General Lewis A. Armistead's son-

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members;


Walker Keith Armistead This was Armistead's son. He was a 1st Lt. and Aide-de-Camp to his father. Walker Keith was appointed to the Staff on April 30, 1863.

First Lieuteant Armistead survived Gettysburg and lived to survive the war.

After the death of his father at Gettysburg, there are two contradictory accounts of his status. In both cases he stayed with the Confederate cause until the Confederate Army was disbanded. One account has him becoming the aide-de-camp to Robert E. Lee (this is mentioned in the 1890 census listing of "Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines") the other has him choosing to become a regular soldier and he appears (W. Keith Armistead) with Company A, Virginia 6th Cavalry, with his uncles Walker Keith and Bowles Edward. Of the two versions, the latter seems more likely.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[Epaphroditus]

This is the first I've heard of this. I somehow always thought Armistead was a bachelor. You hear of his dramatic parting from Hancock and his wife in California, and I, at any rate, had the impression that Armistead himself had lived a lonely soldier's life, sans entangements.

Was this a legitimate or illegimate son? I checked in Larry Tagg's book, The Generals of Gettysburg, and see no mention of any wife or son. Of course I realize that Armistead son's may have been fathered out of wedlock, or whatever term might have been used at the time, but this is truly the first time I have heard of any offspring!

Eph

[ole]

That's odd, Epaphroditus, I don't recollect thinking of Lo Armistead as anything. It was revealing that he had a son. Never read a thing about his family or home life. Interesting. By the way, I believe that, at the time, had Lo not been blessed with a son during wedlock, the kid would be the "bastard son."

Meanwhile, the whole thing is an interesting mystery.

ole

[gary]

That pesky Anastasia Romanov who seems to pop up every now and then also comes to mind.

[J_Man0507]

I am not sure guys. From what I know about General Armistead, I think it unlikely for him to have an illegitimate son. His nickname Lothario is ironic for the fact that he was not a ladies man, and was very shy. His wife and children had died, leaving him a widower, and he had his personal Bible to Almira(?) Hancock when died.

I do think it possible that the officer mentioned may not be a son, but a nephew. His father did have four brothers (atleast one died in the War of 1812 IIRC) and it is possible that one of his nephews came along as one of his aides. However, I am not sure at all. Not much is out there about General Armistead. Only a cursory search of Google yields only the basics, and what he did at Gettysburg. I guess we will have to keep digging to unearth some answers.

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members;

Here is from General M. Sorrel's accounts.

Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer (Sorrel)
Longstreet, who had called on Beauregard for staff officers, received me cordially.
His acting adjutant-general, Lieutenant Frank Armistead, a West Point graduate and of some service in the United States Army, was ordered to announce me to the brigade as captain and volunteer aide-de-camp. Brig.-Gen. James Longstreet was then a most striking figure, about forty years of age, a soldier every inch, and very handsome, tall and well proportioned, strong and active, a superb horseman and with an unsurpassed soldierly bearing, his features and expression fairly matched; eyes, glint steel blue, deep and piercing; a full brown beard, head well shaped and poised. The worst feature <mox_24>was the mouth, rather coarse; it was partly hidden, however, by his ample beard. His career had not been without mark. Graduating from West Point in 1842, he was assigned to the Fourth Infantry, the regiment which Grant joined one year later. The Mexican War coming on, Longstreet had opportunity of service and distinction which he did not fail to make the most of; wounds awaited him, and brevets to console such hurts. [End Excerpt]
[New Excerpt]--His staff officers <mox_25>at the time were Lieutenant Armistead, Lieutenant Manning of Mississippi, ordnance officer; Captain Walton of Mississippi, aid; Captain Goree of Texas, aid; and some quartermasters and commissaries detailed from the regiments.
The army had scarcely made an attempt yet at good organization.
This had been going on for some time until the official mail one fine morning brought me a commission as captain in the Adjutant-General's Department, with orders to report to Longstreet. Then his words leaped to my memory. He had a right to nominate his own adjutant-general and had applied for me while I was fishing around for a second lieutenancy. I had had no military training except some drill and tactics at school, but it seemed he thought I took to the work handily. He instructed me to relieve Armistead and take over all the duties of the office. I rose with Longstreet to be major and lieu-tenant-colonel in that department, and brigadier-general commanding in Hill's corps, and my affection for him is unfailing. Such efficiency on the field as I may have displayed came from association with him and the example of that undismayed warrior. He was like a rock in steadiness when sometimes in battle the world seemed flying to pieces.
Armistead left us, carrying our good wishes for his future.
[End of excerpt]

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members,

As far as "Lo" Armistead, it was a 'pet name' as to tease with; his name was Lewis Armistead in all of his official paperwork.

Being shy, it would be a 'tease' to name him something bold as brass.

The family bible given to Mrs. Hancock, I am sure was touching; as I do believe he loved her and Winfield Scott Hancock (General); there is no explaination why Mrs. Hancock, who survived General Hancock; was buried with her family; not her husband.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[5fish]

Here's my two cents:

"Old Lo" was a Freemason. When he was mortally wounded at Gettysburg and was leaning against the canon he made the Freemason sign for "help or aid".

The union officer who came to "Old Lo's" after seeing the sign was a Freemason.

It explains why the union officer took such effort to help "Old Lo" and why "Old Lo" trusted him with his family's Bible.

[M E Wolf]

Dear 5fish,

Lewis Addison Armistead
Born February 18, 1817, in New Bern, North Carolina. Came from a military family; his uncle commanded Fort McHenry during the British bombardment in the War of 1812 which inspired the Star Spangled Banner. Attended West Point 1833, 1834-1836, but resigned. Served in the Mexican War where he was twice awarded for bravery. He was serving in California with Winfield Scott Hancock when the Civil War began, and he resigned to travel cross country to join the Confederate forces. Colonel and later Brigadier (1 star) General. Died July 5, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Member of Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22 in Virginia. Charter member of Union Lodge 37 in Fort Riley, Kansas.


This Freemason came to General Armistead's aid.

Captain Henry H. Bingham, Chartiers Lodge #297, Cannonsburg PA, Life Member of Union Lodge #121 in Philadelphia. Received the Medal of Honor. Elected to Congress in 1878, where he served 33 years and was one of the leaders of Congress. Died March 24, 1912, in Philadelphia, aged 70. Buried in North Laurel Hills Cemetery, Philadelphia.

The other Freemasons who were at Gettysburg is listed on it's own section in the Gettysburg forum.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[5fish]

I just want to thank M. E. Wolf for bring details to the Freemason story about Old Lo....