Captain James Walker

Co D, 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles

James Walker, the eldest on nine siblings, was born in London, England on October 5, 1812. When he was three or four years old, he immigrated to the US to settle in Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio. Although James' father was a cabinet maker by trade, he probably possessed political influence, for James received an appointment to the US Military Academy which he entered on July 1, 1828. Young Walker did not graduate, for on June 30, 1831 he was discharged due to "a deficiency in mathematics." The same day he left West Point, he applied for an appointment as a midshipman in the US Navy. When his application was denied, Walker decided to study medicine. By 1835 he had moved to Jackson, Hinds County, MS to practice his profession. It was here in October, 1836 that he married Mary W. Bailey. After five years of marriage Walker's wife died in 1841, leaving him with two sons and a daughter. In 1844 Walker remarried, moved to Missiouri and continued to practice medicine.

During the War with Mexico Walker joined Lieutenant Colonel Powell's Battalion, Missiouri Mounted Infantry as an assistant surgeon and served from Nov 1847 to Aug 1848. After his discharge Walker returned to Missouri and was elected to serve in the Missiouri House of Representatives where he served for one term. Apparently inspired by letters from his brother who had settled in Texas, Walker decided to re-settle in Texas which he did in 1854. Walker and his family settled in Hallettsville, Lavaca County where he dwelled on the eve of the WBTS.

The Census of 1860 lists Walker as a physician with his wife and five children. His real estate and personal property were valued each at $3000 and he owned two slaves.

Walker's Command in Colonel Baylor's & General Sibley's New Mexico Campaigns

On March 21, 1861, Texas Governor Edward Clark, complying with an ordinance of the Secession Convention, commissioned James Walker to raise a company of mounted volunteers. Walker enrolled his company of State troops in Hallettsville, Lavaca County, on April 19, 1861. On May 19 his command made up part of the force which compelled the surrender of Federal troops at San Lucas Springs. Walker's company was mustered into Confederate service for a term of twelve months in San Antonio as Company D, 2nd Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles on May 23. For a time Walker and his troops garrisoned Fort Davis. Receiving orders from Lieutenant Colonel Baylor, Walker left behind a detachment of 25 troops at Fort Davis and set out with the main boby for Fort Fillmore, New Mexico Territory, arriving there the latter part of August. When news came that the Federals had abandoned Fort Stanton, located about 150 miles NE of Fort Fillmore, Walker was ordered to to reoccupy that post temporarily and to secure what supplies and war material remained. After accomplishing this mission, he returned to the Mesilla Valley where Fort Fillmore was located. Walker's troops engaged in numerous scouts and forways against the hostile Apaches. The Fort Davis detachment of Walker's command lost seven troops in an Indian ambush, and in Walker's main force three men were killed by the Apaches in the Gallinas Mountains located about 75 miles north of Fort Stanton. All, or part of Company D comprised a part of Major Pyron's Battalion during the New Mexico campaign of late 1861-early 1862. Company D fought in the Battle of Valverde and in the skirmishes of Albuquerque and Peralta.

On the eve of General Sibleys New Mexico campaign, ten troops had been killed by Indians, five had been transferred to other companies, three had died of disease, two had been medically discharged, and one had been killed accidentally, leaving Company D with 85 effectives. During the New Mexico campaign, one soldier was killed and another was wounded at Valverde, and ten were taken prisoner including the wounded trooper. Additionally, two men later died of disease. When Company D returned to San Antonio, no more than 72 men were fit for duty.

When the 2nd Regiment was reorganized in San Antonio on July 8, 1862, Walker was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Reference: Hall, Martin Hardwick, The Confederate Army of New Mexico, pp. 318-320, Presidial Press, 1978.