Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23

Walker was offered the position of master
mechanic in the railroad machine shops in
Atlanta, Ga. Being a single man, he ac-
cepted the offer, though like all east Ten
nesseeans, his devotion to the mountains of
his native state was one of the strongest
impulses of his life.
Walker was strong Union man. rs We're
all his mountain kinsmen, but when Georgia
seeded, he found it would be dangerous to
express his views, so he kept them 20 him.
self, resolving in the meantime to escape
to the north and join the Union forces at
the first opportunity. The conscrpt laws
were early enforced in the south Planters
with large estates, professional men and
mechanics, although forced into the ser
vice. where they did not volunteer-as most
of them calamity did-were exempted,
under the impression that their services
IL they were permitted to remain buck at
tnelr usual vocations. In this way Walker
although sworn into the service of the con-
federacy, was detailed to remain in charge
of the same shop.
Escaped From Atlanta
The war had been going on for eight
months, when Walker, who had carefully
prepared his plans, escaped from Atlanta
one Saturday night, and before his flight
the Cumberland mountains Within a
month. for the man was a born leader
walker had recruited LIT mountaineers
and without any warrant swore them into
the Union service With these men, dress
ed IN butternut and armed with uld-fash-
Toned hunting rifles. Walker Travelled by
night through the lines of Kirby Smith
and succeeded in reaching the Union forces
under Nelson, in central Kentucky
walker received captains commission
mo
ed into the service; but instead of being
consolidated into one of the many east Ten
nessee Union regiments, they remained a
separate command, known as walkers
scouts Because of their great familiarity
with the country over which the army of
east Tennessee and of the Cumberland
were then operating, Walker and his men
were of the greatest service; and, it NAV
be added, that it would be impossible to
ma In either army a harder, handsomer
or more desperate body of mounted men
frst met Walker al Chattanooga, few
weeks before the effective battles of Look
out and Missionary Ridge. He had come
through the enemy's lines alone, with a
message for help from Burnside, then
starving in Knoxville.
His Personality.
Walker stood about six feet two His hair
and beard were light brown, and his We're
the only gray eyes 1 ever Saw-the only
eyes of any color, indeed-that seemed to
flash fire when he became earnest Al
though his voice was low and his manner
almost effeminate, the veriest tyro in physi-
ognomy could not be in Walkers company
ten minutes without feeling the magnetism
of his unf1inching courage and superb man
mood. Walker and l became decidedly
chummy during the short time he spent at
Chattanooga. Three weeks after he had
started back to Burnside, we had had our
big fights, and in the hot pursuit of Bragg
that followed I with
sixty men. All the Union prisoners were
sent on to 1.-The Bull Pen," an unroofed in
closure In Atlanta, from which point the
officers were forwarded 10 Libby prison
and the enlisted men to Belle Isle, in the
James river.
1t was a cold, sleety evening in early De-
cember, when We were marched from the
cars at Atlanta to the Bull Pen, at the
edge OF the town. The Enclosure was more
than ankle deep in mud. In less than the
space of half an acre 1000 shivering men
were packed. About the center of the in
closure there were two brick piles, rem
rants of the chimneys of a house that had
been burned down. AS l was stiR my
horse having fallen on me when he was
shot, my comrades helped me to the Chin
neys, and made me a seat of some of the
bricks.
Chained to a Heavy Shot.
sat down, and had just uttered groan,
caused by mental rather than physical suf-
fering. when my attention was attracted
by the clanking of a chain near by. Look
ing quickly up, was surprised and shocked
to see the tall form of Captain Walker
bending over me. About his right ankle
there was heavy iron ring. and fastened
to this a log chain, at the other end of
which was an iron ball that looked like q
160-pound shot. This ball the captain car
ried on his shoulder with the greatest ease:
but he dropped it beside me and made
seat of 1t. when he took my hand in both
of his. and whispered as he wrung It:
MY, cap, but am glad to see you h'ar!''
Glad to see me here. Walker?' re-
peated.
That's what said, old fellow"
well, don't think hate any man 80