Joseph T. Derry , A. M. , Author of School History of the United States; Story of the Confederate War, etc., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 6, Georgia
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

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[451] major-general and sent to command a division in the army operating in Mississippi under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. After the fall of Vicksburg he was ordered to Georgia, in time to share in the battle of Chickamauga. In this great conflict General Walker commanded the Reserve corps, composed of the divisions of Generals Gist and Liddell. On Sunday morning he attacked the Federal left with part of his command, Walthall's brigade having been detached to another part of the line. General Walker reported that when ordered forward Sunday morning, Gist's division moved with Govan, of Liddell's division, on right, Breckinridge and Cheatham ‘in the rear and on General Gist's left.’ He continued: ‘I owe it to myself and to the gallant command under me to state that when I reported to General [D. H.] Hill, had he permitted me to fight my Reserve corps according to my own judgment, and had not disintegrated it, as he did, by sending it in by detachments, I would have formed my five batteries on the left flank of the enemy, toward the Chattanooga road, and opened fire upon the enemy's flank, and would have either pushed them forward, supported by infantry, or have marched past them with my combined force; and I feel satisfied that the enemy's left would have been carried much easier than it was, and many a gallant man been saved, and his retreat intercepted.’ From this time General Walker's career was one with that of the army of Tennessee, until his death in the charge upon the Union left at Atlanta, July 22, 1864. On the day before going into this battle Walker had expressed to Hood his appreciation of the task that had been assigned the latter, and had assured him of earnest co-operation and support in every effort to check the further advance of the Federal army toward the heart of the Confederacy. A vigorous attack upon Sherman had been Walker's desire from the opening of the campaign. No more gallant life was offered upon the altar of his country than that of Gen. William H. T. Walker.

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