224 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

county, Mo., July 22, 1822. He was educated at the Jesuit college, St. Louis, and in 1843 was commissioned as a lieutenant in the First mounted rifles, United States army. He served in the Mexican war as captain, and after the close of that struggle was retained as an officer in the regular army. He resigned his commission in 1861 to take part with the people of the South in their struggle for separate independence. He was at once made major of cavalry in the regular army of the Confederate States, his commission being dated from March 16, 1861. He soon became lieutenant-colonel, then colonel and in September, 1861, was assigned to command of a brigade in Virginia, comprising the First Arkansas, Second Tennessee, and Twelfth North Carolina infantry. Not long afterward he was promoted to brigadier-general. He served under General Holmes in the Aquia district and the department of North Carolina. When Lee marched against Pope, he was placed in charge of a division and left with three other division commanders, R. H. Anderson, Lafayette McLaws and D. H. Hill, to watch McClellan's movements in the neighborhood of Westover. As soon as it was certain that the whole Federal army had been withdrawn to the defense of Washington City, these three divisions rejoined the army of Northern Virginia for the invasion of Maryland. Walker led his division to the support of Jackson at Harper's Ferry, and was directed to seize Loudoun Heights. This he did, and after the surrender of Harper's Ferry marched with the other divisions of Jackson's command to Sharpsburg. In the opening of the great battle of September 17, 1862, his division was first on the right, but was soon sent to the support of Jackson. On the way being asked for help by Gen. D. H. Hill, Walker sent him the Twenty-seventh North Carolina and the Third Arkansas, and hurried on with the rest of his force and, quickly forming on Hood's left, made sure Confederate victory in that part of the field.   He was promoted to