James B. Walton

Infobox Military Person
name= James Burdge Walton


caption=
born= 1813
died= 1885
placeofbirth= New Jersey
placeofdeath=
nickname=
allegiance= USA
Confederate States of America
branch= Militia
Confederate States Army
serviceyears=1839 - 1861 (USA) 1861 - 1864 (CSA)
rank=
unit= Washington Artillery
commands=
battles= Mexican American War
American Civil War
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

James Burdge Walton (1813 - 1885) was a veteran of twenty years of service in the famed New Orleans militia unit the Washington Artillery [ [http://www.la.ngb.army.mil/dmh/jbm_langhist.htm Louisiana National Guard "History and Mission"] ] .

Early life

Born in New Jersey, he attended college in Louisiana and owned a New Orleans grocery store.

Military service

Mexican American War

Walton joined the Washington Artillery as an adjutant when the unit was formed in 1839. In the Mexican War, Walton commanded the 1st Louisiana Artillery as a Major and by 1857 he was Colonel Commanding of the battalion. [http://aotw.org/officers.php?officer_id=597 Antietam on the Web] ]

Civil War

At the outbreak of the war Walton and four batteries went east to serve in Virginia. After fighting at the First Battle of Manassas, Walton and his command were assigned to James Longstreet's forces and served on the Peninsula, at Second Manassas, and Antietam. Walton earned much distinction for commanding the batteries on Marye's Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Chancellorsville Campaign. He had risen to command of the First Corps artillery and was humiliated at Gettysburg where he was superseded by subordinate Colonel E. Porter Alexander.

When the bulk of Longstreet's First Corps were sent to Georgia (United States), only a portion of the artillery was sent with it. Walton held several positions during the absence of his guns in southern Virginia. An apt and innovative commander Walton revolutionized many artillery formations and drills. His most well known accomplishment being the design for the Hanging Tigers Head design used by the Washington artillery. He resigned on July 18, 1864 and returned to his merchant business. [Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Confederacy]

Family life

Walton's son, James B. Jr., was a student at Virginia Military Institute class of 1865 who resigned to join the Confederacy in 1861.

References

External links

* [http://aotw.org/exhibit.php?exhibit_id=110 Col. JB Walton's Official Report Report of 1862-12-04]
* [http://www.washingtonartillery.info/history.htm Washington Artillery History]