Civil War Union Army Officer. He was commissioned as a Captain in the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on August 15, 1862, and was mustered in as commander of Company D on August 25, 1862. He led his command through its participation's in the Battles in Pennsylvania and Virginia, culminating his is death is action during the May 12, 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.
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James Walker; Company D 15th New Jersey Infantry
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James Walker was born on May 12, 1827 to Sarah and William Walker in Summerhill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of ten children; six boys and four girls. He was educated locally and grew working on his father’s farm. In 1855, James, at age 28, married the 21-year-old, Summerfield native, Sarah Ann “Sallie” Jagger. In 1856, James and Sallie moved to Lafayette, Sussex County, New Jersey. Here he worked as a Miller and had his only son.
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On August 15, 1862, James, at age 35, was commissioned an officer in the forming 15th New Jersey Infantry. He was mustered in as Captain of Company D on August 25. He led his company to duty in Maryland, movement to Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Burnside’s "Mud March", duty near Falmouth, Chancellorsville Campaign (Operations at Franklin's Crossing, Marye’s Heights, Salem Heights, Banks' Ford), Gettysburg Campaign (Gettysburg, Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap (Fairfield, Funkstown)), in camp near Warrenton & Culpeper, Bristoe Campaign, Advance to line of the Rappahannock, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run Campaign, duty at Brandy Station, and the Campaign from the Rapidan to the James (the Wilderness, Spotsylvania (Spotsylvania Court House, Assault on the Salient, the "Bloody Angle")). In the early morning of May 12, 1864, the 15th was held in support for the main assault made by Hancock’s 2nd Corps. Waiting in the pouring rain for most of the morning, they were finally sent into to battle at 10am with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th New Jersey Infantries of the First New Jersey Brigade led by William Penrose. Their position in the battle, though, caused their movement to be parallel to the Rebel lines. The final misfortune in this was that the 15th held the right of the brigade’s first line; meaning, they were the closest to Rebels and extremely vulnerable to flanking fire. That flanking fire is exactly what happened. The first two direct volleys slammed into the 15th’s ranks and fell over 150 men. One of these being Captain James Walker. An excerpt from the journal article “Savage Spring: The 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Spotsylvania” tells of James fate, ‘one of the first to fall were Captain Walker, struck in the head by a bullet, falling spreadeagle backwards, dead before he hit the ground.’. James Walker dies on his 37th birthday. He was temporally buried in a mass grave on the battlefield until being disinterred and sent home. James’ final resting place is at Newton Cemetery in Newton, New Jersey. His wife remarried in 1871 and lived until 1916 and the age of 82.
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Contributor: Ty DeWitt (49618427)
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James Walker; Company D 15th New Jersey Infantry
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James Walker was born on May 12, 1827 to Sarah and William Walker in Summerhill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of ten children; six boys and four girls. He was educated locally and grew working on his father’s farm. In 1855, James, at age 28, married the 21-year-old, Summerfield native, Sarah Ann “Sallie” Jagger. In 1856, James and Sallie moved to Lafayette, Sussex County, New Jersey. Here he worked as a Miller and had his only son.
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On August 15, 1862, James, at age 35, was commissioned an officer in the forming 15th New Jersey Infantry. He was mustered in as Captain of Company D on August 25. He led his company to duty in Maryland, movement to Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Burnside’s "Mud March", duty near Falmouth, Chancellorsville Campaign (Operations at Franklin's Crossing, Marye’s Heights, Salem Heights, Banks' Ford), Gettysburg Campaign (Gettysburg, Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap (Fairfield, Funkstown)), in camp near Warrenton & Culpeper, Bristoe Campaign, Advance to line of the Rappahannock, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run Campaign, duty at Brandy Station, and the Campaign from the Rapidan to the James (the Wilderness, Spotsylvania (Spotsylvania Court House, Assault on the Salient, the "Bloody Angle")). In the early morning of May 12, 1864, the 15th was held in support for the main assault made by Hancock’s 2nd Corps. Waiting in the pouring rain for most of the morning, they were finally sent into to battle at 10am with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th New Jersey Infantries of the First New Jersey Brigade led by William Penrose. Their position in the battle, though, caused their movement to be parallel to the Rebel lines. The final misfortune in this was that the 15th held the right of the brigade’s first line; meaning, they were the closest to Rebels and extremely vulnerable to flanking fire. That flanking fire is exactly what happened. The first two direct volleys slammed into the 15th’s ranks and fell over 150 men. One of these being Captain James Walker. An excerpt from the journal article “Savage Spring: The 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Spotsylvania” tells of James fate, ‘one of the first to fall were Captain Walker, struck in the head by a bullet, falling spreadeagle backwards, dead before he hit the ground.’. James Walker dies on his 37th birthday. He was temporally buried in a mass grave on the battlefield until being disinterred and sent home. James’ final resting place is at Newton Cemetery in Newton, New Jersey. His wife remarried in 1871 and lived until 1916 and the age of 82.
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Contributor: Ty DeWitt (49618427)
Civil War Union Army Officer. He was commissioned as a Captain in the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on August 15, 1862, and was mustered in as commander of Company D on August 25, 1862. He led his command through its participation's in the Battles in Pennsylvania and Virginia, culminating his is death is action during the May 12, 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.
------------------------
James Walker; Company D 15th New Jersey Infantry
-
James Walker was born on May 12, 1827 to Sarah and William Walker in Summerhill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of ten children; six boys and four girls. He was educated locally and grew working on his father’s farm. In 1855, James, at age 28, married the 21-year-old, Summerfield native, Sarah Ann “Sallie” Jagger. In 1856, James and Sallie moved to Lafayette, Sussex County, New Jersey. Here he worked as a Miller and had his only son.
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On August 15, 1862, James, at age 35, was commissioned an officer in the forming 15th New Jersey Infantry. He was mustered in as Captain of Company D on August 25. He led his company to duty in Maryland, movement to Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Burnside’s "Mud March", duty near Falmouth, Chancellorsville Campaign (Operations at Franklin's Crossing, Marye’s Heights, Salem Heights, Banks' Ford), Gettysburg Campaign (Gettysburg, Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap (Fairfield, Funkstown)), in camp near Warrenton & Culpeper, Bristoe Campaign, Advance to line of the Rappahannock, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run Campaign, duty at Brandy Station, and the Campaign from the Rapidan to the James (the Wilderness, Spotsylvania (Spotsylvania Court House, Assault on the Salient, the "Bloody Angle")). In the early morning of May 12, 1864, the 15th was held in support for the main assault made by Hancock’s 2nd Corps. Waiting in the pouring rain for most of the morning, they were finally sent into to battle at 10am with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th New Jersey Infantries of the First New Jersey Brigade led by William Penrose. Their position in the battle, though, caused their movement to be parallel to the Rebel lines. The final misfortune in this was that the 15th held the right of the brigade’s first line; meaning, they were the closest to Rebels and extremely vulnerable to flanking fire. That flanking fire is exactly what happened. The first two direct volleys slammed into the 15th’s ranks and fell over 150 men. One of these being Captain James Walker. An excerpt from the journal article “Savage Spring: The 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Spotsylvania” tells of James fate, ‘one of the first to fall were Captain Walker, struck in the head by a bullet, falling spreadeagle backwards, dead before he hit the ground.’. James Walker dies on his 37th birthday. He was temporally buried in a mass grave on the battlefield until being disinterred and sent home. James’ final resting place is at Newton Cemetery in Newton, New Jersey. His wife remarried in 1871 and lived until 1916 and the age of 82.
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Contributor: Ty DeWitt (49618427)
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James Walker; Company D 15th New Jersey Infantry
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James Walker was born on May 12, 1827 to Sarah and William Walker in Summerhill Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of ten children; six boys and four girls. He was educated locally and grew working on his father’s farm. In 1855, James, at age 28, married the 21-year-old, Summerfield native, Sarah Ann “Sallie” Jagger. In 1856, James and Sallie moved to Lafayette, Sussex County, New Jersey. Here he worked as a Miller and had his only son.
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On August 15, 1862, James, at age 35, was commissioned an officer in the forming 15th New Jersey Infantry. He was mustered in as Captain of Company D on August 25. He led his company to duty in Maryland, movement to Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Burnside’s "Mud March", duty near Falmouth, Chancellorsville Campaign (Operations at Franklin's Crossing, Marye’s Heights, Salem Heights, Banks' Ford), Gettysburg Campaign (Gettysburg, Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap (Fairfield, Funkstown)), in camp near Warrenton & Culpeper, Bristoe Campaign, Advance to line of the Rappahannock, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run Campaign, duty at Brandy Station, and the Campaign from the Rapidan to the James (the Wilderness, Spotsylvania (Spotsylvania Court House, Assault on the Salient, the "Bloody Angle")). In the early morning of May 12, 1864, the 15th was held in support for the main assault made by Hancock’s 2nd Corps. Waiting in the pouring rain for most of the morning, they were finally sent into to battle at 10am with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th New Jersey Infantries of the First New Jersey Brigade led by William Penrose. Their position in the battle, though, caused their movement to be parallel to the Rebel lines. The final misfortune in this was that the 15th held the right of the brigade’s first line; meaning, they were the closest to Rebels and extremely vulnerable to flanking fire. That flanking fire is exactly what happened. The first two direct volleys slammed into the 15th’s ranks and fell over 150 men. One of these being Captain James Walker. An excerpt from the journal article “Savage Spring: The 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Spotsylvania” tells of James fate, ‘one of the first to fall were Captain Walker, struck in the head by a bullet, falling spreadeagle backwards, dead before he hit the ground.’. James Walker dies on his 37th birthday. He was temporally buried in a mass grave on the battlefield until being disinterred and sent home. James’ final resting place is at Newton Cemetery in Newton, New Jersey. His wife remarried in 1871 and lived until 1916 and the age of 82.
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Contributor: Ty DeWitt (49618427)
Inscription
"CAPT CO D 15 NJ VOLS CIVIL WAR"
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