James Burdge Walton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1813 New Jersey, United States |
| Died | 1885 (aged 71–72) New Orleans |
| Allegiance | United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service | United States Army (Militia) Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1839–61 (USA) 1861–64 (CSA) |
| Rank |  Colonel Colonel |
| Unit | Washington Artillery |
| Battles / wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
James Burdge Walton (c. 1813–1885) was aConfederate military officer who was recognized for serving in the famedWashington Artillery for two decades.[1] He was most prominent in the Confederate service in theAmerican Civil War as commander of the Washington Artillery out of New Orleans and as Inspector-General of Field Artillery of the Confederate States, the highest position an artillery officer could achieve.
Born inNew Jersey, Walton attended college in Louisiana and owned a New Orleans grocery store.
Walton joined the Washington Artillery as an adjutant when the unit was formed in 1839. In theMexican War, Walton commanded the 1st Louisiana Artillery as a Major and by 1857 he wasColonel Commanding of the battalion.[2]
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Walton and four of five batteries went East to serve inVirginia. After fighting at theFirst Battle of Manassas, Walton and his command were assigned toJames Longstreet's forces. These batteries served in thePeninsula Campaign, atSecond Manassas, andAntietam. Walton commanded the batteries on Marye's Heights during theBattle of Fredericksburg and theChancellorsville Campaign. He commanded the artillery reserve of theFirst Corps artillery and was offended when atGettysburg a subordinateColonel E. Porter Alexander was placed in charge of the artillery preparation forPickett's Charge on July 3, 1863.
When the bulk of Longstreet's First Corps were sent toGeorgia, only a portion of the artillery was sent with it. Walton held several positions in southern Virginia during the absence of his guns. Walton worked to improve artillery formations and drills, it was during this time that he rose to the rank of Colonel after an act was passed through the congress of the Confederacy, making him the highest ranking artillery officer in the Confederacy. A prominent accomplishment of his was the design for the Hanging Tigers Head used as a badge by the Washington Artillery. He resigned on July 18, 1864 and returned to his business as a merchant.[3]
Walton's son, James B. Jr., was a student atVirginia Military Institute class of 1865 who resigned to join the Confederacy in 1861.[2]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
