James Vance Walker

1st Lieutenant - Company G - 3rd Tennessee "Lillard's" Infantry

Born: 14 January 1838 - Bradley County, Tennessee

Died: 8 April 1923 - McMinn County, Tennessee

Buried: Spring Creek Cemetery, Calhoun, McMinn County, Tennessee

James Vance Walker was born 14 January 1838 in Bradley County, Tennessee. He was the eldest of ten children of William Houston Walker and Polly Poe.

He enlisted in the service of the Confederacy on 3 May 1861 at Calhoun (McMinn County), Tennessee. Following his enlistment, he was sent 7 May 1861 to Knoxville, Tennessee. From there he was sent to Lynchburg, Virginia where he was mustered into Confederate service on 2 June 1861 as a Sergent in Company "G" of the 3rd Tennessee Confederate Infantry [There were actually two 3rd Tennessee Infantry Units. James Vance Walker's unit was initially commanded by Colonel John C. Vaughn and later by Colonel Newton Lillard. The unit is generally referred to as "Vaughn's Brigade" or "Lillard's Infantry"]. The unit was initially placed under the command of Colonel Ambrose Hill along with the 10th Virginia Infantry. His unit participated in the Battle of New Creek, Virginia [19 June 1861]. He participated in the Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) [21 June 1861], his regiment being under command of General E. Kirby Smith. His unit spent the remainder of 1861 and 1862 in Tennessee in a brigade commanded by Brigadier General Arnold Elzey. He participated in the Battle of Morgan and Scott County, Tennessee [28 March 1862] and later at the Battle of Tazewell, Tennessee [6 August 1862] and Battle of Perryville, Kentucky [8 October 1862]. He was elected 1st Lieutenant and commander of Company "G" on 15 May 1862. In December 1862, the unit was ordered to Vicksburg, Mississippi where it later [15 May 1863] formed the rear guard of Lt. General John C. Pemberton's Army on the way to Raymond, Mississippi. He participated in the Battle of Champion Hill, Mississippi [16 May 1863] and Big Black River, Mississippi [17 May 1863]. His unit moved to the trenches of Vicksburg, Mississippi where it was active during the siege of Vicksburg, with he and his unit surrendering on 4 July 1863. Following the surrender and parole, the unit returned to Tennessee where it reformed. He was captured by bushwhackers on 1 February 1864 in Murray County, Georgia. He was sent as a Prisoner of War first to Camp Chase Ohio and then to Fort Delaware Prison arriving there on 27 March 1864. He spent the remainder of the war imprisoned at Fort Delaware devoting his time and efforts to establishment of a Christian presence on the island. He wrote an extensive diary of his efforts [non-published, copy in possession of MOSB member Joe P. Walker] which provides insightful insights into the spread of the Christian faith among the prisoners. He was released from Fort Delaware on after the wars end on 17 June 1865 after signing an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Following the war's end, he returned to McMinn County, Tennessee where he operated a grist mill on Spring Creek. He was active in Confederate veterans affairs and attended various reunions. He married Susan Morgan in 1865 and had four daughters. He died of pneumonia 8 April 1923 and was buried in Spring Creek Cemetery, Calhoun, McMinn County, Tennessee.

As with many families in eastern Tennessee, the Walker family fought for both the Confederate and Union forces. Jame Vance's father, William Houston Walker also fought for the 3rd Tennessee alongside his son in Company "G". James Vance's uncle, Daniel Walker, fought for the 3rd Tennessee Union Cavalry. Ironically, Daniel Walker was also captured and send to a POW Camp (Cahaba, Alabama). Upon his release in April 1865, Daniel was placed aboard the steamer "Sultana" which exploded 27 April 1865 near Memphis killing over 1,500 solders. Daniel Walker was among the dead and his body was never recovered.