Civil War Confederate Major General. In 1844, he graduated from Jesuit College in St. Louis, Missouri and was commissioned a Lieutenant into the Regular Army in 1846. Serving with honor in the Mexican War, he remained in the Army as a Captain until July of 1861, when he resigned to join the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War. He served as Colonel of the 8th Texas Cavalry, North Carolina Department and was promoted Brigadier General in January 1862. During the Antietam Campaign, he led brigades in the Army of Northern Virginia. In November 1862, he was promoted Major General of the Trans-Mississippi Department where he was given command of 12 Texas regiments, numbering 12,000 men, training at Camp Nelson, Arkansas. He led a division of Texas Infantry in the Red River Campaign in the spring of 1864 and later commanded the District of West Louisiana. He then directed the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona until the end of the war. After the war ended, Walker fled to Mexico briefly, then returned to the United States. He was appointed consul general at Bogotá, Columbia, then served as special commissioner to Pan-American Convention.
Civil War Confederate Major General. In 1844, he graduated from Jesuit College in St. Louis, Missouri and was commissioned a Lieutenant into the Regular Army in 1846. Serving with honor in the Mexican War, he remained in the Army as a Captain until July of 1861, when he resigned to join the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War. He served as Colonel of the 8th Texas Cavalry, North Carolina Department and was promoted Brigadier General in January 1862. During the Antietam Campaign, he led brigades in the Army of Northern Virginia. In November 1862, he was promoted Major General of the Trans-Mississippi Department where he was given command of 12 Texas regiments, numbering 12,000 men, training at Camp Nelson, Arkansas. He led a division of Texas Infantry in the Red River Campaign in the spring of 1864 and later commanded the District of West Louisiana. He then directed the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona until the end of the war. After the war ended, Walker fled to Mexico briefly, then returned to the United States. He was appointed consul general at Bogotá, Columbia, then served as special commissioner to Pan-American Convention.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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