Lewis Addison Armistead was a career United States Army officer. He became a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
Background
Lewis Addison Armistead was born on February 18, 1817, in New Bern, North Carolina, United States. He was the son of Walker Keith and Elizabeth Stanly Armistead.
The first of the Armisteads to arrive in America was settled in Virginia about 1635. Although he came from England, tradition ascribes a German origin to the family, and the Virginia estate was accordingly named "Hesse."
One branch of the family developed a strong taste for the military career. Five sons of John Armistead were officers of the army. One of these was killed in action at Fort Erie in 1814; one was that George Armistead who defended Fort McHenry against the attack of the British fleet; the youngest, Walker Keith Armistead, was a member of the second class to be graduated from West Point, was colonel of the 3rd Artillery and was brevet brigadier-general at the time of his death.
Education
Lewis Armistead was admitted to West Point as a cadet in 1834, but failed in his studies on account of insufficient preparation, and returned to school to lay a more solid foundation of education.
On July 10, 1839, Lewis Armistead was appointed, from Virginia, a second-lieutenant in the 6th Infantry. He remained a member of that regiment throughout his service, and in due course was promoted first-lieutenant in 1844 and captain in 1855.
During the Mexican War, he distinguished himself at Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino del Rey, and received two brevets. The rest of his service was chiefly on the frontier. He "went with his state" in 1861, resigning his commission on May 26, and making his way overland from the Pacific coast, along with several other ex-officers, the most notable of whom was Albert Sidney Johnston.
Armistead was appointed to the colonelcy of the 57th Virginia Regiment, in the Confederate army, and commanded it for a few months in West Virginia and North Carolina. Upon his appointment as brigadier-general, on April 1, 1862, he was assigned to the command of a brigade in what later became Pickett's division of the Army of Northern Virginia.
He joined it in time to take part in the Peninsula Campaign, and with it he remained until his death, winning a reputation for distinguished courage. On the third day of the battle of Gettysburg he led his brigade in the final assault on the Union center - a conspicuous figure, noted by many witnesses. With his cap raised on the point of his sword, cheering on the handful of men who had survived the long advance across the open fields, he entered the Union position and fell mortally wounded within the lines. The monument on this spot marks the "high tide" of the Confederacy.
Achievements
Lewis Addison Armistead distinguished himself for personal bravery in the Mexican-American War, the Mohave War, and the American Civil War. For his brave military service, he achieved the rank of Brigadier General.
Personality
During the Mexican War, Lewis Armistead led the storming party at Chapultepec, participated in other battles, and won a reputation for bravery and aggressive fighting.
Connections
Armistead was twice married, first to Cecelia Lee Love, daughter of Richard H. Love of Fairfax County, Virginia, and then to Cornelia Lee Taliaferro.
Father:
Walker Keith Armistead
Mother:
Elizabeth Stanly Armistead
ex-wife:
Cecilia Lee Love Armistead
Daughter:
Flora Love Armistead
Sister:
Lucinda Stanly Armistead Carr
Sister:
Cornelia Stanly Armistead Newton
Brother:
Francis Stanly Armistead
Brother:
Bowles Edward Armistead
Son:
Walker Keith Armistead
Wife:
Cornelia Lee Taliaferro Armistead
Son:
Lewis B. Armistead
Friend:
Winfield Scott Hancockn
Lewis Armistead was a close friend of Winfield Scott Hancock, serving with him as a quartermaster in Los Angeles, California, before the Civil War.
