Thomas Mereweather Walker CSA (1840 - 1900)

Born 1840 in Virginia

Ancestors

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Biography

Thomas M. Walker was born in 1840. He was the son of Thomas Walker.

His occupation was that of a tailor. ^[1]

Residence

Civil War Military Service

Thomas M. Walker served in the Confederate Army as a Private in the 55th Infantry Virginia Troops, Company A. He enlisted for one year in May 28, 1861 at Fort Lowry, Virginia. At enlistmenth he was 23, 5'8' with a light light complexion, gray eyes and dark hair.

He was present from September through October 1861 at Lowrty Point. ^[2]

Private Walker was reported ill on the Company A Muster Roll of November and December dated on December 31, 1861 at Lowery's Point (at Fort Lowry, Virginia). Reported Present in January/February at Point Lowrry (at Fort Lowry, Virginia) in 1861. Illness not stated. ^[3]

Walker was present January through February 1862. ^[4]

Thomas re-enlisted Feb 15, 1862 at Lowry's Point where his enlistment was extended for two years. A Bounty $50.00 was received. August 6, 1863 ^[5]

Walker was reported as sick (in hospital) at Camp Lowry (at Fort Lowry, Virginia) from May, 1862 through December 31, 1862, Illness not stated. ^[6]

He was reported in Hospital at Fort Lowry and was admitted in hospital on October 1, 1863 and his hospital stay lasted until December 31, 1863. Illness not stated. Appears on Roster of Medical Director's Office Richmon Richmond, Virginiad Virginia Men Returned to Duty received September 2, 1863 sent August 6, 1863 ^[7]

While stationed at Fort Lowry at Fort Lowry , Walker deserted April 24, 1864, but later returned to duty. ^[8]

He was assigned to duty in the trenches at Petersburg Virginia and was wounded in the left arm and elbow on August 10 1864. ^[9]

On March 25 and August 23, 1863, Thomas Walker appears on the Receipt Roll for clothing of Lt. (latere Captain) W. Kemp Tabbs Company Camp Guard at Camp Winder, Richmond Virginia. ^[10]

On Septemer 14, 1863, Thomas M. Walker who was in Winder Hospital rwas ordered to return to duty with the 55th Regiment Virginia Troops immediately. ^[11] The remarks at the bottom of the page indicated that he was no there.

His name appears on the Register of Receiving at Wayside Hospital or General Hospital #9 Richmond, Virginia where General Hospital Camp Winder October 2, 1864. V.S. where his the middle finger on his left hand was amputated and his elbow vwound was treated. He was tranfered to Chimborazo Hospital on August 9,1864. ^[12]

Thomas appears on a Receipt Roll at the General Hospital (camp Winder) at Richmond, Virginia for Clothing on October 22, 1864 and again on November 9 1864. ^[13]

Walker received a thirty day furlough on October 14, 1864 because of the injury to his left hand. ^[14]

Thomas M. Walker received letter of disability and discharge from Conferate Board for Retiring Individual of Cmpany B Captain Davis' Company B. The letter based on report from Chimborazo Hospital January 7, 1865 and January 30 ,1865. According to Conferate Board for Retiring Individuals, Thomas M. Walker was "permanently diabled because ofthe amputation of his middle finge on his left hand and a wound in his left elbow. He has absesses on left elbow which are still open and discharging. His wounds caused imperfect movement at his left elbow joints and atrophy of the left hand." He was discharged on January 30 ,1865. ^[15]

Walker sighned Oath of Allegiance and Parole of the United Statyes of America promising to never "take up arms" against the government on May 2, 1866 and was granted permission to return home. ^[16]

Death

He passed away in 1900.

Footnote

"55th Infantry Regiment was organized in September, 1861, by the addition of four companies to W.N. Ward's "Essex and Middlesex" Battalion of Virginia Volunteers. It was assigned to General Field's, Heth's, H.H. Walker's, and Barton's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 55th participated in the campaigns of the army from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, then was involved in the Petersburg siege south of the James River and the Appomattox operations. It sustained 108 casualties during the Seven Days' Battles, 32 at Second Manassas, 11 at Fredericksburg, and 110 at Chancellorsville. Of the 268 engaged at Gettysburg, twelve percent were killed, wounded, or missing. In February, 1865, the 47th and 55th Regiments were consolidated, but only 2 officers and 21 men of the 55th were present at the surrender. Its field officers were Colonels William S. Christian and Francis Mallory; Lieutenant Colonels Robert H. Archer and Evan Rice; and Majors Thomas M. Burke, Robert B. Fauntleroy, Charles N. Lawson, Andrew D. Saunders, and William N. Ward." ^[17]

Fort Lowry was located near Wares Wharf on the Rappahannock River at Lowry's Point in Essex County, Virginia. Lowry was an eight-gun water battery constructed in 186 and built to prevent Union gunboats from proceeding to Fredericksburg, Virginia. Union forces destroyed it a month after the Confederates abandoned it in March 1862. It was later rebuilt and remained in limited use. ^[18]

Chimborazo Hospital was an American Civil War era facility built in Richmond, Virginia to service the medical needs of the Confederate Army. It functioned between 1862 and 1865 in what is now Chimborazo Park, treating over 76,000 injured Confederate soldiers.

No medical facility anywhere on the continent during the Civil War equaled the fame and notoriety of Chimborazo Hospital. It quickly emerged early in the war as one of the largest, best-organized, and most sophisticated hospitals in the Confederacy. It took its peculiar name from the hill on which it sat—Chimborazo Hill, on the eastern edge of the city of Richmond. ^[19]

Sources

1. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg 24-25, 40-43.
2. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg 1.
3. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg 4.
4. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg 5.
5. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 17.
6. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg 7.
7. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 8-13.
8. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 14, 18.
9. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 15.
10. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 26-27, 28-29.
11. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 38
12. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 21-23.
13. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 33-34.
14. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 32
15. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg 24-25, 40-43.
16. ↑ Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg 45.
17. ↑ IWikipedia contributors. "55th Virginia Infantry."
18. ↑ Historical Marker Project. "Fort Lowry"
19. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "Chimborazo Hospital."

• Thomas M. Walker in Confederate Records of Virginia. 55th Virginiia iInfantry, pg. 1-43. Fold3.com database on line. https://www.fold3.com/image/12964873

• Wikipedia contributors. "Chimborazo Hospital." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Jun. 2018. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.

• 1850 Thomas W Walker (40) and Juliet Weathers (36) in United States Census. Richmond County, Richmond, Virginia, United States. Race: White, Birth Year (Estimated) 1810. Birth- place: Virginia, House Number 381. Household: Sturman Walker (M ) 15, Virginia, Elizabeth Walker (F) 14 Virginia, Thomas M Walker (M) 10 Virginia, Emigene Walker (F) 8 Virginia, Seymour Walker (M) 6 Virginia, James Walker (M) 3. "United States Census1-850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DL-P8G : 12 April 2016), Thomas W Walker, Richmond county, Richmond, Virginia, United States; citing family 381, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• Thomas M. Walker in Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia. The National Archives. Publication Number: M324 . NARA. National Archives Catalog ID:n586957. National Archives Catalog Title: Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Or- ganizations , compiled 1903 - 1927, documenting the period 1861 - 1865. Record Group: 109. State: Virginia. Roll: 0971 Military Unit: Fifty-fifth Infantry. Full Name: Walker, Thomas M. Age: 23 . Year: 1861 Estimated Birth Year: 1837 - 1838 .Conflict Period: Civil War (Confederate) Branch: Confederate Army.

• Wikipedia contributors. "55th Virginia Infantry." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Jun. 2017. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.

• Historical Marker Project. "Fort Lowry". 2018 Historical Marker Project. 3RiverDev (Fort Wayne, Indiana). https://www.historicalmarkerproject.com/markers/HM1FF_fort-lowry-camp-byron_Dunnsville-VA.html.