James B. Walton
Encyclopedia
James Burdge Walton served for two decades in the famed New Orleans militia
unit the Washington Artillery
. He was most prominent in the Confederate service in the American Civil War
.
, Walton attended college in Louisiana and owned a New Orleans grocery store.
, Walton commanded the 1st Louisiana Artillery as a Major
and by 1857 he was Colonel
Commanding of the battalion.
. After fighting at the First Battle of Manassas
, Walton and his command were assigned to James Longstreet's
forces. These batteries served in the Peninsula Campaign
, at Second Manassas
, and Antietam. Walton commanded the batteries on Marye's Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg
and the Chancellorsville
Campaign. He commanded the artillery reserve of the First Corps
artillery and was humiliated at Gettysburg
, where a subordinate Colonel E. Porter Alexander
, was placed in charge of the artillery preparation for Pickett's Charge
on July 3, 1863.
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 in southern Virginia during the absence of his guns. Walton worked to improve artillery formations and drills. His best known accomplishment 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.
class of 1865 who resigned to join the Confederacy in 1861.
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
unit the Washington Artillery
141st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
The 141st Field Artillery Regiment is a United States artillery regiment.-History:The 141st Field Artillery is an historic American military unit that is currently part of the Louisiana Army National Guard headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. He was most prominent in the Confederate service in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Born in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Walton attended college in Louisiana and owned a New Orleans grocery store.
Mexican American War
Walton joined the Washington Artillery as an adjutant when the unit was formed in 1839. In the Mexican WarMexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
, Walton commanded the 1st Louisiana Artillery as a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and by 1857 he was Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Commanding of the battalion.
Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Walton and four of five batteries went East to serve in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. After fighting at the First Battle of Manassas
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, Walton and his command were assigned to James Longstreet's
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
forces. These batteries served in the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
, at Second Manassas
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
, and Antietam. Walton commanded the batteries on Marye's Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
and the Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville may refer to:* Chancellorsville, Virginia, an unincorporated community in the United States** Battle of Chancellorsville, a battle during the American Civil War that took place at Chancellorsville, Virginia, from April 20 – May 6 in 1863...
Campaign. He commanded the artillery reserve of the First Corps
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
artillery and was humiliated at Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, where a subordinate Colonel E. Porter Alexander
Edward Porter Alexander
Edward Porter Alexander was an engineer, an officer in the U.S. Army, a Confederate general in the American Civil War, and later a railroad executive, planter, and author....
, was placed in charge of the artillery preparation for Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Its futility was predicted by the charge's commander,...
on July 3, 1863.
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 in southern Virginia during the absence of his guns. Walton worked to improve artillery formations and drills. His best known accomplishment 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.
Family life
Walton's son, James B. Jr., was a student at Virginia Military InstituteVirginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
class of 1865 who resigned to join the Confederacy in 1861.