Francis Crawford Armstrong

Background

Francis Crawford Armstrong was born on November 22, 1835 in Columbia, Tennessee, United States , the son of Frank W. and Anne (Millard) Armstrong.

His mother later married Gen. Persifor F. Smith.

Education

Armstrong was educated at Holy Cross Academy and College.

Career

Because of distinguished conduct in an Indian fight, while accompanying his stepfather on an expedition to New Mexico, he was commissioned second-lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons, June 7, 1855. He accompanied Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's expedition to Utah; was promoted captain June 6, 1861, and resigned August 13, 1861.

As a volunteer aide he was with McCulloch at Wilson's Creek, August 12, 1861; and with Col. James McIntosh at the fight at Chustenahlah, Cherokee Nation, on December 26, 1861. As a lieutenant he was an assistant adjutant-general at Pea Ridge, March 6-8, 1862; and then inspector-general of Steen's Brigade in Arkansas.

He was elected colonel of the 3rd Louisiana Infantry and accompanied the Army of the West, under Price, to Tupelo, Mississippi, in the spring of 1862. Detailed acting brigadier-general on July 7, 1862, in command of Price's cavalry, he won renown by raids on Courtland, Alabama, on July 25, 1862, and in West Tennessee, about one month later.

He was in command of the cavalry in the operations of Price and Van Dorn against Grant and Rosecrans in the Iuka operations, September 13-20, and in the battle of Corinth, October 3-4, 1862. He subsequently operated under cavalry division or corps commanders, such as Forrest, Wheeler, W. H. Jackson, W. T. Martin, S. D. Lee, and Chalmers. These operations were those conducted while Bragg and Rosecrans were confronting each other at Tullahoma and Murfreesboro during the spring of 1863; those involved in the retreat of Bragg from Tullahoma, and in the ensuing battle of Chickamauga, on September 19-20, 1863; the operations of Longstreet against Burnside at Knoxville, November 17-Dec. 4, 1863; those of Johnston and Hood against Sherman, from Dalton to Atlanta, during the summer of 1864; Hood's campaign against Schofield and Thomas, resulting in the battle of Franklin on November 30, and the Confederate defeat at Nashville on December 15-16, 1864; the retreat from Nashville; and the operations against Gen. J. H. Wilson, previous to the capture of Selma by the latter on April 2, 1865.

Repeated recommendations gained for Armstrong, on April 23, 1863, a commission as brigadier-general, to date from January 20, 1863.

After the close of the war he was in the Overland Mail Service; then a United States Indian inspector; and later assistant commissioner of Indian Affairs. He died at Bar Harbor, Maine.

Achievements

• Armstrong participated in the Utah War and the American Civil War, and also became the only Confederate general to fight on both sides during the Civil War.

Personality

His military character was marked by the exercise of prudence, discretion, and good sense; by stubbornness and gallantry in action; by a disposition to "march to the sound of the guns. "

Connections

He had married, first, Maria Polk Walker, daughter of Knox Walker of Tennessee; and second, Charlotte McSherry (born Combs) of St. Mary's County, Maryland.

Father:

Francis W. Armstrong

Mother:

Anne (Millard) Armstrong

Spouse:

Charlotte (Combs) Armstrong

Spouse:

Maria Polk (Walker) Armstrong

Daughter:

Belle Barklie

Son:

Knox Walker Armstrong