Brig. Gen. Walter C. Whitaker

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Walter Chiles Whitaker (b. 1823, d. 1887). Though not very prominent himself, Whitaker twice led a part of forces that saved Union armies from annihilation. Born in Shelbyville, Kentucky he chose to become a lawyer before volunteering for the American-Mexican War in which he served as lieutenant of the 3rd Kentucky. After the war he entered politics, serving in the state legislature. One of many Unionists in the General Assembly he favoured to end Kentucky’s neutrality and belonged to the group that proposed legislation to end it in September by banning only Confederate troops from the state. Whitaker established a training camp at Eminence and raised the 6th Kentucky of which he became colonel in December. The regiment of Gen. William B. Hazen’s brigade and followed him under Whitaker at Shiloh and Stones River, where it took part in the fighting at the “Round Forrest” on December 31, 1862 – the army being there saved from destruction. During the Tullahoma Campaign in June 1863 Whitaker served ably during the feint crossing of the Tennessee River which enabled the main body of the army to cross elsewhere drive the Confederates from Tennessee. Whitaker was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in July and given a brigade in the Reserve Corps of the Army of the Cumberland (his former regiment would be later led by his brother Richard for a few months). At Chickamauga in September Whitaker’s brigade was part of the force defending “Horseshoe Ridge” under Gen. George Thomas, helping again to save the army from destruction. Whitaker fought in the ensuing battles for Chattanooga as well as the Atlanta Campaign leading the 2nd brigade, 1st division, IV corps. When Gen. William T. Sherman decided to start his “March to the Sea” Whitaker’s brigade became part of the force under Thomas left behind to defend Tennessee. At the end of November the Union escaped disaster at Spring Hill and fought off the Confederates at Franklin. In the Battle of Nashville on December Whitaker participated in the destruction of the Southern Army of Tennessee under Gen. John B. Hood. For his service he was breveted to major general of volunteers in 1865. After the war he resumed his law practise. Hard drinking was probably the reason why he spent some years in a mental institution. However he recovered enough to be able to work again as a lawyer until his death on July 9, 1887. He was buried in his hometown’s Grove Hill Cemetery.

Ldr: 4
Tact: 4
Init: 2
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Bulldogs, Sustained Volley

[Gil R.]

I figured it was high time that I copy these new ones. I'll begin editing again this coming week. Big, big backlog to get through...