer. He later went into farming. At the start of the war, he was commander of the Purcell Battery, which got to the field at First Manassas in time to shell retreating Federal troops. He received his promotion to major March 31, 1862, and quickly rose all the way to colonel. His main service was as the chief of artillery, first for A.P. Hill’s Division and later for the Third Corps all the way until the surrender at Appomattox. It is said he never had a day’s leave of absence, except during the Seven Days Campaign, when he was ill in Richmond. Following the war, he returned to farming. Moving to Selma, Ala., in 1872, he was the superintendent of the Marine & Selma Railroad for two years. Moving back to Virginia, he was employed by the Richmond street railroads and served as a construction engineer for the Richmond & Alleghany Railroad. He was the superintendent for the construction of the Virginia State Penitentiary. He received further work in Texas, serving as superintendent of construction at the Texas State Capitol. He was living in Virginia again when he died June 7, 1890, on his farm in Fluvanna County.

Brig. Gen. Lucius M. Walker, CSA (b. 1829 d. 1863) Some of the worst enemies of Lucius Marshall Walker were his own Confederate peers. And one of his feuds with a fellow general cost him his life. Walker, a nephew of President James K. Polk and brother-in-law of Gen. Frank C. Armstrong, was born in Columbia, Tenn., Oct. 18, 1829. He was a U.S. Military Academy cadet and graduated from the West Point school with the Class of 1850. He resigned his commission in 1852 to enter mercantile business in Memphis, Tenn. When war came, Walker entered service as lieutenant colonel of the 40th Tennessee Infantry. He rose to colonel Nov. 11, 1861 and was given command of the Memphis post. His promotion to brigadier general was confirmed March 11, 1862. He missed the Battle of Shiloh due to illness, but took part at action at Corinth, the retreat to Tupelo and the fight at Farmington. He was not a favorite of Braxton Bragg, who told his superiors in Richmond that Walker was not a “safe man to intrust with any command.” His request for transfer was approved to west of the Mississippi and he reported to Gen. Kirby Smith in March 1863. Given command of a cavalry brigade, he participated in Sterling Price’s attack on Helena. It didn’t take him long to acquire another enemy, Gen. John S. Marmaduke. Despite efforts by Gen. Price to calm things down, Marmaduke’s questioning of Walker’s courage led to a duel at sunrise Sept. 6, 1863, in Little Rock, Ark. Walker was fatally wounded, succumbing the next day.

Brig. Gen. Leroy P. Walker, CSA (b. 1817 d. 1884) The Confederacy’s first Secretary of War, Leroy Pope Walker held a brigadier general’s commission for a little over six months from Sept. 17, 1861 to March 31, 1862. Walker was born in Huntsville, Ala. Feb. 7, 1817. He attended the University of Alabama, left to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1837. He became a political force, serving a number of terms in the state legislature. He was a circuit court judge, a delegate to the Nashville Convention of 1850 and Presidential Elector in 1848, 1852 and 1856. He was at the forefront of Alabama secession and was the chairman of the state’s delegation to the Charleston and Richmond Democratic conventions of 1860. His background and home state helped him to become the Confederacy’s first Secretary of War Feb. 21, 1861, but his lack of administrative experience and trouble with tasks led to criticism from the Confederate Congress. He resigned his post Sept. 16, 1861, and was made a brigadier general the following day. He was a garrison commander in Montgomery, Ala., and Mobile, Ala., but when he failed to earn a position in field duty, he resigned. He was recalled to duty April 6, 1864, serving as a colonel and presiding over a military court in northern Alabama. After the war, he returned to law practice in Huntsville. He was president of the state constitutional convention of 1875, and a delegate at large to the Democratic national conventions of 1876 and 1884. He died in Huntsville, Ala., Aug. 22, 1884.

Maj. Gen. John G. Walker, CSA (b. 1822 d. 1893) Born in Cole County, Mo., July 22, 1822, John George Walker was educated at Jesuit College in St. Louis. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1846 and served in the Mexican War. He held the rank of captain when he resigned July 31, 1861, to enter Confederate service. He was given the rank of major of cavalry in the Regular Army and was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Texas Cavalry. He was promoted to brigadier general Jan. 9, 1862. Fighting with the Army of Northern Virginia, Walker was praised for his conduct during the Maryland Campaign. Commanding two divisions, his command took Loudoun Heights in the campaign against Harpers Ferry. At the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), Walker continued his gallant conduct. He received a promotion to major general Nov. 8, 1862, and was sent to the Trans-Mississippi Department, taking over command of a Texas infantry division. He fought in the Red River Campaign and relieved Gen. Richard Taylor in charge of the District of West Louisiana. At the end of the war, he was in command of the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. He was in command of the cavalry divisions of Steele, Bee and Bagby, the infantry of Slaughter and the Indian units of Cooper. He went to Mexico after the war without waiting for a personal parole. Returning, he served as the U.S. consul general in Bogota, Columbia. He was a special commissioner to South American republics on behalf of the Pan-American Convention. He died in Washington, D.C., July 20, 1893.

Brig. Gen. James A. Walker, CSA (b. 1832 d. 1901) James Alexander Walker’s early life was entangled with one Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Born near Mt. Sidney, Va., Aug. 27, 1832, Walker attended the Virginia Military Institute but was dismissed during his senior year on charges preferred by Professor Jackson. He challenged Jackson to a duel, but the two never met. After 18 months with the Covington & Ohio (later Chesapeake & Ohio) Railroad, Walker studied law and graduated from the University of Virginia. He entered Confederate service as captain of the Pulaski Guard and found himself under the command of Stonewall Jackson. Sent to Harpers Ferry at the outset, Walker moved to lieutenant colonel of the 13th Virginia Infantry and later succeeded A.P. Hill as the unit’s colonel in February 1862. Earning a reputation as a desperate fighter, Walker’s unit took part in just about every Second Corps engagement from the Valley Campaign of 1862 to Appomattox. Jackson grew to hold Walker in high regard and recommended his promotion to brigadier general May 15, 1863. Walker was placed in command of the Stonewall Brigade. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania, but stayed in command. He was a division commander at the end of the war, but still was a brigadier general. Walker took his two mules home to Pulaski County and put in a crop of corn. He returned to law practice and was elected to the house of delegates in 1871. He was elected Virginia’s lieutenant governor in 1876. He split with Democrats over President Cleveland’s “free-trade” policy and became a Republican. He won two terms in the House of Representatives, serving from 1895-1899. He died in Wytheville, Va., Oct. 20, 1901.

Brig. Gen. Henry H. Walker, CSA (b. 1832 d. 1912) Born at “Elmwood” in Sussex County, Va., Oct. 15, 1832, Henry Harrison Walker decided to make his career in the military by attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated 41st of 52 in the Class of 1853, one spot ahead of John B. Hood. His primary U.S. Army service came in “Bleeding Kansas” trying to prevent armed conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. He resigned from the U.S. Army May 3, 1861, and was appointed captain in the Regular Confederate States Army. He was elected lieutenant colonel of the 40th Virginia Infantry. He was wounded twice during the Seven Days Campaign and received commendations from his brigade commander, Gen. Field, and his division commander, Gen. A.P. Hill. He was in charge of a convalescent camp for a time before being promoted to brigadier general July 1, 1863. He commanded troops at Bristoe Station and during the Mine Run Campaign. Wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse in May 1864, he was given court-martial duty in Richmond after his recovery. He was responsible for guarding the Richmond & Danville Railroad. When President Jefferson Davis learned of the surrender at Appomattox, he sent Walker and other troops from Danville to join Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s army in North Carolina. Walker was paroled in Richmond, May 7, 1865. Following the war, Walker moved to Morristown, N.J., and became an investment broker. He died there March 22, 1912.

[Missouri_Rebel]

Great job again Battleline. Your name should be at the top of the credits for sure.

mo reb

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: Missouri_Rebel

Great job again Battleline. Your name should be at the top of the credits for sure.

mo reb

It probably will be, unless Hank Aaron volunteers to help.

(Or Dave Aardsma, I guess.)

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. James A. Walker (b. 1832 d. 1901) James Alexander Walker’s early life was entangled with one Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Born near Mt. Sidney, Virginia, Aug. 27, 1832, Walker attended the Virginia Military Institute but was dismissed during his senior year on charges preferred by Professor Jackson. He challenged Jackson to a duel, but the two never met. After 18 months with the Covington & Ohio (later Chesapeake & Ohio) Railroad, Walker studied law and graduated from the University of Virginia. He entered Confederate service as captain of the Pulaski Guard and found himself under the command of Stonewall Jackson. Sent to Harpers Ferry at the outset, Walker moved to lieutenant colonel of the 13th Virginia Infantry and later succeeded A.P. Hill as the unit’s colonel in February 1862. Earning a reputation as a desperate fighter, Walker’s unit took part in just about every Second Corps engagement from the Valley Campaign of 1862 to Appomattox. Walker was wounded at Second Manassas, but returned in time to take over when Isaac Trimble was wounded at Sharpsburg. Jackson grew to hold Walker in high regard and recommended his promotion to brigadier general May 15, 1863. Walker was placed in command of the Stonewall Brigade. He was severely wounded defending the "Bloody Angle" at the Battle of Spotsylvania, but stayed in command. He was a division commander (Early's Division) at the end of the war, but still was a brigadier general. Walker took his two mules home to Pulaski County and put in a crop of corn. He returned to law practice and was elected to the house of delegates in 1871. He was elected Virginia’s lieutenant governor in 1876. He split with Democrats over President Cleveland’s “free-trade” policy and became a Republican. He won two terms in the House of Representatives, serving from 1895-1899. He died in Wytheville, Virginia, Oct. 20, 1901.

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. John G. Walker (b. 1822 d. 1893) Born in Cole County, Missouri, July 22, 1822 (son of Missouri state auditor John G. Walker), John George Walker was educated at Jesuit College in St. Louis. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1846 and served in the Mexican War. During that conflict, he was in Co. K. of Persifor Smith's Mounted Rifle Regiment. Walker fought at Contreras, Churubusco and was severely wounded at Molino del Rey. After San Juan de los Llanos, Walker receieved a brevet to captain. He was a captain in the West when he resigned July 31, 1861, to enter Confederate service. He was given the rank of major of cavalry in the Regular Army and was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Texas Cavalry. He was promoted to brigadier general Jan. 9, 1862. Fighting with the Army of Northern Virginia, Walker was praised for his conduct during the Maryland Campaign. Commanding two divisions, his command took Loudoun Heights in the campaign against Harpers Ferry. At the Battle of Sharpsburg, Walker continued his gallant conduct. He received a promotion to major general Nov. 8, 1862, and was sent to the Trans-Mississippi Department, taking over command of a Texas infantry division previously under Henry McCulloch. This unit became the First Division of II Corps, Trans-Mississippi Department. This unit later became known as Walker's Greyhounds by Federal forces for the way it made quick marches over muddy roads to arrive on the scene in either Arkansas or Louisiana. It made an attempt to relieve Vicksburg, but illness cut down numbers and after Vicksburg fell, the division went to Alexandria, Louisiana. He fought in the Red River Campaign, being wounded at Pleasant Hill April 9, 1864. He eventually replaced Gen. Richard Taylor as the commander of the Army of Western Louisiana (June 1864). John Forney took over his division. At the end of the war, he was in command of the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. He was in command of the cavalry divisions of Steele, Bee and Bagby, the infantry of Slaughter and the Indian units of Cooper. He went to Mexico after the war without waiting for a personal parole. He worked for a Venezuelan company trying to promote settlement by former Confederates. He also planned mining operations. He also served in a company which imported railroad iron and machinery to the South and was an insurance agent. Back in Texas, he worked for the Houston & Texas Central Railway and edited newspapers. He served as the U.S. consul general in Bogota, Columbia, during Grover Cleveland's first term. He was a special commissioner to South American republics on behalf of the Pan-American Convention. He died in Washington, D.C., July 20, 1893.

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Leroy P. Walker (b. 1817 d. 1884) The Confederacy’s first Secretary of War, Leroy Pope Walker held a brigadier general’s commission for a little over six months from Sept. 17, 1861 to March 31, 1862. Walker was born in Huntsville, Alabama, Feb. 7, 1817. He attended the University of Alabama, left to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1837. He became a political force, serving a number of terms in the state legislature, including a stint as the speaker. He was a circuit court judge, a delegate to the Nashville Convention of 1850 and Presidential Elector in 1848, 1852 and 1856. He was at the forefront of Alabama secession and was the chairman of the state’s delegation to the Charleston and Richmond Democratic conventions of 1860. His background and home state helped him to become the Confederacy’s first Secretary of War Feb. 21, 1861, but his lack of administrative experience and trouble with tasks led to criticism from the Confederate Congress. He resigned his post Sept. 16, 1861, and was made a brigadier general the following day in command of the Department of Alabama and West Florida. He was a garrison commander in Montgomery, Alabama, and Mobile, Alabama, but when he failed to earn a position in field duty better than guarding a bridge over the Tennessee River at Florence, Alabama, he resigned. He was recalled to duty April 6, 1864, serving as a colonel and presiding over a military court in northern Alabama. After the war, he returned to law practice in Huntsville. He was president of the state constitutional convention of 1875, and a delegate at large to the Democratic national conventions of 1876 and 1884. He died in Huntsville, Alabama, Aug. 22, 1884.

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. William H.T. Walker (b. 1816 d. 1863) A Federal picket of the 16th Corps ended the brilliant life of Maj. Gen. William Henry Talbot Walker during the Battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864. Walker, also known as the "Georgia Firebrand, was a native Georgian from Augusta, was born Nov. 26, 1816, and a member of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) Class of 1837. He had a distinguished career prior to the Civil War. He was badly wounded fighting the Seminoles at Lake Okeechobee in 1837 and resigned in 1838. He was reappointed to the Army in 1840 and brevetted for his conduct in the Mexican War, first to major and then to lieutenant colonel. He again was wounded, this time so badly that the surgeons doubted he would live. After the war, he recruited for the army and served as deputy governor of the Mississippi soldiers' asylum. From 1854-56, he served as commandant of cadets at West Point. Besides the wounds, Walker had general poor health and could rarely sleep in anything other than a sitting position. He was one of the Army’s most experienced offers when he resigned his major’s commission Dec. 20, 1860. He was appointed a Confederate brigadier general May 25, 1861, and stationed first in Pensacola and then northern Virginia. He resigned his commission Oct. 29, 1861, after he felt he was slighted for promotion to major general. He was given a promotion to major general of Georgia state troops instead. He returned to Confederate service with another appointment to brigadier general Feb. 9, 1863, and then a promotion to major general May 23, 1863. His army commander, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, proclaimed Walker the only officer in his command competent to lead a division. He led his division in the Vicksburg Campaign under Johnston and commanded the Reserve Corps at the Battle of Chickamauga. At the Battle of Resaca, Walker's troops failed to guard Johnston's left flank, forcing Confederate withdrawal. During Gen. Hardee’s attack on the Federal left in front of Atlanta, Walker encountered his fate at the hands of a Federal picket.

[Gil R.]

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