Evening star., 1897-03-15
His War Service,


navy list, gave him rapid promotion, and
the outbreak of the civil war found him a
lieutenant.
His War Service.
His first war service was in the Con-
necticut, and later he was first lieutenant
of the Winona. and had a share, under
Farragut, in the passage of Forts ST.
Philip and Jackson and the capture of
New Orleans. PROMOTED to lieutenant
commander in July, 1862, he was given
command of the Baron de kalb. an iron
clad, and became one of Admiral Porter $
most trusted and valued assistants during
the prolonged ard extensive naval opera
tions upon the upper Mississippi. In that
active and arduous service the river gun
boats fought not only the navy, but the
army of the enemy-not only confederate
rams anL torpedOeS, but also sharpshooterS
and field batteries. The Baron de kait
took part in the operations against Eicks-
burg, i'll two attacks upon HaineS' Bluff
and in the brilliant action at Arkansas
post, where, running close ill., she silenced
the confederate guns. Lieutenant Com
mander Walker was employed frequently
upon detached services commanded an ex-
pedition of several vessels up the YaZoo
river, which destroyed works and stores,
and nnaily gave immediate assistance. in
the reduction Of Nicksburg by command
ing the naval battery sent on shore to aid
the Fifteenth Army Corps in the siege OF
that stronghold.
Transferred to the north Atlantic coas
in 1861, he commanded the Saco. and aided
In the capture of Wilmington. Immediate
ly after the war he comma nded the Shaw
NUT on the European and Brazil stations
ana IN 1856 was promoted to the grade of
commander DIT the age of thirty-one
W hen the war services OF naval officers
were examined in the Navy Department
with a view to rewarding the most desery-
ing by special promotion, none was found
better than that of Lieutenant Commander
Walke", and he received the maximum ad-
vancement-about forty numbers in his
grade.
Services Since the War,
Attaining high rank at an early age pre-
pared by varied training and experience
for responsible duties, Commander Walker
began to make that impress upon his pro-
fession and service which is the real test
of ability. He served at the Naval Academy
lor three years as assistant to Admiral
Porter, then superintendent. and in 1863
1870 commanded the friSate Sabine on a
special cruise to Europe and Brazil After
a tour of duty as light house inspector he
was detailed as secretary of the light no use
board in 1873, and held that important post
for five years. There his capacity for ad-
mlnistration had full sway, and ne reor-
ganized the business of the board and es-
tabished II upon its present high plane of
ef11clency. He was promoted to the grade
of captain In 1877. After his detachment
from the light house board. in 1873 he took
advantage of leave of absence to enter the
service of the c. b. and Q. r. r. in an inn
portant capacity. Such was the impression
made upon the directory of the road by his
business qualities that upon the expiration
of his leave he was offered the position of
treasurer.
Resuming his naval duties however he
was placed in command of the Powhatan
and in 1881 was made chief of the bureau
of navigation, and at the eXpira ton of his
lour years term in 1885 he was reappointed
captain Walkers occupancy of that i'm
portant Office came at time of unusual
movement and energy in naval affairs:
when. after standing still for fifteen years
and until the navy was reduced to sew
superannuated wooden vessels the building
of modern fleet was begun. In all this
work and In the changes which accompa-
MED It, he took leading part as the sec
retary's principal adviser, both in planning
and IN executing.
The Squadron of Evolution.
He was advanced to the grade of commo-
dore in 1889, and in October of that wear
as an acting rear admiral he hoisted his
flag on the Chicago, and took command of
the squadron of evolution our first organ
lied force of the new steel vessels, which
soon became widely known as 1.-The white
squadron" With this command Admiral
Walker first made a cruise In the Mediter-
ranean. and in the spring OF 1890 went to
Brazil to congratulate that nation upon its
newly established republican form Of gov
ernment. Returning to the United States
he cruised north and south. along our own
coast, conducting drills and evolutions.
When our relations with Chile became
acute in the fall of 1891. he was sent to
Montevideo to await developments, return
ing again to the United States in 1892. and
taking command of the North Atlantic
station. He commanded one Of the diyI-
SONS of the Columbian naval review feet
in 1893. and hauled down his flag in May
of that year. Promoted to the fun rank of
rear admiral in January, 1894, he became
president Of the board of inspection and
survey. In March, 1894, because of the un-
settled state of affairs in Hawaii, Admiral
Walker was ordered to the command Of the
Pacific station, and as such he remained at
Honolulu four months again hauling down
his flag at Mare Island. Cal in August
During his stay at Honolulu the cons.i.u-
tional convention was held. and the per-
manent republican government inauglrat-
ed. His published dispatches form an in
teresting contribution to that period of Ha-
waiian history.
Chairman OF the Light House Board.
Shortly after his relief from command OF