July 13-15, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2021
Extraordinarily fine and rare West Point Academy USMA Class of 1893 ring by J.E. Caldwell & Co. in 14k yellow gold, originally presented to General Kenzie Wallace Walker. Ring is original and complete, set with an oval carnelian reverse-carved intaglio wax seal measuring 16x14mm. Named inside shank with hand engraved "K.W. Walker. '93.". Also marked with impressed "14kt J.E.C. & Co.". Gross weight 13.6 grams. Finger size 8. West Point Academy currently exhibits a very worn 1893 example online as part of the USMA digital collection. This particular ring being offered is perhaps the finest example known to exist. The third son of Dr. William W. Walker, Jr. and Nancy E. A. Routh, Kenzie was born in Schulenburg, Fayette county, Texas on Christmas day, 1870. After completion of grade school in Schulenburg, he was appointed to The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on the 16th of June 1888. He graduated from the USMA on the 12th of June 1893, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of Cavalry and assigned to the 9th United States Cavalry. From 30 September 1893 to 20 April 1898, Kenzie served in the Department of the Platte (Fort McKinney, Wyoming and Fort Robinson, Nebraska). While serving on this tour of duty, he married Miss Helen Hobart Whitman on 17 October 1895 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Helen was the daughter of Ephriam Whitman and Augustine S. Nash. Kenzie's 9th Cavalry Regiment was ordered to to Chickamauga, Park, Georgia on 20 April 1898. Then on to Port Tampa, Florida and finally to Cuba with the 5th Army Corps. He served in The Campaign of Santiago de Cuba and in The Battle of San Juan, July 1, 1898 alongside Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders." Kenzie was cited for gallantry for his actions during this battle. (Kenzie's father, Dr. William W. Walker, Jr. (1844-1901) raised a company of volunteers to form Troop G (aka the Schulenburg Cavalry) after the Spanish-American War broke out. He was commissioned as a Captain at the Texas State Capitol on the 5th of May 1898. The 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment was not destined to see action in Cuba, however and this was a bitter disappointment for Dr. Walker. He then wired the Surgeon General of the Army and offered his services as a surgeon and requested assignment in Cuba. On 13 August 1898, Dr. Walker was ordered to report to Tampa, Florida to take the first available transport to Santiago, Cuba. Upon arriving in Cuba, Dr. Walker was assigned to duty on General William R. Schafter's staff and then to General Henry W. Lawton's staff. After serving actively in the field, he was reassigned to General Bates' staff and ordered to accompany 164 sick and wounded men of the 1st Illinois Infantry Regiment on board the troopship S.S. Berlin on its return trip to Camp Wikoff at Montauk Point on Long Island, New York. While on board the S.S. Berlin, Walker chanced to meet his son Kenzie who bore an amazing resemblance to his father.) 2Lt. Kenzie Walker then returned to the United States at (Montauk Point) and was ordered to the Department of the Colorado (Fort Du Chesne, Utah), 10 October 1898 and was promoted to 1st Lt. of Cavalry on the 2nd of March 1899. He served as 1st Lt. of Cavalry, 9th Cavalry, 2 March 1899, then Squadron Adjutant, 9th Cavalry 20 April 1899. His resignation as Squadron Adjutant was accepted 23 July: Assigned to Troop F, 24 July 1900; Sailed with Regiment from San Francisco for the Philippines on the 16th of August 1900. With Regiment in Southern Luzon until 30 April 1891. Kenzie and Helen's daughter, Dorothy was born on the 27th of October 1900 while her father was serving in the Philippines. Kenzie was promoted to Captain, 15th Cavalry, on the 17th of February 1901 and joined 15th Cavalry at the Presidio of San Francisco, California on 18 August 1901. Appointed Regimental Commissary on 19 August 1901 and served as such to 9 October 1902. He was then assigned to Troop B. On 9 October 1902, again sailed with the Regiment for the Philippines on 16 December 1902, and served with it in the Sulu Islands until its return to the US in November 1903. Kenzie commanded the post of Bongao and Tawi, Tawi group of islands, from 10 Jan 1902 to 30 July 1903. He then served with the 15th Cavalry Regiment in Department of the East (At Fort Myer, Va. and Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont) from 20 December 1903 to 3 October 1906: Regimental Commissary from 1 June 1904 to 15 March 1907; left Newport News with Regiment for Cuba on 7 October 1906 and served with same to 19 December 1907; assigned to Troop A on 9 March 1907; with Troop to 19 December 1907; detailed as Paymaster on the 21st of December 1907, and at Headquarters, Army of Cuban Pacification from that date until 30 June 1908. At Headquarters, Department of Texas, to 20 December 1911. Reassigned to the 9th Cavalry on the 21st of December 1911. With 9th Cavalry at Cheyenne, Wyoming and on Border Patrol Duty at Douglas, Nogales and Waco, Arizona until the 10th of July 1914. Quartermaster, by detail 10 July 1914 at Galveston, Texas. With Depot Quartermaster 20 July to 15 September 1914. At Vera Cruz, Mexico from the 18th September to the 23rd of November 1914. At Headquarters, 2nd Division, Texas City, Texas, 26 December 1914 to the 1st of May 1915; at Washington, DC in Office of Quartermaster General on the 5th of May 1915. Was promoted to Major of Cavalry on the 1st July 1916. Then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of Cavalry on the 25th of July 1917, and Colonel of Infantry, National Army, on the 5th of August 1917. As the United States Army was gearing up for action in the 1st World War, Colonel Kenzie Walker was instrumental in the organization and training operations. On the 23rd of August 1917, (having been relieved from detail as Quartermaster on 15 August 1917): Kenzie was at Camp Sherman, Ohio organizing, commanding and training 330th Infantry, 30 August 1917 to 1 April 1918: Then at Del Rio, Texas organizing, training and commanding the 313th Cavalry until it was converted into the 69th and 70th Field Artillery, August 1918; then at West Point, Kentucky commanding the 170th Field Artillery Brigade to 23 September 1918; assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, student officer at School of Fire for Field Artillery, to 10 December 1918 when he was graduated. As is the case with most patriotic officers who trained at the USMA, Kenzie believed his greatest calling was leading men in battle. Clearly, he wanted to do more than just train and organize American soldiers - he also wanted to lead them in the fight against the enemy. Just 10 days after Congress declared war on Germany, on the 16th of April, 1917, Kenzie's brother, Dr. William Hayden Walker (1868-1943) wrote a letter to Congressman Joseph J. Mansfield (1861-1947) strongly advocating that Kenzie be given command of a regiment in the upcoming war: "...Believing that his long service as an officer in the army and his past record especially qualifies him to command a regiment - a Texas one if possible - therefore I ask your earnest cooperation, support and influence with the war department to secure a regimental command for him. Assuring you of Major Kenzie Wallace Walker's fitness, loyalty, etc., and thanking you in advance for what assistance you may render in securing a command for him in case these forces are organized, and hoping to receive a favorable reply, I am with warmest regards, your friend, W. H. Walker."
However, the Army had other plans for Kenzie and they didn't include a regimental command because he next served at Washington, DC, as Assistant Director of Finance, starting on the 18th of December 1918. On the 1st of July 1922, he was then promoted to Chief of Finance of the Army. As noted in The Army and Navy Journal: "The appointment of Colonel Walker as Chief of the Finance Department is assurance that there will be close cooperation between the Director of the Budget and the War Department. It is understood that both General Dawes and General Lord recommended Colonel Walker for the appointment as Chief of the Finance Department of the Army on account of his special fitness for the job of carrying on the budget system Army." Achieving the rank of Major General, Kenzie finally retired on the 22nd of April 1928 and settled in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida where he served on the Board of Directors for Mutual Management Company. CONDITION: Excellent.
Condition: (Excellent).