William H.T. Walker | |
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| Nickname(s) | Shot Pouch, Fighting Billy |
| Born | (1816-11-26)November 26, 1816 Augusta,Georgia |
| Died | July 22, 1864(1864-07-22) (aged 47) Atlanta,Georgia |
| Place of burial | Walker Cemetery, Georgia |
| Allegiance |  United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service |  United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1837–1838, 1840–1860 (USA) 1861–1864 (CSA) |
| Rank |  Major (USA) Major General (CSA) |
| Commands | 1st Division, Georgia Militia Walker's Division Reserve Corps,Army of Tennessee |
| Battles / wars | 2nd Seminole War |
William Henry Talbot Walker (November 26, 1816 – July 22, 1864) was an American soldier. He was a careerUnited States Army officer who fought with distinction during theMexican-American War, and also served as aConfederategeneral during theAmerican Civil War. Walker was severely wounded many times in combat, and was killed in action during the 1864Atlanta Campaign.
William Henry Talbot Walker (often styled as William H.T. or W.H.T. Walker to distinguish him from the other two William Walkers in the Confederate Army) was born inAugusta,Georgia in 1816. He was a son ofFreeman Walker (a U.S. Senator and Augusta mayor) and his wife Mary Garlington Creswell; however his father died in 1827 when he was ten years old. Walker then received his early education at Augusta'sRichmond Academy. He would have four children with his wife Mary Townsend, two sons and two daughters.[1]
Walker entered theUnited States Military Academy atWest Point in 1832, and graduated four years later, standing 46th out of 59 cadets. Walker was appointed abrevetsecond lieutenant on July 1, 1837, and assigned to the6th U.S. Infantry. On July 31 he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. That winter he was serving inLake Okeechobee,Florida, where he was seriously wounded on December 25 in the neck, shoulder, chest, left arm, and also his leg. Walker was appointed a brevetfirst lieutenant to rank from that day as well. He was promoted to first lieutenant on February 1, 1838, and would resign his commission on October 31 of that year.[2]
Walker was reinstated in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant on November 18, 1840, to rank from his last promotion in early 1838. He was again assigned to the 6th U.S. Infantry, and was promoted tocaptain on November 7, 1845.[2]
During the Mexican-American War, he fought at theBattle of Contreras and theBattle of Churubusco, both in August 1847. While engaged at Churubusco he was again wounded, and his performance there combined with his actions at Contreras won him brevet to the rank ofmajor on August 20. Walker then participated in theBattle of Molino del Rey in early September and was once more wounded, this time in the back. For his actions there he was made a brevetlieutenant colonel on September 8.[2]
After the war with Mexico concluded, Walker was on recruiting duty for the U.S. Army from 1849 to 1852. Walker served as commandant of the cadets atWest Point from July 31, 1854, to May 22, 1856. Also during his time at West Point he taught military tactics and was promoted to major in the 10th U.S. Infantry on March 3, 1855.[2] His nickname of "Shot Pouch" was due to his multiple woundings.
In 1860, he owned 14 slaves inRichmond County, Georgia. They lived in 5 slave houses. His mother Mary Creswell Walker at the time of that census owned 26 slaves in 9 slave houses.[3]
With the outbreak of theAmerican Civil War, Walker chose to follow his home state of Georgia and theConfederate cause. He resigned his commission on December 20, 1860, and was appointed acolonel in theGeorgia state militia on February 1, 1861. He would hold this position until March 13, when he was appointed amajor general in the 1st Division, Georgia Militia, until May.[2]
Walker transferred to theConfederate Armyinfantry as a colonel on April 25. He was promoted tobrigadier general on May 25 and assigned the 1st brigade, 4th Division of the Potomac District of theDepartment of Northern Virginia on October 22. Seven days later he resigned his commission,[2] either due to his health or from dissatisfaction with his military assignments.[4] Almost immediately after resigning, Walker served in the Georgia militia again as a brigadier general from November 1861 to January 1863, when he resigned to re-enter the Confederate States Army.[2]
Walker resumed his brigadier general rank in the Confederate Army on February 9, 1863, and in May was assigned tobrigade command to the Confederate Department of the West. On May 21 he was givendivisional command in the same department, and he was promoted tomajor general on May 23.[2] This promotion was strongly endorsed by the department's commander,Gen.Joseph E. Johnston, who considered Walker "the only officer in his command competent to lead a division." Walker then participated in theVicksburg Campaign that summer in Johnston's command.[5] Walker and his division were transferred to the Department of Mississippi & Eastern Louisiana in July and served there until August 23, when his command was added to the Reserve Corps of theArmy of Tennessee until November 4.[2] During this time Walker fought in the Confederate victory at theBattle of Chickamauga inGeorgia that September as commander of that corps.[5]
In December 1863, Walker and his division were made part ofLt. Gen.William J. Hardee's First Corps of the Army of Tennessee. He would command it up to his death in combat on July 22, 1864, at theBattle of Atlanta,[2] when he was shot from his horse by a Federal picket, killing him instantly,[6] and Brig. Gen.Hugh W. Mercer took over the division.[7] Walker is buried in the Walker Cemetery, located atAugusta University in Georgia.[2]
An upturned cannon waymark in theGlenwood Avenue triangle of Atlanta currently marks the place where Walker was killed. Its front description plate reads: "In memory of Maj.Gen. William H.T. Walker, C.S.A." and the rear plate reads: "Born November 26, 1816; killed on this spot July 22, 1864."[7]
A bronze bust of Walker was dedicated in 1916, made by American sculptorTheo Alice Ruggles Kitson, and is located atVicksburg National Military Park.[8]
Fort Walker andWalker High School, also in Atlanta, was named in his honor. However, Walker High School's name was changed in 1987 to "McNair High School" to honor astronautRonald E. McNair, who died in theChallenger Space Shuttle explosion the prior year.
William Henry Talbot Walker atFind a Grave
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