Edward Cary Walthall | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromMississippi | |
| In office March 9, 1885 – January 24, 1894 | |
| Preceded by | Lucius Q. C. Lamar |
| Succeeded by | Anselm J. McLaurin |
| In office March 4, 1895 – April 21, 1898 | |
| Preceded by | Anselm J. McLaurin |
| Succeeded by | William V. Sullivan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1831-04-04)April 4, 1831 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | April 21, 1898(1898-04-21) (aged 67) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Hillcrest Cemetery Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Signature | .png) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | 15th Mississippi Infantry |
| Commands | Walthall's Division—III Corps Walthall's Brigade 29th Mississippi Infantry |
| Battles/wars | |
Edward Cary Walthall (April 4, 1831 – April 21, 1898) was a general in theConfederate States Army during theAmerican Civil War and aReconstruction eraUnited States senator fromMississippi.
Edward C. Walthall was born inRichmond, Virginia, on April 4, 1831.[1][2] Walthall moved toMississippi with his family in 1841.[1][2] He attended St. Thomas Hall inHolly Springs, studying law.[2] He was admitted to thebar in 1852.[2] Then, he practiced law inCoffeeville.[1] He was electeddistrict attorney for the tenth judicial district of Mississippi in 1856 and reelected in 1859.[2]
During the Civil War, Walthall entered the Confederate Army as alieutenant in the15th Mississippi Infantry on April 27, 1861, and was promoted tolieutenant colonel on July 21, 1861.[1] He fought with his regiment at theBattle of Mill Springs on January 19, 1862.[3][4] Walthall was electedcolonel of the29th Mississippi Infantry on April 11, 1862, and fought at theSiege of Corinth and in theConfederate Heartland Offensive.[1][3][4] Commanding one of theArmy of Tennessee'sbrigades during November 1862 he was appointedbrigadier general on December 13, 1862.[1]
Walthall led his brigade in theTullahoma Campaign and fought at theBattle of Chickamauga on September 19–20, 1863.[3] Walthall distinguished himself at theBattle of Missionary Ridge, where he led his brigade over a ridge and held back the Federal troops until the Confederate army made its escape; however he was wounded in the foot and captured on November 25, 1863; but quickly was exchanged.[1][4] He was wounded again at theBattle of Resaca on May 15, 1864.[1]
Afterwards he advanced to division command inLieutenant GeneralAlexander P. Stewart's corps, receiving a temporary promotion tomajor general on June 6, 1864.[1][4]
At theBattle of Franklin on November 30, 1864, Walthall was wounded (at least badly bruised) as he had two horses shot from under him, but he quickly returned to duty.[1][4]
Walthall covered the retreat ofGeneralHood's army after the defeat atNashville.[3][4] While Lieutenant General Alexander P. Stewart was in command of the remnant of the Army of Tennessee which was under the overall command of GeneralJoseph E. Johnston during theCarolinas campaign, Walthall acted as III corps commander of the Army of Tennessee from March 16, 1865, until April 9, 1865, when he returned to division command in that corps.[1][3] He and his division surrendered with GeneralJoseph E. Johnston atBennett Place on April 26, 1865. He was paroled atGreensboro, North Carolina, on May 1, 1865.[1]
After the war, Walthall resumed the practice of law in Coffeeville. In 1871, he moved toGrenada, Mississippi, and continued practicing law until 1885.[5]
Walthall was appointed as aDemocrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofLucius Q. C. Lamar.[5] He was subsequently elected to fill the vacancy, and was reelected in 1889.[5] He served from March 9, 1885, to January 24, 1894, when he resigned due to ill health.[1][5] While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs (Fifty-third Congress) and a member of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Fifty-fifth Congress).[5]
Walthall was again elected for the term beginning March 4, 1895, and served from that date until his death inWashington, D.C., on April 21, 1898.[1][5] Funeral services were held in the Chamber of the United States Senate.[5] He was buried at theHillcrest Cemetery inHolly Springs, Mississippi.[1][6]
Walthall County, Mississippi, is named after him.
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Mississippi 1885–1894 Served alongside:James Z. George | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Mississippi 1895–1898 Served alongside:James Z. George,Hernando D. Money | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
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| Class 2 | ||
Chairs of theUnited States Senate Committee on Armed Services | ||
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| Military Affairs Committee (1816–1947) | | |
| Naval Affairs Committee (1816–1947) | ||
| Armed Services Committee (1947–present) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
