Francis Marion Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Marion Walker
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| Born | November 12, 1827 Paris, Kentucky |
| Died | July 22, 1864 (aged 36) Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Allegiance |  United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1847–1848 (USA) 1861–1864 (CSA) |
| Rank |  2nd Lieutenant, USV Colonel, CSABrigadier General (unconfirmed) |
| Unit | 5th Tennessee Infantry (USA) |
| Commands held | 19th Tennessee Infantry F.M. Walker's Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
Francis Marion Walker (born November 12, 1827 – died July 22, 1864) was an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was killed in action while leading his troops at the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. Sadly, his official promotion to brigadier general arrived just one day after he died.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Francis Marion Walker was born in Paris, Kentucky on November 12, 1827. He was named after a famous American Revolutionary War hero, Francis Marion. When he was young, his mother passed away.
In 1843, his family moved to Hawkins County, where his father ran a tavern. Francis had limited formal schooling. However, he taught himself and also taught at a school to earn money for college.
Military Service Before the Civil War
During the Mexican–American War, Walker became a second lieutenant. He joined the 5th Tennessee Infantry Regiment, which his father commanded as a colonel. His unit was sent to Mexico, but the war ended before they saw any fighting.
Walker graduated with honors from Transylvania University in 1850. He then became a lawyer in Rogersville, Tennessee. In 1854, he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and continued his law practice. He served as a city council member (alderman) in Chattanooga from 1858 to 1859. He was also the attorney general for Tennessee's Fourth District from 1860 until the Civil War began.
Service in the American Civil War
Before Tennessee joined the Confederacy, Francis Marion Walker actually supported the Union. He gave speeches in eastern Tennessee to encourage people to stay with the United States. However, once Tennessee decided to leave the Union and join the Confederacy, Walker chose to stay loyal to his home state.
He joined the Confederate cause and became a Captain of a group called the "Marsh Blues." This group was from Hamilton County, Tennessee and later became Company I of the 19th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. The company was named after Ed Marsh, who helped provide uniforms and equipment. On June 11, 1861, Walker was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment.
Key Battles and Promotions
Walker's regiment fought bravely in the Battle of Mill Springs and the Battle of Shiloh. Both his unit and Walker himself were praised for their courage. At Shiloh, Walker even received the sword of a Union general, Benjamin Prentiss, when Prentiss surrendered.
On May 8, 1862, Walker was elected Colonel of the 19th Tennessee Infantry. He then led his regiment in several important battles, including the Battle of Stone's River, the Battle of Chickamauga, and during the Chattanooga Campaign.
His regiment also fought during the Atlanta campaign. They were in trenches at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864. From their protected positions, they caused heavy losses to Union soldiers who attacked them.
Command and Final Battle
Brigadier General Otho F. Strahl and Lieutenant General William J. Hardee often recommended Walker for promotion to brigadier general. In June 1864, Walker was given command of a brigade in Major General Benjamin F. Cheatham's division. This happened when Brigadier General George Maney was promoted to lead a division.
On July 17, 1864, just before the Battle of Peachtree Creek, Confederate President Jefferson Davis made a big change. He replaced General Joseph E. Johnston as the commander of the Army of Tennessee, which was defending Atlanta. The new commander was the very aggressive Lieutenant General John Bell Hood.
On July 22, 1864, Hood ordered Lieutenant General Hardee to move his troops around the left side of the Union Army, east of Atlanta, for a surprise attack. Meanwhile, Major General Cheatham was to make a fake attack from the front. The cavalry commander, Major General Joseph Wheeler, would attack the Union supply lines. This led to the Battle of Atlanta.
During a tough day of fighting, Hardee's men managed to push back the Union's left side. Union Major General James B. McPherson was killed during this battle.
By 5:00 p.m., Confederate attacks along the Union front had been stopped. However, the Union force had lost a large part of their left line. Union Major General Francis Preston Blair, Jr. still held a strong position on a place called Bald Hill. Confederate Major General Patrick Cleburne decided to gather his forces for a big attack on Bald Hill.
Francis M. Walker's men, including his 19th Tennessee Infantry, had not been in heavy fighting that day. Cleburne placed Walker's brigade at the front of the attacking force. The attack started around 6:00 p.m. with about 3,500 men. Cleburne himself led the charge with Walker's brigade.
Walker's men came out of a group of woods and were hit hard by Union defenders. They started to retreat, but Cleburne and Maney rallied them. Walker's men then moved forward again, with Walker waving his sword to encourage them. As they reached the top of the hill, a huge volley of shots came from the Union defenders. Francis Marion Walker was killed by this volley.
He had been appointed a brigadier general the day before, but he had not yet received the official notice. His promotion papers arrived at his headquarters the day after he died. After Walker's death, many of his men tried to attack a Union artillery position and suffered many casualties. As night fell, the Confederates could not continue the attack, and the Union troops held their position on the hill.
Aftermath
Francis Marion Walker was first buried in Citizens Cemetery in Griffin, Georgia. In 1889, his remains were moved to a family plot in Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
See also
