 When the bulk of Longstreet's First Corps were sent to Georgia (United States), only a portion of the artillery was sent with it.Walton held several positions in southern Virginia during the absence of his guns.Walton worked to improve artillery formations and drills, it was during this time that he rose to the rank of Colonel after an act was passed through the congress of the Confederacy, making him the highest ranking artillery officer in the Confederacy.