Lt. Col. William Walker, CSA: Winn Parish, Louisiana
Contributed by Greggory E. Davies
120 Ted Price Lane
Winnfield, LA  71483
**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


 


LT. COL. WILLIAM WALKER, C.S.A.


Lt. Col. William Walker is listed on the first Winn Parish, Louisiana Census of 
1860, as age 28, born in Alabama.  Walker was the second sheriff of Winn Parish, 
serving only a short time prior to enlisting in Confederate service.  He was elected 
as an officer in the 28th Louisiana Infantry.

It is not known exactly when,, but Walker married Rosanna McCreight (pronounced 
Mac-Rite) and they did have children, how many is also a mystery.  Another mystery 
exists concerning the Colonel's burial place following his gallant death at the Battle of 
Mansfield, Louisiana.  Some reports state that he died in the home of a relative soon 
after the battle, was interred at the Mansfield Cemetery, and later disinterred and 
removed to a family plot.  Other reports lead one to believe he died on the battlefield.  
According to word of mouth from Mansfield Commemorative Area (Battle Park) 
personnel, Walker the former story is the one most referred to.  If this be the case, 
it is most probable that the Colonel is buried at the McDonald Cemetery, Rochester 
Community, just west of Jonesboro, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, where his wife and 
at least one child is buried.  Mrs. Walker was a relative of the McDonald and Stinson 
families, prominent in early Jackson and Winn Parishes.  A "headstoneless" plot exists 
on each side of Mrs. Walker's grave, one of which is between her grave and that of 
her and the Colonel's daughter.  Odds are that the Colonel is buried in this unmarked 
grave beside his wife and child.

Sadly, Colonel Walker's sword was awarded to the Lt. Col. William Walker Chapter, 
United Daughters of the Confederacy, in the early 1900s, but no one is certain of its 
whereabouts today.  

Lt. Col. Walker was an early Winn Parish leader, politically and fraternally, serving 
not only as Sheriff, but as Worshipful Master of Eastern Star Masonic Lodge No. 
151, F. & A. M., which he helped organize.  He also served as District Deputy 
Grand Master, appointed by Louisiana's  Grand Master of Masons.  His name can 
be found in minutes of various Lodges in the vicinity of Winn Parish and he aided 
in organizing Montgomery Masonic Lodge No. 168.

The Colonel's military record, like many other Confederate records, is scant.  A 
search of the National Archives Compiled Service Records and Louisiana Confederate 
Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands,  by Andrew Booth, yields little.  
However, in many accounts of the Battle of Mansfield, Walker is referred to as 
gallant and courageous.  It is written in these accounts that Colonel Walker fell in 
the same charge as did General Mouton.  Proudly, he was leading his men, not 
sending them.

In 1996, the Lt. Col. William Walker Camp No. 1738, Sons of Confederate 
Veterans was organized in Winn Parish, and to that date, was believed to be 
the largest S. C. V. Camp ever chartered in Louisiana.  The Colonel's record 
of political, fraternal, and military leadership led the Winn Parish Sons of 
Confederate Veterans to name their Camp in his honor.

Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana.