Generals in Gray: Armistead

Lewis A. Armistead

He fought at Second Manassas and Antietam, where he was wounded. After being lightly engaged at Fredericksburg, he went to southeastern Virginia with Longstreet. Armistead’s claim to fame was both heroic and tragic: on day three of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, his brigade formed the second tier of the division’s assault on Cemetery Ridge, supporting Garnett and Kemper. At the onset of “Pickett’s Charge” it was Armistead who called out, “Men, remember what you are fighting for! Your homes, your firesides, and your sweethearts! Follow me.” To the left of the assault by Pickett’s division were several brigades commanded by Trimble and Pettigrew. The brigades led by Garnett and Kemper were cut to pieces by Union artillery. Garnett was killed and Kemper was severely wounded. Armistead reached the Union line, boldly stuck his hat upon his sword, raised it high, and shouted, “Boys, give them the cold steel!” as he scaled the stone wall. After capturing an artillery piece, he was hit by three bullets from the 72nd Pennsylvania, mortally wounded in the chest and arm. Armistead was taken to a Federal field hospital, where along the way he conveyed his regrets through an aide to his “old and valued friend” General Hancock, one of the Union heroes of Gettsyburg. Armistead died on July 5, 1863, and was buried in Baltimore.

*Over half of the 13,000 Confederates who took part in Pickett’s Charge, 6,600 men, were casualties, including killed, wounded, or captured (3,350 were taken prisoner). Of the leaders of Pickett’s Charge, Garnett, Armistead and Marshall were killed; Pettigrew and Lowrance wounded; and Trimble, Kemper, and Fry were wounded and captured.

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Lewis Addison Armistead was born on February 18, 1817, at New Bern, North Carolina. His father and four uncles all fought in the War of 1812. He enrolled at West Point in 1834 and twice started over because of academic and disciplinary shortcomings. On his third (and final) attempt as a cadet he was expelled for breaking a mess-hall plate over the head of fellow cadet Jubal Early. Thanks to family connections, Armistead joined the army in1839, served in the Seminole War and Mexican War, and reached the rank of captain of the 6th Infantry, where he served with Winfield Scott Hancock in California. In 1844 he married Cecilia Lee Love, a granddaughter of Richard Henry Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. She died of cholera in 1855. Armistead joined the Confederate service in May 1861 and was commissioned colonel of the 57th Virginia Infantry. He was promoted to brigadier general a year later, assuming command of a brigade in George Pickett’s division. After serving in western Virginia, he was given command of a brigade in the Norfolk area and later served on the Peninsula, seeing action at Seven Pines and Malvern Hill in the Seven Days.

© 2003 David C. Hanson, HIS 269 - Civil War and Reconstruction, Virginia W. Community College

Lewis A. Armistead
	He fought at Second Manassas and Antietam, where he was wounded. After being lightly engaged at Fredericksburg, he went to southeastern Virginia with Longstreet. Armistead’s claim to fame was both heroic and tragic: on day three of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, his brigade formed the second tier of the division’s assault on Cemetery Ridge, supporting Garnett and Kemper. At the onset of “Pickett’s Charge” it was Armistead who called out, “Men, remember what you are fighting for! Your homes, your firesides, and your sweethearts! Follow me.” To the left of the assault by Pickett’s division were several brigades commanded by Trimble and Pettigrew. The brigades led by Garnett and Kemper were cut to pieces by Union artillery. Garnett was killed and Kemper was severely wounded. Armistead reached the Union line, boldly stuck his hat upon his sword, raised it high, and shouted, “Boys, give them the cold steel!” as he scaled the stone wall. After capturing an artillery piece, he was hit by three bullets from the 72nd Pennsylvania, mortally wounded in the chest and arm. Armistead was taken to a Federal field hospital, where along the way he conveyed his regrets through an aide to his “old and valued friend” General Hancock, one of the Union heroes of Gettsyburg. Armistead died on July 5, 1863, and was buried in Baltimore. *Over half of the 13,000 Confederates who took part in Pickett’s Charge, 6,600 men, were casualties, including killed, wounded, or captured (3,350 were taken prisoner). Of the leaders of Pickett’s Charge, Garnett, Armistead and Marshall were killed; Pettigrew and Lowrance wounded; and Trimble, Kemper, and Fry were wounded and captured. Generals >
Lewis Addison Armistead was born on February 18, 1817, at New Bern, North Carolina. His father and four uncles all fought in the War of 1812. He enrolled at West Point in 1834 and twice started over because of academic and disciplinary shortcomings. On his third (and final) attempt as a cadet he was expelled for breaking a mess-hall plate over the head of fellow cadet Jubal Early. Thanks to family connections, Armistead joined the army in1839, served in the Seminole War and Mexican War, and reached the rank of captain of the 6th Infantry, where he served with Winfield Scott Hancock in California. In 1844 he married Cecilia Lee Love, a granddaughter of Richard Henry Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. She died of cholera in 1855. Armistead joined the Confederate service in May 1861 and was commissioned colonel of the 57th Virginia Infantry. He was promoted to brigadier general a year later, assuming command of a brigade in George Pickett’s division. After serving in western Virginia, he was given command of a brigade in the Norfolk area and later served on the Peninsula, seeing action at Seven Pines and Malvern Hill in the Seven Days.
© 2003 David C. Hanson, HIS 269 - Civil War and Reconstruction, Virginia W. Community College