Near Oceana in Wyoming County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Civil War Romance

Thompson and Martilia Walker

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 15, 2019

1. Civil War Romance Marker

Inscription.

Civil War Romance. Thompson and Martilia Walker. , This is the site of a romance between Thompson L. Walker, a Confederate soldier, and Martilia Walker, the daughter of a staunch Unionist. Pvt. Thompson Walker enlisted in Company B, 23rd Virginia Infantry Battalion, on July 12, 1862, and fought in several engagements in the Greenbrier Valley and in the Battle of Droop Mountain. In the summer of 1863, while with his unit in the Shenandoah Valley, Walker was captured and confined at Point Lookout, Maryland. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, food shortages, and bad drinking water made conditions horrendous., On May 15, 1865, Walker signed the oath of allegiance to the United States and was soon paroled. Ill and weary, he began the long journey home to Mercer County in the new state of West Virginia, trekking through rugged terrain and being threatened by Unionists seeking revenge on former Confederates., By mid-June, Walker reached the ridge just across the road from here, and Martilia Walker (no relation), the youngest daughter of Unionist William Walker, found him hungry and exhausted. Sympathizing with his plight, she concealed Walker near her home, which stood at the bottom of the ridge. On the pretext of feeding the family cattle, she covertly brought him food, medicine, and blankets, and nursed him back to health., Walker remained in the area, and the couple fell in love and married on December 11, 1866. They had sixteen children. They built a house half a mile south of here on Bear Branch, and Walker never reached his former home in Mercer County., (Sidebar:) , William Walker was an attorney and fervent Unionist who served as a captain in the U.S. Army. He served as Wyoming County’s only delegate to the Wheeling constitutional convention, November 26, 1861–February 18, 1862, and favored the name of West Virginia for the new state. He was an advocate of free public education. He is buried in Oceana. According to local tradition, this area was so divided in its loyalties during the war that for years thereafter, fistfights erupted between proponents of each side.

This is the site of a romance between Thompson L. Walker, a Confederate soldier, and Martilia Walker, the daughter of a staunch Unionist. Pvt. Thompson Walker enlisted in Company B, 23rd Virginia Infantry Battalion, on July 12, 1862, and fought in several engagements in the Greenbrier Valley and in the Battle of Droop Mountain. In the summer of 1863, while with his unit in the Shenandoah Valley, Walker was captured and confined at Point Lookout, Maryland. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, food shortages, and bad drinking water made conditions horrendous.

On May 15, 1865, Walker signed the oath of allegiance to the United States and was soon paroled. Ill and weary, he began the long journey home to Mercer County in the new state of West Virginia, trekking through rugged terrain and being threatened by Unionists seeking revenge on former Confederates.

By mid-June, Walker reached the ridge just across the road from here, and Martilia Walker (no relation), the youngest daughter of Unionist William Walker, found him hungry and exhausted. Sympathizing with his plight, she concealed Walker near her home, which stood at the

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

bottom of the ridge. On the pretext of feeding the family cattle, she covertly brought him food, medicine, and blankets, and nursed him back to health.

Walker remained in the area, and the couple fell in love and married on December 11, 1866. They had sixteen children. They built a house half a mile south of here on Bear Branch, and Walker never reached his former home in Mercer County.

(Sidebar:)
William Walker was an attorney and fervent Unionist who served as a captain in the U.S. Army. He served as Wyoming County’s only delegate to the Wheeling constitutional convention, November 26, 1861–February 18, 1862, and favored the name of West Virginia for the new state. He was an advocate of free public education. He is buried in Oceana. According to local tradition, this area was so divided in its loyalties during the war that for years thereafter, fistfights erupted between proponents of each side.

Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 18, 1862.

Location. 37° 40.594′ N,

Civil War Romance and William Walker Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 15, 2019

2. Civil War Romance and William Walker Marker

81° 36.931′ W. Marker is near Oceana, West Virginia, in Wyoming County. It is on Appalachian Highway (Route 10) 0.1 miles west of Clacey Lane, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 41 Agnes Ln, Oceana WV 24870, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southern Coalfields.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Walker (here, next to this marker); Oceana Veterans Memorial Wall (approx. 0.9 miles away); Capt. Ralph Stewart (approx. 0.9 miles away); Duty Honor Country (approx. 0.9 miles away); American Disabled Veterans (approx. 0.9 miles away); After The Flag Is Folded (approx. 0.9 miles away); Just Cause (approx. one mile away); John Cooke (approx.

Paid Advertisement

one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oceana.

More about this marker. This interpretive panel contains four illustrations. Clockwise from the top: A photograph of “Thompson and Martilia Walker, circa 1900;” a document “Thompson Walker release;” a portrait of William Walker; and a photograph of the Thompson Walker house.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 588 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 27, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.