Major General William Henry Talbot " Shot Pouch" Walker.

[major bill]

I was wondering if Hood lost a good general at Atlanta who Hood could have used during the Nashville Campaign.

Birn in Georga Walker graduated from West Point in 1837 and was a career officer. He fought in the Seminole War and fought in the Mexican War. He was commandant at West Point when he resigned in 1860, one of the first US officers to resign. He appeared to have a good professional reputation in the US Army, but was considereded difficult and quarrelsome. It appears about the only one he got along with was he West Point classmate Braxton Bragg. He was considered brave and earned the name "Shot Pouch" due to his many serious wounds. He was eager to fight during the Civil War, but did not get promoted as quickly as he thought he should and became resentful of those who he out ranked getting promoted to higher positions.

He served in the Vicksburg Campaign. He commanded a battalion during the Battle of Chickamauga. While a division commander he was killed at Atlanta.

His death made me wonder if his death had an impact on Hood's Nashville Campaign. Hood could have used all the good generals he could lay his hands on. Then again he may have quarreled with Hood.

So should have Walker been made a Corps commander or Army commander? His West Point classmate Braxton Bragg made both.

 

[Luke Freet]

I was wondering if Hood lost a good general at Atlanta who Hood could have used during the Nashville Campaign.

Birn in Georga Walker graduated from West Point in 1837 and was a career officer. He fought in the Seminole War and fought in the Mexican War. He was commandant at West Point when he resigned in 1860, one of the first US officers to resign. He appeared to have a good professional reputation in the US Army, but was considereded difficult and quarrelsome. It appears about the only one he got along with was he West Point classmate Braxton Bragg. He was considered brave and earned the name "Shot Pouch" due to his many serious wounds. He was eager to fight during the Civil War, but did not get promoted as quickly as he thought he should and became resentful of those who he out ranked getting promoted to higher positions.

He served in the Vicksburg Campaign. He commanded a battalion during the Battle of Chickamauga. While a division commander he was killed at Atlanta.

His death made me wonder if his death had an impact on Hood's Nashville Campaign. Hood could have used all the good generals he could lay his hands on. Then again he may have quarreled with Hood.

So should have Walker been made a Corps commander or Army commander? His West Point classmate Braxton Bragg made both.

His biographer Russell K. Brown doesn't consider the man too highly. He failed to contain Dodge's crossing at Lay's Ferry on May 15th 1864, which ended Johnston's hopes of holding out around Resaca. His division was notorious for heavy desertion rates. It lost around 500 men in five days around Kennesaw Mountain, despite never being the target of major Union attacks. His last impactful battlefield performance was at Peachtree Creek, where his division was disorganized on the attack and only one brigade was seriously engaged.

Walker was less than mediocre. He seemed to lack any charisma despite his bravery, and he never made a great impression on his troops. I think his subordinate brigades fought better when they weren't under his command, before the division was formed, and after it was disbanded.

 

[Stryker65]

I think he gained his division not through exemplary service, but simply through seniority: when Johnston's Army of Relief was formed, Walker happened to be a senior brigadier and was placed in charge of four other brigades. Since Confederate division commanders were usually MGs, I suppose this is why Walker was promoted. Additionally, his division never saw combat until Chickamauga, since three of his four brigades were either garrison troops (one of whom was Walker's old brigade) or parolees.

 

[major bill]

Were not both Walker and Bragg both brevet lieutenant colonels before the Civil War? Walker did make Major General, but was not a major player in the Confederate Army.

 

[Stryker65]

Were not both Walker and Bragg both brevet lieutenant colonels before the Civil War? Walker did make Major General, but was not a major player in the Confederate Army.

Yep.

1860 Army Register: (of 10th U. S. Infantry)

1851 Army Register: (of 3rd U. S. Artillery)

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Thought Walker's field division command performances were somewhat lackluster, even though his bravery in the field was beyond questioning.

Got the impression that his difficult personality (that included a hot-temper and vindictiveness) would have precluded him from being effective working with peers and subordinates in a senior command role – whether at Corps or Army level.

As a militant pro-slavery General, as well as a fervent Bragg supporter, Walker was apparently the prime instigator that acted against Cleburne's (and his supporters) proposal at the end of 1863 to enlist slaves in the Army. (Consequently, Walker thereafter viewed Cleburne and these other generals, who were among some of the best in the AOT, as traitors).

Walker also became embittered when he was passed over for Corps command, following Polk's death. (However, his commission did not predate either Cleburne, Cheatham or Hindman – all other candidates for the position).

Not only did Walker lack the essential personal qualities to carry out higher command functions, but also thought that Bragg's resignation from Army command after Chattanooga, would have made any elevation of Walker to a senior command role even more untenable.

 

[Stryker65]

Not only did Walker lack the essential personal qualities to carry out higher command functions, but also thought that Bragg's resignation from Army command after Chattanooga, would have made any elevation of Walker to a senior command role even more untenable.

So, similar to all officers who were supporters of Little Mac or Fitz John Porter?