James Burdge Walton, Sr.

Originally from New Jersey, he attended college in Louisiana and later owned a grocery store in New Orleans. In the 1860 Federal Census he is listed as a prosperous auctioneer. He served with the Washington Artillery in the Mexican War (1856 - 57) as Major, and by 1857 was Colonel Commanding the battalion. He was commander of the Washington Artillery (New Orleans, LA) at 1st Manassas. In correspondence well after the war (on the subject of blame at Gettysburg), Waltion insisted that ... "on the 20th June, 1862, General Order No. 28, right wing Army Northern Virginia, it was announced as follows:

Colonel J. B. Walton, of the battalion Washington Artillery, having reported for duty with this command, he is announced as Chief of Artillery. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
By command of Major-General Longstreet.

He also commanded the artillery on Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg in December 1862 (see article). Apparently subsequently recommended by Generals Beauregard and Longstreet for promotion to Brigadier General of Artillery (appointed?); resigned in July 1864.

Good references for the Washington Artillery and Colonel Walton are the Washington Artillery (reenactors) website and an article about the battalion from War for States' Rights site.

See a formal portrait of the Colonel from the Louisiana Digital Library, source of the image above. Note: His son, James B, Jr., was a cadet at VMI (Class of '65), resigning for war service in May 1861. Junior registered the birth of his daughter Annie A. (b 6/21/1876) in 1879; he was then residing in New Orleans (Louisiana State Archives v73, p329).

11/18/1813; Newark, NJ

09/08/1885; New Orleans, LA