Brig.-Gen. Lewis A. Armistead

Lewis Addison Armistead, the gallant and lamented officer (of whom this is a brief biographical memoir, attached to the record of the brigade he first organized) and commanded up to the moment of his death), was born in Newbern, N. C., on February 18, 1817.

He was the son of Gen. Walker K. Armistead, of the United States Army, a native of Virginia, and Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. John A. Stanley of N. C.

He was entered as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but on account of some youthful escapade (I have been told, the partial cracking of Jubal A. Early's head with a mess-hall plate), he was retired from that Institution before graduation. He was appointed Second Lieut, in the United States Army, from citizen's life in June, 1839, and assigned to the 6th Regiment of Infantry (commanded at that time by Gen. Zachary Taylor, who afterwards became the distinguished Mexican hero, and President of the United States). He served during the latter part of the Florida war, under his father, Gen. W. K. Armistead, and was promoted First Lieut, by President Tyler, to rank as such from March 30, 1844. He joined Gen. Scott, in Mexico, at the siege of Vera Cruz, was breveted Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco; afterwards was breveted Major for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Molino del Rey. These brevets were conferred by President Polk. March 3, 1855, he was commissioned Captain in the 6th Infantry by President Pierce. Early in 1861, he resigned his commission in the United States Army, and in company with Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson and other officers of that army, who had also resigned, crossed the plains, and offered his services to the State of Virginia. He was soon commissioned Colonel and given command of the 57th Regiment of Virginia Infantry. In April, 1862, he was commissioned by President Jeff. Davis Brig.-Gen. in the provisional army of the Confederate States; and set to the organization of a brigade of infantry. This brigade was composed of the 57th, 53d, and 14th Virginia Regiments and 3d Georgia Regiment; subsequently the 3d Georgia was exchanged for the 38th Virginia, and the 9th Virginia added to the brigade. This brigade, known as Armistead's, was assigned to Huger's Division of Longstreet's 1st Army Corps. Gen. Armistead was first engaged with his brigade (or a portion of it rather) at the second day's fight of Seven Pines, June 1, 1862, where he personally distinguished himself for extreme gallantry.

He next commanded his brigade at the battle of Malvern Hill, where it was heavily engaged, and where he again displayed his usual gallantry, and did signal service. He commanded his brigade throughout the first Maryland campaign, and in September, 1862, on the return of the army to Culpepper Court-House, Va., he was assigned with his brigade to Pickett's Division of Longstreet's Corps, and remained with that command up to the time of his death, taking part in all its actions. As a firm disciplinarian and executive officer, in addition to his high qualities for personal courage and judgment, he had no superior in the service. He conspicuously led his brigade in the celebrated charge of Pickett's Men at Gettysburg; advancing in front of his line, waving his hat upon the point of his sabre, and cheering his men on, when he was shot down after having taken the first line and guns of the enemy. He was found mortally wounded among the foremost ranks of the dead and dying, taken charge of by Maj.-Gen. Hancock, his old companion in arms of the United States Army, and sent to the 11th Corps hospital at Gettysburg, where he died of his wounds on the following day. Fallen, a noble soldier in his harness, he lies near the field of his honor and glory; buried with the speedy shrift of the times of war, but his memory ever preserved with those who knew him well—as the brave soul, the kind heart, the cheerful temper he always was.

Gen. Armistead was a widower; and was killed, leaving only one child — a son — who, although quite a youth at the time, was his father's aide-de-camp — W. Keith Armistead.

SOURCE: Walter Harrison, Pickett’s Men: A Fragment of War History, p. 33-5

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, April 23.

Small boats arrived to-day from Norfolk, containing several refugees. They report the Merrimac at Gosport Navy Yard having iron shields placed over her portholes. She was expected out again in a few days. She was aground the last day she was out, as was generally supposed.

Nothing is said in Norfolk about the bursting of a gun, and is doubtless incorrect.

Capt. Buchanan was thought to be alive. He was wounded by a rifle shot in the thigh.

The steamers Jamestown and Beaufort went up James river Friday and Yorktown Sunday to obtain coal, and took in tow a number of schooners loaded with iron, to be rolled into plates at Tredegar works. Four gunboats had been launched at Norfolk, and 4 more were being constructed, some of them to be plated.

The previously reported engagement between Burnside’s troops and a Georgia regiment, took place Saturday. The Union troops numbered 500; the rebels were the 3d Ga. regiment, Col. Wright. The fight was on the canal above Elizabeth City. – Rebel loss 15 killed, 35 wounded. It is said they ran on being attacked; were poorly equipped; lacked arms and ammunition.

A refugee who visited Richmond last week, states that there are but few troops there or at Norfolk; mostly gone to Yorktown.

One of the refugees was a sailor on the steamer Fingal. He left Savannah March 1st. He reports great consternation there. The Fingal and other vessels are in the harbor.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 25, 1862, p. 2

From Fortress Monroe

FORTRESS MONROE, April 23. – A small boat arrived today from Norfolk containing several refugees. They report the Merrimac at the Gosport Yard, having iron plates put over her port holes. She is expected out again in a few days. She was aground the last day out as was generally supposed.

Nothing was said in Norfolk about the bursting of a gun, and it is doubtless incorrect.

Captain Buchanan is thought to be alive. He was wounded by a rifle shot in the thigh.

The steamers Jamestown and Beaufort went up the James river on Friday and the Yorktown on Sunday to obtain coal. They took in tow a number of schooners loaded with iron to be rolled into plates at [Tredegar] works, Richmond.

Four gunboats have been constructed at Norfolk, and four more are being constructed. Some of them are to be plated.

The engagement between Burnside’s droops and a Georgia regiment took place Saturday. The Union troops numbered 500. The rebels were the 3d Georgia [regiment], Col. Wright. The fight was on the canal above Elizabeth City. – The rebels lost 15 killed and 35 wounded. It is said they run on being attacked. They were poorly equipped and lacked muskets and ammunition.

A refugee who visited Richmond last week states there are few troops there or at Norfolk, having mostly gone to Yorktown. 14,000 are said to have passed through Richmond in one day for Yorktown.

One of the refugees was a sailor on the steamer Fingal. He left Savannah on 1st of March and reports great consternation there. The Fingal and other vessels were in the harbor.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 3