The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Walthall, Edward Carey

WALTHALL, wŏl'thạl, Edward Carey, American soldier: b. Richmond, Va., 4 April 1831; d. Washington, D. C, 21 April 1898. Admitted to the bar in 1852, he began practice in Coffeeville, Miss., and was district attorney for the 10th judicial district of Mississippi 1856-61. He then entered the Confederate army as lieutenant, becoming brigadier-general in December 1862 and major-general in June 1864. He especially distinguished himself at the battle of Missionary Ridge, where he led his brigade over a ridge and held back the Federal troops till the Confederate army made its escape; and he covered the retreat of General Hood's army after the defeat at Nashville. He practised law in Grenada, Miss., 1871-85, when he was appointed a United States senator to fill out the unexpired term of Lucius Q. C. Lamar. He was elected for full terms in 1888 and in 1892, was chairman of the committee on military affairs and served on the committees on the improvement of the Mississippi River and on public lands.