William H. T. Walker

Infobox Military Person
name= William H. T. Walker
born= birth date|1816|11|26
died= death date and age|1864|07|22|1816|11|26
placeofburial=


caption= William Henry Talbot Walker
nickname= Shot Pouch, Fighting Billy
placeofbirth= Augusta, Georgia
placeofdeath= Atlanta, Georgia
allegiance= United States of America Confederate States of America
branch= infantry
serviceyears= 1832–60 (USA) [Eicher, p. 531. Walker resigned his commission on Oct. 31, 1838, but upon re-entering the service in 1840 he resumed being a 1st Lt. to rank from Feb. 1, 1838] 1861–64 (CSA)
rank= brev. Lt. Colonel (USA) Major General (CSA)
unit=
commands=
battles= Mexican-American War
*Battle of Contreras
*Battle of Churubusco
*Battle of Molino del Rey
American Civil War
*Battle of Chickamauga
*Atlanta Campaign:*Battle of Kennesaw Mountain:*Battle of Atlanta†
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

William Henry Talbot Walker (November 26, 1816 – July 22, 1864) was an American soldier. He served as a career army officer, fought in the Mexican-American War, and was a Confederate general during the American Civil War.

Early life and career

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 CSA army) was born in Augusta, Georgia. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1832 to 1837, and graduated 46th out of 59 cadets. Walker was appointed brevet Second Lieutenant on July 1, 1837, and assigned to the 6th U.S. Infantry. On July 31 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. That winter he was serving in Lake Okeechobee, Florida, where he was seriously wounded on Christmas Day in the neck, a shoulder, his chest, left arm, and also a leg. Walker was brevetted to First 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.Eicher, p. 531.]

Walker was reinstated in the 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 Infantry, and was promoted to Captain on November 7, 1845.

During the Mexican-American War, he fought at the Battle of Contreras and the Battle 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 promotion to the rank of brevet Major on August 20. Walker then participated in the Battle of Molino del Rey in early September and was once more wounded, this time in the back. For his actions there he was brevetted to Lt. Colonel on September 8.

After the war with Mexico concluded, Walker did recruiting for the army from 1849 to 1852. Walker served as commandant of the cadets at West Point from July 31, 1854 to May 22, 1856. Also during his time at West Point he taught military tactics was promoted to Major in the 10th U.S. Infantry on March 3, 1855. His nickname of "Shot Pouch" was due to his multiple woundings.

Civil War service

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Walker chose to follow his home state of Georgia and the Confederate cause. He resigned his commission on December 20, 1860, and was appointed a colonel in the Georgia State Militia on February 1, 1861. He would hold this position until March 13, when he was appointed a major general in the 1st Division, Georgia Militia, until May.

Walker transferred to the Confederate Army (CSA) infantry as a colonel on April 25. He was promoted to brigadier general on May 25 and assigned the 1st brigade, 4th Division of the Potomac District of the Department of Northern Virginia on October 22. Seven days later he resigned his commission. He served in the Georgia militia again as a brigadier general from November 1861 to January 1863, when he resigned to re-enter the CSA army.

Walker resumed his brigadier general rank in the CSA army on February 9, 1863, and in May was assigned to brigade command to the Confederate Department of the West. On May 21 he was given divisional command in the same department, and he was promoted to major general on May 23. Walker and his division was transferred to the Department of Mississippi & Eastern Louisiana in July and served there until August 23, when he was added to the Reserve Corps of the Army of Tennessee until November 4.

;DeathIn December 1863 Walker's Division was made part of Lt. 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 the Battle of Atlanta, when he was shot from his horse by a Federal picket and Brig. Gen. Hugh W. Mercer took over the division.www.waymarking.com] Walker is buried in the Walker Cemetery, located at Augusta College in Georgia.

An upturned cannon waymark in the Glenwood 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."

ee also

References

* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
* [http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2DJP Walker's waymark entry at www.waymarking.com]

Notes

Further reading

* "To the Manner Born: The Life of General William H. T. Walker" by Russell K. Brown, Mercer University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-8655-4944-3