{⋆★⋆} BG Armistead, Lewis A.

Lewis Addison Armistead​

Lewis Armistead began his Military career as a student at West Point Military Academy, but resigned due to a combination of academic issues, and an incident where he broke a plate over a fellow cadet's head. He joined the army and served in the Mexican-American War, as well as the Mohave War. At the outbreak of Civil War, he traveled east to join the Confederacy. Serving under Robert E. Lee in the Army of Northern Virginia, he became a brigadier general, and participated in many eastern battles. At Gettysburg, on July 3, 1863, as part of Pickett's Charge, Armistead led his men to the farthest point reached by Confederate forces during the charge, a point now referred to as the high-water mark of the Confederacy. However, he and his brigade were overwhelmed, and he was hit by three bullets and captured by Union troops. Even though his wounds were thought to be survivable, he died in a nearby field hospital two days later.

Born: February 18, 1817

Birthplace: New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina

Nickname: Lo (short for Lothario)

Father: Colonel Walker Keith Armistead

(Buried: Armistead Family Cemetery, Upperville, Virginia)​

Mother: Elizabeth Stanly 1791 – 1861

(Buried: Armistead Family Cemetery, Upperville, Virginia)​

1st​ Wife: Cecilia Lee Love 1823 – 1850

(Buried: Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama)​

Married: February 13, 1844 in Lowndes County, Alabama

2nd​ Wife: Cornelia Lee Taliaferro 1828 – 1855

(Buried: Fort Riley Post Cemetery, Fort Riley, Kansas)​

Married: March 17, 1853 at Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia

Children:

Lt. Walker Keith Armistead Sr. 1844 – 1896​

(Buried: Berkeley Memorial Cemetery, Middletown, Rhode Island)​

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Flora Love Armistead 1846 – 1850​

(Buried: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, LeMay, Missouri)​

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Lewis B. Armistead – 1854​

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Education:

Attended West Point Military Academy, resigning in 1839​

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Occupation before War:

Wounding Marker

Monument to Armistead at Gettysburg. Dedicated on July 12, 1887. Located at Gettysburg Battlefield, marks the approximate place Armistead was fatally wounded. The stone wall behind the monument marks the Union lines. Inscription reads: "Brigadier General LEWIS A. ARMISTEAD C.S.A. FELL HERE July 3, 1863", Photo ©Joshua Sherurcij, 2007.

1839 – 1844: 2nd​ Lt. in United States Army Infantry​

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1844 – 1855: 1st​ Lt. in United States Army​

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1847: Wounded during Battle of Chapultepec, Mexico​

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1855 – 1861: Captain in United States Army​

Civil War Career:

1861: Major in the Confederate Army​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 57th​ Virginia Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Brigade Commander during Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia​

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1862: Brigade Commander for Seven Days Campaign, Virginia​

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1862: Led the assault during Battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia​

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1862: Brigade Commander Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1862: Provost Marshal Army of Northern Virginia at Antietam

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1862: Brigade Commander Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia​

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1863: Served in the fighting around Norfolk, Virginia​

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1863: Mortally Wounded, Brigade Commander, Battle of Gettysburg, Pickett's Charge​

Died: July 5, 1863

Place of Death: Field Hospital, George Spangler Farm, Gettysburg PA

Cause of Death: Bacterium, Fever and Prostration

Age at time of Death: 46 years old

Burial Place: Old Saint Paul's Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Lewis A. Armistead! Salutes remembering General Armistead on his birthday.

 

[ErnieMac]

His uncle, Major George Armistead commands Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 British bombardment which was the inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner. Major Armistead was the only man in the fort that knew the powder magazine was not bombproof.

 

[Pollaco]

His first wife , Cecelia Lee Love, was a distant cousin to Robert E. Lee.

 

[Pollaco]

Curious how he obtained the nickname , Lo short for Lothario. The name suggests that Armistead was either a fan of Don Quixote or a unscrupulous seducer of women.I think I'd go with the seducer theory.

 

[Pollaco]

Curious how he obtained the nickname , Lo short for Lothario. The name suggests that Armistead was either a fan of Don Quixote or a unscrupulous seducer of women.I think I'd go with the seducer theory.

Actually the Lothario is said to be a handsome ladies man. Armistead was said to be the opposite in looks and personality.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I've always wondered how much heat stroke had to do with some casualties in the CW. In Armistead 's case, charging across that field in a full (wool?) uniform on such a hot day and under that much stress would certainly go a long way to doing me in. That is what "prostration" sounds like to me.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Lewis A. Armistead! Salutes remembering General Armistead on his birthday.

View attachment 432593

Not sure what the date of this article was, but the writer seems bent on refuting the assertions making the rounds in the northern newspapers after the battle, that Armistead, after the battle, expressed regret to his Union caretakers for his actions.

 

[Pollaco]

I've always wondered how much heat stroke had to do with some casualties in the CW. In Armistead 's case, charging across that field in a full (wool?) uniform on such a hot day and under that much stress would certainly go a long way to doing me in. That is what "prostration" sounds like to me.

Plus he was not a young man.

 

[rpkennedy]

I've always wondered how much heat stroke had to do with some casualties in the CW. In Armistead 's case, charging across that field in a full (wool?) uniform on such a hot day and under that much stress would certainly go a long way to doing me in. That is what "prostration" sounds like to me.

I still lean towards the hypothesis of an embolism killing him. It explains how he seemed to be doing well in the hospital until he wasn't and then died unexpectedly soon thereafter. Motts' argument is pretty compelling.

Ryan

 

[Cavalier]

I like this guy, other side or not. Happy birthday general!

John

 

[Pollaco]

I've always wondered how much heat stroke had to do with some casualties in the CW. In Armistead 's case, charging across that field in a full (wool?) uniform on such a hot day and under that much stress would certainly go a long way to doing me in. That is what "prostration" sounds like to me.

Plus you all realize he was not wearing his hat in the heat.

 

[Booklady]

Were his wives, Cecilia and Cornelia, sisters? (Edit to correct Cordelia to Cornelia).

 

[Luke Freet]

Armistead is an interesting figure. He's been martyred due to his actions in Pickett's Charge, and thus he became a pivotal character in The Killer Angels and its adaptation, Gettysburg '93. Many often forget he played a prominent role in a similar action a year and change before at Malvern Hill.
The dinner plate story is one of those stories which, though its veracity is questionable, I find too entertaining to dismiss.

 

[jackt62]

There is the apocryphal story about Armistead saying goodbye to Hancock at a party in Los Angeles as he prepared to head east to join the Confederacy. Something to the effect that Armistead says to Hancock, "you will never know how much this has cost me." He may have been referring to his friendship with Hancock, or his professional career in the US Army, or then again it may simply be a story too entertaining to dismiss.

 

[Drew]

His uncle, Major George Armistead commands Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 British bombardment which was the inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner. Major Armistead was the only man in the fort that knew the powder magazine was not bombproof.

You beat me to the punch. In case anyone's ever on Jeopardy!, President Madison gave Major Armistead a brevet promotion to Lt. Colonel, retroactive to the day before the British assault on Ft. McHenry. Feel free to challenge any of Alex Trebeck's successors who tell you you're wrong.

General Armistead's remains were transported to Baltimore and interred beside his uncle's. They're both still there, enjoying Eternal Rest.

 

[Rebelsoul]

He's the one who broke a plate over cadet Jubal Early's head at West Point.

I'm sure cantankerous ol Jube deserved it !

 

[Story]

Also of note, he commanded a company of the 6th Infantry in Mexico and his two lieutenants were Winfield Scott Hancock and Henry Heth. In his memoirs, Heth commented that there was never a happier mess than the one that they had during the Mexican War.

Ryan

Elaboration on that would be a good read, I'll bet.

 

[Pollaco]

I'm sure cantankerous ol Jube deserved it !

He was cantankerous young Jube then.

 

[Drew]

His first wife , Cecelia Lee Love, was a distant cousin to Robert E. Lee.

Armistead and Lee were cousins in their own right. The latter was descended from Robert "King" Carter and wife Judith Armistead, on his mother's side.

General Armistead was descended from one of Judith's brothers and I'm too lazy to look up which one.

 

[Pollaco]

This thread received alot of response for just a brigadier, there are major generals who received far less replys.