Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-08-17

and around Richmond, he lost his arm at
Cedar Mountain. never having missed a
battle nor been absent a day from his COM
mand. Several times he attempted to re-
turn to the field, but was prevented by his
wound. Since the war he has been ccm-
PEELED to have painful operation perform
ed, Being unable to undergo service in
the field he was elected to the Confederate
Congress- from the Winchester district, and
served until the end Of the war. Gen.
eral Jackson reposed so much Conf
dence in him that he proposed to recon-
mend him for promotion to brigadiership,
but understood from his surgeons that he
was unit for service in the field.
Being unable to return to the field, Col
onel Holiday became candidate for the
Confederate Congress, and was elected
over Hon. A. r. Boteler.
NOT AN OFFICE-sEEKER.
After the war, Colonel Holiday return
ed to his home, and whilst following his
profession has taken the deepest interest
in public affairs, speaking in all the cam
paigns and forwarding the political inter
ests of Virginia whenever occasion offered.
One thing to be specially noted, however,
is that he has frequently been solicited by
his friends to be candidate for Congress,
or accept other political preferment, but
has uniformly declined.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
Colonel Holiday is man of fine appear
ance He is about six feet in heighth,
straight, and finely formed. His presence
at once inspires confidence and respect
He is g.aceful speaker, and his compo-
sitions show both logical arrangement and
scholarly care His speech at Assembly Hall
in Richmond, during the last campaign
| was declared by many gentlemen qualified
| hyy ito, al "a in
| to give opinion, one of the most valuable
and statesmanlike productions Of the day.
The Colonel has been twice married, and
is now a widoWer, without children.
| GENERAL JAMES A. WALKER, NOMINEE
FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
! General James A. Walker, of Pulaski,
was born near Mount Sidney, in the county
I of Augusta, Oh the 9th of August, 1888.
| After receiving the best elementary educa-
ton that the schools of the neighborhood
afforded, he entered the Virginia Military
Institute IN 1S4S. Here he remained until
the spring of 1852, and was in the gradu-
ating class of that year. when he took Of
fence at some reproYing remark made to
him in the lecture-room by StoneWall Jack.
son then professor) and angry words took
place between the two. Young Walker,
feeling that he had been previously wrong
ed and outraged by Jackson, sent him a
challenge to fight q duel.
sTONEWALL JACKSON CHALLENGED.
1t is related of Jackson, by one with
whom he consulted on the occasion. that
Notwithstanding he was q grave professor
and the challenger a mere boy, he for a con-
siderable time debated in his mind the pro-
priety of accepting, eXpressingsa serious
wish that it were possible in the nature Of
things, for him so to do.
IT,l 3, ,.r1,o fhn
was offence grave enough at an institution
where such strict discipline is maintined
as at the Virginia Military Institute, but
the sending of a challenge to one of the prin-
cipal officers was offence too great to be
overlooked or forgiven. Though Walker
stood high in his class, and was popular
with all who knew his honest heart and
chivaIric qualities, he was court-martialed
and dismissed from the institution.
WALKER AND JACKSON.
In after years, when Jackson aud Wal
ker met as officers in the field, and the
former saw his old pupil in the front OF
every fight, always prompt, always ready,
he freely blotted from his remembrance all
thought of the occurrence at the Institute,
and pushed him for promotion whenever
there was AL opportunity SO to do. They
became great friends. No officer in the
army stood higher in the esteem of Jackson
|
than Walker.
Leaving the Institute, Walker accepted
a position in the Engineer corps then en-
gagged in locating the line of the Covington
and Ohio NOW Chesapeake and Ohio rail
road, from the mouth of the Big Sandy
river to Charleston, KanaWha county.
and in this rough and unexciting life spent
returned to his old home in Augusta coun-
ty. and shortly afterwards commenced
readiug law in the office Of Colonel John
B. Baldwin, at Staunton. He read with
Colonel Baldwin for only a few months,
and ut the. session of 1916 took a ticket
at the Law School of the University OF
Virginia. At the end Of one year, seeing
good opening at Newbern, Pulaski coun-
ty. he removed thither and established
himself in the practice of the profession
he had chosen. In 1860 he had risen TO a
high rank at the bar, and was honored by
the people Of his county with the position
Of CommonW ealth's attorney, which he
continued to fill until the spring of 1861
when he resigned
WAR RECORD.
At the breaking out Of the war Walker
was captain of a fine volunteer company of
infantry called the pulaski Guards" 1t
was among the first to tender its services
to the Governor. In April, 1861, his COM
pany was ordered to Richmond, and went
into camp at the FAIRGROUNDS. There it
underwent short course OF military IN
struction under Captain Walker, and was
put in he Fourth Virginia regiment, com
manded by Colonel James f. Preston. The
regiment was ordered to report for duty at
Harper's Ferry, and there joined Stonewall
Jackson's troops
Captain Walker rose to the rank OF brlga-
dier-general, and was given the command
of the old Stonewall brigade by request of
Jackson. At the Wilderness he received
a terrible wound, compelling resection Of
the bones of one arm, and temporary re-
tirement from active service. In July,
1864. still suffering from his wound, he re-
turned to the field and fought through to
the end, making a splendid record.
PRIVATE LIFE.
The war over, General Walker returned
IT, his home, in Pulaski county, and devoted
himself entirely to the practice of his pro-
fession. In 1868 he was nominated as the
/ Conservative candidate for Lieutenant
Governor, and with Withers and Marye
canvasscd a considerable portion OF the
State, until the election was postponed by
military order and Congress commenced
reconstructing the State. AS soon as the
"Walker movement was inaugurated Gen.
| Walker gave it his sincere and hearty sup
port and when the Conservative Conven-
| ton assembled in Richmond in 1869 to de-
| liberate upon the affairs of the State he
sent q letter to the Hon. R. T. Daniel, au-
thorizing him to withdraw his General
Walker's) name from the existing ticket in
the event that it was eXpedient to do so.
In 1871 his people elected him to the House
Of Delegates, and he became a candidate
for Speaker, but was defeated for the NOM
| inaton in caucus by Hon. Marshall Hang
er by two votes.
General Walkers record is Stainless. He
suuarely built, frank and bold-looking. He
at once commands attention and ELECTS
| the respect of all who behold him.
/ OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.