Sir: The 18th Alabama Infantry, as I am sure you know, was in Brig. Gen. James T. Holtzclaw's Brigade of Maj Gen. Henry D. Clayton's Division, Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee's Corps of the Army of Tennessee in November and December, 1864. Although not directly involved in the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864, Clayton's Division did arrive on the battlefield at around 4:30 P.M. on the 30th and occupied the 1st live of captured Federal Trenches. The 18th Alabama commander was Lt. Col. Peter F. Hunley.

The Official Casualty records for Clayton's Division kept by the Division Surgeon, Dr. G. B. Thornton records that the 18th Alabama Infantry suffered 2 killed and 3 wounded at Nashville, Tennessee on December 15th & 16th 1864. Many of the wounded from Nashville were captured in the Franklin, Tennessee Confederate Hospitals on December 17th and 18th after the Army of Tennessee retreated from Tennessee. (See list below).

18TH ALABAMA
Co. A. Capt. G. E. Gowen (c) Franklin, Tn. Hospital 12/17/64
Co. D. Pvt. Noah Cagle (c) “ “ “ “
Co. E. Lt. M. A. Cameron (c) “ “ “ “

Lt. S. W. Stewart (c) “ “ “ “

Cpl. A. M. Smith (c) “ “ “ “

Pvt’s: F. W. J. Atwell (c) “ “ “

W. W. Atwell (c) “ “ “ “

William C. .Channahon “ “ “

J. W. Garner (c) “ “ :
Joel Heath (c) “ “ “ “

W. I. Hines (c) “ “ “ “
W. R. Johnson (c) “ “ “ “
Co. F. Lt. William A. Walker (c) “ “ “ “
Co. H. Lt. J. H. Stephens (c) “ “ “ “

I believe that your ancestor Lt. William A. Walker shown captured at Franklin was in one of the hospitals there either wounded at Nashville or suffering from disease or exhaustion. Thousands of wounded and exhausted Confederate Soldiers were captured in the hospitals at Franklin, Spring Hill, Columbia, Tennessee etc. on the retreat.

I hope this information is of some assistance in your search on your brave ancestor.
Sincerely, Tim Burgess