Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-10-24
GEN. WALKER
PASSES AWAY
Died at His Home in WytheVlll6 on Last
Sunday Morning.
COMMANDER STONEWALL BRIGADE.
Story of His Interesting Career in War and
Peace-WaS Prominent Fig
ure in Politics;
COMMANDER STONEWALL BRIGADE


that General James a. Walker had dice
that morning at his home in Wytheville
He had been critically i'll for two weeks
and for more than a week all hope for his
recovery had been abandoned. His deatl
produced profound sorrow in TazeweiI. L
was only month ago that he made a vlsl
TO his friends here. He was then looking
well, and we all thought his life would b'
spared for several years, but his death Il
another proof of the uncertainty of life.
General James A. Walker was born IL
Augusta county, Virginia, September "a
1882. He graduated at the Virginia Mill
tary Institute and afterward studied Law
at the University of Virginia under tn
late Professor John B. Minor. de mar
ried Miss Sarah A. Poage, Of Augusta
county, and in 1854 he moved to New
bern. in Pulaski county, where he enter eC
upon the practice of his profession. A no
table incident of bis early life was tha
while cadet at the Virginia Military In
stituts he challenged Major Thomas J.
Jackson. afterward the world-renowneo
"Stonewail" Jackson, to fight duel
Jackson was then a professor in the
school.
General Walker w,s a man OF the high
est personal courage, and no soldier IN the
Confederate Army had better record IN
that respect.
The first American ancestor OF his fami'
IL. John Walker, went from Wigton, Scot
land, 10 Ulster, Ireland, and thence, after
few years, emigrated to Pennsylvania,
about the year 1870, little later, with
number of others, went to Rockbridge
county, Virginia. The Valley OF Virginia
was vet wilderness and these Scotch
Iri.h settlers not only endured all the
usual bardships of pioneers, but became a
bulwark between the Indians and the more
eastern settlements.
Alexander Walker, the great'grand'
father of James, was the father OF Il chil'
dren. most of whom grew to manhood and
womanhood. They settled in Kentucky
Alabama, Misscur Illinois and other
States and territories.
James A. Walker attended a neighDor'
hood school until the year lS4S, when he
entered the Virginia Military Institute al
Lexington, remaining four years. For two
wears after this he worked as civil engln'
Ger ON the Covlngton, now Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad In 1854 be studied
law at the University of Virginia; began
the practice of his profession In Novem
ber, 1850, at the county seat Of Pulaski
connty. Virginia, and in 1859 was elected
. attorney for the Commonwealth for Pulas
Xxi county.
At the beginning of the war between th'
Safes he was captain of fine yoluntee
company-the Pulaski Guards (afterwar(
Company C, Fourth Virginia Infantry
and in April, 1861, Captain Walker wa
promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colone
and was assigned to the Thirteenth VII
pinia Infantry, of which A. P. Hill wa
colonel. In March, 1869, he was agail
prJmoted, becoming colonel of the Ihil
t,enth Virginia Infantry, vice Hill promo
ted to brigadier general. In May
1858. a third promotion raised him to tn
rank of brigadier. general, and he was as
signed to the command of the "Stone
walr' Brigade.
At the Bloody Angle" in May, 1864
he was severely wounded. In July fol
lowing bis arm yet in a sling, he was pu
in command of the reserve troops guard
inc the line of the Richmond and South
side railroads, which roads were the feed
ers of General Lees army
In January, 1866, he reported to Ger
eral Lee for active service and was as
signed to the command of Early's d
vision. which he surrendered at Appomat
tox.
General Walker was with General JACK
son in the famous Valley campaign an
participated in all the battles of the Arm
of Northern Virginia. He was present
Bull Run, Port Republic, Gaines Mil
Malvern Hill, Cedar Run, Second Blu
Run. or Manassas; Oxhill, Fredericksburg
Second Winchester, Gettysburg, Payne
Farm. Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylv'
MIA Courthouse, Fort Stedman, Peter
burg. Sailors Greek and Appomattox.
At the close of the war he returned
Pulaski and resumed the practice OF b
profession. .
1869 he was nominated for Lieutel
ant.Goyeraor on the ticket with Col. /
~ % 0>.~Ie