Lucius Walker

Background

Walker was born in Columbia, Tennessee.

Education

Walker graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1850, placing 15th of a class of 44.

Career

He was mortally wounded in a duel with fellow general John South. Marmaduke. He was brevetted second lieutenant of dragoons and served on frontier duty. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1852, shortly before resigning to return to Tennessee, where he established a successful mercantile business.

Walker lived in Street Francis County, Arkansas at the time of his enlistment.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Walker was commissioned Colonel of the 40th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry on November 11, 1861. His first assignment was to command the post at Memphis.

In 1862, he and his 40th Tennessee were ordered to New Madrid, Missouri to prepare for the Battle of Island Number Ten. Walker was commissioned brigadier general on March 11, 1862, and was posted at Kentucky Bend, with the command of the 40th Tennessee falling to Lieutenant

Colonel Creative Commons Henderson.

He retreated in the face of a much larger Union force, which threatened to capture all of Walker"s command. Being forced to surrender at Island #10, Walker was exchanged and rejoined the army at Corinth, Mississippi, before it retreated to Tupelo. At the May 9, 1862, Battle of Farmington, his brigade attacked and drove a Union force from its entrenchments.

He was reassigned to the Transport-Mississippi Department on March 23, 1863, commanding a brigade of cavalry under Lieutenant

General Theophilus Holmes at the Battle of Helena. After the Battle of Reed"s Bridge on August 26, 1863, Brigade

General Walker, judging from the indications that the enemy was about to flank his position, had withdrawn his troops after dark.

Walker felt that he had been unjustly accused of cowardice and challenged Marmaduke to a formal duel. “I have not pronounced you a coward,” Marmaduke wrote, “but I desire to inform you that your conduct as commander of the cavalry was such that I determined no longer to serve you.” Major

General Sterling Price ordered both officers to remain in their quarters in an attempt to prevent the duel.

However by an unfortunate series of mishaps, the orders were not delivered to Walker. At dawn on Sunday, September 6, Walker and Marmaduke squared off with Colt Navy revolvers on the north bank of the Arkansas River near Little Rock.

Both fired and missed. Marmaduke then recocked and fired a second time, mortally wounding Walker in the right side, just above the beltline.

Walker forgave Marmaduke when the latter offered his assistance. the next day.

He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis. General Frank C. Armstrong married Maria Polk Walker, daughter of Confederate Colonel Joseph Knox Walker, the brother of Lucius Marshall Walker.

Colonel

J. K. Walker died on August 21, 1863.

Connections

enemy:

John South. Marmaduke

nephew:

James K. Polk