Commander of the famed Washington Artillery of New Orleans

(1813-85) The owner of a New Orleans grocery store, Walton joined the Washington Artillery as adjutant when the unit was formed in 1839. During the Mexican War he commanded the 1st Louisiana Artillery. He was appointed major and commander of the Washington Artillery Battalion in May 1861, and led four batteries east to serve in Virginia at the outbreak of the war. After fighting in the 1st battle of Manassas, he was assigned to the command of General James Longstreet seeing action during the 1862 Virginia Peninsula campaign, at 2nd Manassas, and at Sharpsburg. His commission as colonel was dated Mar. 26, 1862. Walton earned much praise for commanding the batteries on Marye's Heights during the battle of Fredericksburg, and for his actions in the Chancellorsville campaign. During the Gettysburg campaign he was commander of Longstreet's 1st Corps, Artillery Reserve. He resigned on July 18, 1864, after having served as Inspector General of Field Artillery.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Corners of the mount are very slightly trimmed for insertion into a cdv album. Slight paper loss to the albumen print at the extreme edge which does not affect the subject in any way. Bust view in Confederate uniform. Col. Walton is written in period ink on the front mount. Backmark: E. & H.T. Anthony, New York. Rare.