Thomas J. Armstrong was the owner of a plantation at Rocky Point, NC, about 12 miles northwest of Wilmington. (It was part of New Hanover County during the Civil War period.) This collection of his private papers includes letters written by his son, Edward Hall Armstrong, during the Civil War; Edward Hall Armstrong’s photograph, his officers commissions, and his book on military tactics; eulogies for Edward by various persons; a letter from Edward’s body servant, a slave named Mose; and miscellaneous letters and documents, the latter including a receipt for a $1,000.00 Confederate bond.
The majority of the private papers of Thomas J. Armstrong were purchased March 13, 1973 for $550.00 from Mrs. Clarence C. Council by the Randall Library for its Special Collections, and consists of letters written by his son, Edward Hall Armstrong, while serving as a Confederate officer during the Civil War. Letters written to the son are not part of the collection.
Edward Hall Armstrong participated in some of the decisive battles of the Civil War, saw action, and buried many comrades. His letters described field events, such as marching for hours only to return to the original position, standing picket in the rain without cover, and in the snow without fire, shoes, or blanket. He depicted the fortunes and misfortunes of the South through battles won and deteriorating conditions. Although seeing the inevitable end, he continued to stand firm for Southern independence; even while admitting he had “no desire to see any more bloodshed.”
This collection of Confederate Era Correspondence and memorabilia are of great historical significance to Civil War scholars and of special interest to residents of New Hanover County.
The chronological inventory and the index, which follows, were compiled by Judith H. Davis, a member of the Randall Library staff. She had worked extensively with the collection in compiling these tools and in preparing the documents themselves for preservation.
This Collection has been designated Accession Number 1 of the Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections Department, William Madison Randall Library, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-3297. Literary rights to the Collection are retained by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
D. Ronald Johnson
Librarian-in-Charge
Special Collections
April 2, 1976
Each entity has been assigned an item number. Index entries, which follow, refer to item and file numbers. The parenthetically listed familial kinships refer to the person’s relationship to Edward Hall Armstrong.
File 1, Item 1
1859
Receipt for Slave Purchase
File 2, Item 2
No date
School Paper written by Edward Hall Armstrong (EHA)
File 3, Item 3
1861 April 4
Letter; Chapel Hill, NC EHA to Thomas J. Armstrong (TJA)
File 4, Item 4
1861 April 4
Letter; Chapel Hill, NC EHA to TJA
File 5, Item 5
1861 September 9
Letter; Fayetteville, VA EHA to his mother
File 5, Item 6
1861 October 2
Letter; Camp Fayetteville, VA EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 5, Item 7
1861 October 20
Letter; Camp Rains, VA EHA to TJA
File 5, Item 8
1861 October 25
Letter; Yorktown, VA EHA to his mother
File 6, Item 9
1862 March 26
Letter; Goldsboro, NC EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 6, Item 10
1862 May 15
Letter; Richmond, VA EHA to TJA
File 6, Item 11
1862 June 18
Letter; Richmond, VA EHA to TJA
File 6, Item 12
1862 June 29
Letter; Richmond, VA EHA to TJA
File 6, Item 13
1862 July 1
Letter; EHA’s Second Lieutenant Commission
File 7, Item 14
1862 July 6
Letter; Frazier’s Farm, VA EHA to TJA, with stamped envelope
File 7, Item 15
1862 August 4
Letter; Richmond, VA EHA to TJA
File 7, Item 16
1862 August 26
Letter; Orange Court House, VA EHA to TJA
File 7, Item 17
1862 August 31
Letter; Gainsville, VA EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 8, Item 18
1862 September 17
EHA’s Captain Commission
File 8, Item 19
1862 October 17
Letter; Winchester, VA EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 9, Item 20
1862 November 8
Letter; Front Royal, VA EHA to TJA
File 9, Item 21
1862 November 26
Letter; Gordonsville, VA EHA to TJA
File 9, Item 22
1863 January 2
Letter; Fredericksburg, VA EHA to TJA
File 9, Item 23
1863 April 15
Letter; Port Royal, VA EHA
to TJA
File 9, Item 24
1863 May 3
Eulogy of Thomas E. Armstrong (EHA’s cousin)
File 9, Item 25
1863 May 4
Letter; Trenches, fragment.
EHA to TJA
File 10, Item 26
1863 May 9
Letter; Chancellorsville, VA EHA to TJA
File 11, Item 27
1863 June 3
Letter; Hamilton Crossing, VA EHA to TJA
File 12, Item 28
1863 June 13
Letter; Culpepper Court House, VA EHA to TJA
File 12, Item 29
1863 June 19
Letter; Sharpsburg, MD EHA to TJA
File 12, Item 30
1863 June 29
Letter; Carlisle, PA EHA to TJA
File 13, Item 31
1863 July 10
Letter; Hagerstown, PA EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 14, Item 32
1863 July-August
Letter; fragment, date and place of origin unknown. EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 15, Item 33
1863 August 17
Letter; Orange Court House, VA EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 16, Item 34
1863 August 22
Letter; Orange Court House, VA EHA to TJA
File 17, Item 35
1863 September 8
Letter; Orange Court House, VA EHA to TJA, with stamped envelope
File 17, Item 36
1863 September 10
Letter; Orange Court House, VA EHA to TJA
File 17, Item 37
1863 September 25
Letter; Camp near Mitchel’s Ford, VA EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 17, Item 38
1863 October 4
Letter; Orange Court House, VA EHA to his mother
File 18, Item 39
1863 October 30
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA, includes letter to brother Tommie
File 19, Item 40
1863 November 6
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 20, Item 41
1863 November 13
Letter; Orange Court House, VA EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 20, Item 42
1863 November 27
Letter; Raleigh, NC Eli W. Hall to TJA
File 20, Item 43
1863 December 4
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 20, Item 44
1863 December 20
Letter; M.A. Wright to her uncle, TJA, with envelope
File 21, Item 45
1863
Letter; fragment, date and place of origin unknown. EHA to TJA
File 22, Item 46
1864 January 3
Letter; Thomas E. Armstrong (EHA’s uncle) to TJA, with envelope
File 22, Item 47
1864 January 11
Photograph of EHA in Confederate Uniform (Original negatives located in separate folder.)
File 22, Item 48
1864 January 11
Letter; Richmond, VA EHA to TJA
File 22, Item 49
1864 January 14
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 22, Item 50
1864 January 26
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA (Currently not included in collection.)
File 23, Item 51
1864 January 26
Receipt of Greensboro Mutual Life Insurance and Trust Company, dated 11-1-1861 and enclosed with 1-26-1864 letter.
File 24, Item 52
1864 February 2
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 24, Item 53
1864 February 11
Letter, ‘On Picket’. EHA to TJA
File 24, Item 54
1864 February 14
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA, with envelope
File 24, Item 55
1864 February 28
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 24, Item 56
1864 March 9
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to his mother
File 25, Item 57
1864 March 23
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 26, Item 58
1864 March 30
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 26, Item 59
1864 March
Receipt for $1000 Confederate Bond issued at Point Cape Fear Office, NC
File 27, Item 60
1864 April 5
Letter; Haw River, Alamance County, NC F.D. Hoover to EHA
File 28, Item 61
1864 April 8
Letter; Camp 3 NC Troops. EHA to TJA
File 29, Item 62
1864 May 8
Letter; M.W. Anders, on behalf of Mary M. Woten, to TJA, with stamped envelope
File 29, Item 63
1864 May 14
Letter; Reverend George Patterson notifying TJA of son’s wounds
File 30, Item 64
1864 May 15
Dispatch; Richmond, VA A.A. Van Bokkelin listing EHA wounded
File 31, Item 65
1864 May 21
Letter; Hospital, Spotsylvania Court House, VA EHA’s servant Mose to Mose’s mother
File 32, Item 66
1864 May 25
Letter; Hallsville, NC Edward Armstrong (EHA’s uncle) to TJA
File 32, Item 67
1864 May 27
Letter; Hallsville, NC Edward Armstrong to TJA
File 33, Item 68
1864 May 28
Letter; Hospital, Spotsylvania Court House, VA EHA’s last letter to TJA
File 34, Item 69
1864 June 8
Letter; Hallsville, NC Edward Armstrong to TJA
File 34, Item 70
1864
Obituary for EHA, newspaper clipping
File 34, Item 71
1864 October 22
Letter; Camp of 3rd Regiment of NC & Army of Northern Virginia W.A. Riggs to TJA
File 34, Item 72
1864 December 28
Letter; Hallsville, NC Edward Armstrong to TJA
File 35, Item 73
1865 January 12
Letter; Petersburg, VA Reverend W.H. Moore to TJA, with stamped envelope
File 36, Item 74
1868 January 1
Lease of TJA’s land in New Hanover County to Reubin A. Corbett and A.B. Corbett, with stamps
File 37, Item 75
No date
General instructions for the Picket along the river and other military instructions
File 37, Item 76
Book
EHA’s copy of Hardee’s Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics, Volume I 1861 (Included in a separate envelope within the MS.)
File 38
Verbatim typescripts of Items 4, 21, 23, 30, 31, 39, 61, 65, 68
File 39, Items 1-29, Acc #1
EHA's military records
File 40, Items 1-19, Acc #1, Add #2
Photocopied letters from EHA to his family (1860-1885)
File 41, Item 1, Acc #1, Add #3
TJA's boyhood reminiscences (photocopy of typescript)
File 42, Item 1, Acc #1, Add #3a
Notarized statement by Stephen Carroll Pearsall
File 43, Item 1, Acc #1, Add #4a
Microfilm errata sheet
File 44, Items 1-9a, Acc #1, Add #5
Photocopies of letters, military forms, and letters from Mose (1863-1870)
File 45, Items 10-11, Acc #1, Add #5
TJA's narrative of boyhood reminiscences (photocopy)
File 46, Item 1, Acc #1, Add #6
TJA's narrative of boyhood reminiscences (original document)
File 46, Item 2, Acc #1, Add #6
March 21, 1867
Letter from Munnie to TJA
File 46, Item 3, Acc #1, Add #6
November 30, 1870
Letter from TJA to Tommie
File 47, Items 1-19, Acc #1, Add #7
Armstrong Family private papers, 1859-1885 (original documents)
File 48, Item 1, Acc #1, Add #8
Transcription of Armstrong Family narrative by TJA; transcribed by Stephen Carroll Pearsall
File 49, Item 1, Add #5a
Personal check
Envelopes listed with items are included in a separate packet within the MS.
Personal names, place-names, battles and the more significant subjects are indexed. Whenever possible, full names have been provided, even though the letters themselves mention only parts of the name. Spellings have been verified and cross-references from variant spellings appear. A bibliography of sources used in establishing complete names of soldiers and place-names is appended to the index. Parts of names supplied by the compiler are indicated in parentheses.
Soldiers, citizens and places may be assumed to be Southern unless noted otherwise (e.g. Grant, General (Ulysses Simpson, U.S.)). To aid differentiation between persons of the same or incomplete name, family relationships are occasionally noted, stated as the person’s relation to Edward Hall Armstrong.
The index entries are keyed to file folder number and item number, i.e. 24-52 indicates file number 24, item number 52--Edward Hall Armstrong’s letter of February 8, 1864 from Camp 3 NC Troops to his father, Thomas J. Armstrong. The index in arranged in alphabetical order, word by word, except titles.
---, Alex, 5-7, 18-39
---, Amos, 22-48, 24-56
---, Annie Jane (Cousin), 10-26, 22-48
---, Barbara, (Cousin), 10-26, 22-48
---, Dealty (Mose’s Aunt), 31-65
---, Dick, 12-29
---, Frank (Uncle), 15-33, 16-34
---, George, 10-26
---, Harry, 22-46
---, James (Uncle), 22-50
---, John (slave), 1-1
---, Martha, 22-46
---, Mary, 6-11
---, Miss Mary, 31-65
---, Mary (Aunt), 8-19, 22-49
---, Mose (EHA’s servant), 9-23, 10-26, 12-29, 12-30, 16-34, 17-36, 17-37, 18-39, 20-41, 22-48,
22-49, 22-50, 24-54, 24-55, 24-56, 25-57, 28-61, 33-68, 34-69; letter from 31-65
---, Mose, 31-65
---, Rachel (Cousin), 22-50
---, Thom, 5-5
---, Thomas, 31-65
---, Tom, 29-63
---, Tom (Cousin), 22-50
---, Tony/Tomy, 32-67
---, Willie, 32-67
Airbright, James W., 23-51
Alabama Regiment, 5-7
Albritton, Captain (James Henry), 13-31
Allegiance Oath to the United States, 16-34
Anders, M. W., 28-62
(Armstrong), Bobbie, 7-15, 7-16, 8-19, 11-27, 15-33, 16-34, 18-39, 24-54
Armstrong, Edward Hall, arrested, 9-21, 9-22; commissions: 2nd Lieutenant, 6-13, Captain,
7-18; correspondence: item numbers 3-12, 14-17, 19-23, 25-41, 43, 45, 48-50, 52-58, 60-61,
68; dispatch, 30-64; last letter, 33-68; obituary, 34-70; photograph, 22-47; school paper, 2-2;
student, 3-3, 4-4; wounded, 29-63, 30-64, 31-65, 32-66, 32-67, 34-69
(Armstrong), Hugh, 22-46, 32-66
(Armstrong), Mollie, 8-19, 10-26, 11-27, 16-34, 17-35, 17-38, 18-39, 19-40, 21-45, 22-50,
24-53, 24-54, 25-57, 26-58, 28-61
(Armstrong), Monnie, 7-15, 7-16, 8-19, 11-27, 15-33, 17-37, 18-39, 24-54
Armstrong, Nick, 5-6, 5-7, 6-9, 29-63, 32-66, 32-67
Armstrong, Thomas E. (Uncle), 5-7, 5-8, 8-19, 22-46
Armstrong, Thomas Edward (Cousin), 8-19, 9-20, 9-21, 9-22, 9-23, 9-24; killed, 9-25, 10-26
Armstrong, Thomas J. (Father and recipient of almost all letters in collection), Confederate bond,
26-59; lease, 36-74
Armstrong, Mrs. Thomas J. (Mother), 5-7, 8-19, 9-22, 17-37, 18-39, 19-40, 20-41, 20-43, 22-48,
22-49, 22-50, 24-56, 29-63; letters addressed to, 5-5, 5-8, 17-38
(Armstrong), Tommie, 7-15, 9-23, 18-39, 19-40, 20-43, 22-48; letter to, 18-39
(Armstrong), Willie, 7-15, 18-39, 19-40
Army of Northern Virginia, 11-27, 17-37, 22-50, 27-60, 31-65, 34-71
Army of the Potomac, (U.S.), 26-58
Asbury, Bishop, 11-27
Ashby’s Gap, (VA), 9-20
Ashe, Captain (Richard J.), 5-6
Baker, Captain G(eorge) B., A Q.M., 15-33, 17-36, 18-39, 20-41
Baltimore, (MD), 12-29, 12-30, 13-31
Bannerman, Lieutenant Alex(ander) W., 6-12
Barrow, Lieutenant (Thaddeus) P., 30-64
Bartlett’s Mill, (VA), Battle of, 20-43
Battle, R. H. Jr., 7-18
Battle, (General Cullen Andrews), 25-57; Alabama Brigade, 25-57; brigade, 20-41
Battles: Bartlett’s Mill on Mine Run, (VA), 20-43; Bethel, (VA), 5-7, 5-8; Chancellorsville,
(VA), 9-24, 10-26, 12-28; (First) Cold Harbor, (VA, Third of the Seven Days’ Battles), 7-14;
Frazier’s Farm, (VA, Sixth of the Seven Days’ Battles), 7-14; Fredericksburg, (VA), 9-24,
9-25, 10-26; Gettysburg, (PA, U.S.), 13-31, 15-33; Malvern Hill, (VA, Seventh of the Seven
Days’ Battles), 7-14; 2nd Battle at Plains of Manassas, (VA), 9-24; Mechanicsville, (VA,
Second of the Seven Days’ Battles), 6-12, 7-14, 7-15; Petersburg, VA, 35-73; Richmond,
VA, 6-10, 6-11, 6-12, 9-24; Sharpsburg, MD, 9-24; Spotsylvania/Spottsylvania C.H. (Court
House), VA, 29-63, 30-64, 31-65, 33-68, 34-70; Wilderness Church, (VA), 10-26
Bealton Station, see (Bealeton Station, VA)
(Bealeton) Station, (VA), spelled Bealton, 18-39
Bell, Lieutenant (Robert N.), 7-15
Bellfield, (VA), 35-73
Benner (?), Colonel, 25-57
Berry, Mr., 34-71
Berryville, (VA), 9-20
Bethel, (VA), Battle of, 5-7, 5-8
Bethel Church, (VA), 5-7
Bladen, (NC), 17-35, County, 28-62
Blockade Running, 18-39
Bloodworth, Sergeant (William) A., 10-26
Blue Ridge, (VA), 9-21
Bordeaux, R.M., 36-74
Bordeaux, Mr., 9-22, 17-37, 17-38
Bordeaux, (Sergeant) Richard (Henry), 22-50
Bordeaux House, 19-40
Bouie, Captain, 22-46
Bounty due deceased men of NC and certificates necessary, 27-60
Bourdaux Field, NC, 36-74
Bourdeaux, 5-6
Bragg, (General Braxton), 17-37
Brandy Station, (VA), 20-41
Bridger, (Private George E.), 24-54
Brookes Station, 6-9
Brown, A.J., 28-61
Brown, Captain (Jim), 7-15, 9-25, 30-64
Brown, Governor (Joseph Emerson, of Georgia), 27-60
Bruce, J.R. & Company, 18-39
Brunswick, County, (NC), 20-44
Camp Fayetteville, (VA, Cockletown), 5-6, 5-7; letters from, 5-5
Camp Rains, (VA), letter from, 5-7
Campbell, Colonel (Reuben), P., 6-12
Cannons, Mr., 7-15
Cantwell, Captain (John) L., 30-64
Cape Fear River, (NC), 36-74
Capin, Lieutenant, 30-64
Carlisle, PA, (U.S.), 13-31, 26-58; letter from, 12-30
Carr, Captain O.W., 19-40
Casteen, see (Castine)
(Castine, Lieutenant. Andrew) J., spelled Casteen, 30-64
Chambersburg, (PA, U.S.), 12-30
Chancellorsville, (VA), 28-61, Battle of, 9-24, 10-26, 12-28
Chapel Hill, (NC), 17-35, 17-37
(Charlottesville, VA), spelled Charlottsville, 34-69
Charlottsville, see (Charlottesville)
Chicohominy River, (VA), 7-14
City Point, (VA), 6-10
Clark, Governor Henry T. (of NC), 6-13
Clarke, Lieutenant (James Foreman), 20-43
Clothing, 5-6, 8-19, 9-29, 17-35, 17-36, 18-39; cost of, 16-34, 17-35, 17-36, 20-41
Cobb’s (Thomas Reade Rootes) Legion, 5-7
Coke, Bishop, 11-27
Cold Harbor, (VA, First) Battle of, (Third of the Seven Days’ Battles), 7-14
Colston, General, (Raleigh Edward), 9-23
Commissions, 8-19; 2nd Lieutenant, 6-13; Captain, 7-18
Company A (1st Regiment NC Volunteers), 5-6
Company B (1st Regiment NC Volunteers), 5-6
Company C (1st Regiment NC Volunteers), 5-6, 5-7
Company G (3rd Regiment NC Troops), 6-12, 8-19, 9-21, 27-60, 34-70
Company H (3rd Regiment NC Troops), 9-21, 17-35
Company I (3rd Regiment NC Troops), 6-11
Company K (3rd Regiment NC Troops), 7-14, 8-19, 9-21, 17-35
Confederate Bond, 26-59
Confederate Point, (NC), 35-73
Cooke’s Battery from VA, 6-9
Corbett, A.B., 36-74
Corbett, Reubin A., 36-74
Cowan, Lieutenant/Captain John, 7-16, 13-31, 30-64
Cowan, Colonel R.H., 7-16
Cowhen, J., 6-13
Craig, Lieutenant, see Craige, Lieutenant (Cicero) H.
Craige, Lieutenant (Cicero) H. also spelled Craig, 30-64, 31-65, 33-68
Craige, J.B., 33-68
Culpepper C.H. (Court House, VA), 7-16, 7-17, 11-27, 12-28, 20-41
Currency, value of, 17-37, 24-55, 24-56
Curtis Park (steamer), 6-10
Cusburg (?), 5-8
Daniel’s (General Junius) Brigade, 25-57, 26-58
Darden, Lieutenant (Joseph) H., 30-64
Davis, Billy, 29-63
Davis, Julia (Cousin), 22-49
Davis, Willie, 6-9, 9-21
Deems, (Reverend Doctor Charles) F., 11-27
DeRosset, Colonel (William Lord), 7-15, 8-19
Deserters, Confederate States of America, execution of, 17-35
Dinduron (?), Lieutenant, 30-64
Ditching, 17-37
Dixon, Miss, 17-38
Dixon, Mrs., 17-38
Doles’, General (George Pierce) Georgia Brigade, 25-57
Donnell, W.C., 23-51
Duplin, (NC), 13-31, 14-32, 17-38, 20-43
Early, General (Jubal Anderson), 12-30, 26-58
Edmonson, Captain, 5-6
Elliot, Mr., 5-6
Ellis, Governor (John Willis of NC), 4-4
England, 34-69
Ennett, Major (William) T., 27-60, 30-64, 31-65
Episcopal Church, 11-27
Ewell, General (Richard Stoddert), 12-30, 16-34, 17-37, 26-58; Corps, 11-27, 13-31
(Faison, Lieutenant Colonel Frank), spelled Faisson, 6-12
Faisson, see (Faison)
Fayetteville, Camp, (VA) (Cockletown, VA), 5-6, 5-7; letter from 5-5
Federal Point, (NC), 3-3, 4-4
Fennel, Lieutenant Hardee, see Fennel, Lieutenant (Hardy) L.
Fennel, Lieutenant (Hardy) L., spelled Hardee, 6-12
5th Regiment of NC Troops, 5-7
1st Regiment of NC Troops, 6-9, 6-11, 6-12, 7-15, 25-57
Food, cost or lack of, 7-15, 7-16, 16-34, 18-39, 20-41, 22-49, 26-58, 28-61
Forrest, General (Nathan Bedford), 9-23
Fort Caswell, (NC), 3-3, 4-4
Fort Macon, (NC), 4-4
Fort Sumpter, see Fort (Sumter)
Fort (Sumter, SC), spelled Sumpter, 3-3
48th Regiment of NC Troops, 6-12
44th Georgia, 6-11, 6-12
46th Regiment of NC Troops, 19-40,
France, 34-69
Frazier’s Farm, (VA), Battle of (Sixth of the Seven Days’ Battles), 7-14
Fredericksburg, (VA), 6-9, 6-10, 9-22, 12-28, 14-32, 18-39, 31-65; Battle of, 9-24, 9-25, 10-26
Freeman, Doctor, 8-19, 33-68
Frerroman, Doctor, see Freeman
Front Royal, VA, 9-20
Futch, (Private) Hanson (M.), 17-35
Futch, (Private) John, 17-35
Gainesville, (VA), letter from, 7-17
Garrason, see (Garrison)
Garris, I.R., 6-12
(Garrison, Lieutenant Edward J.) spelled Garrason, 13-31
Gatlin, Adjunct General R(ichard) C., of NC, 7-18
Georgia, Brigade, 25-57; Georgians wounded, 6-11; Legislature, 27-60; scouting party, 5-7
Germana Ford, see (Germanna Ford)
Germann Ford, see (Germanna Ford)
(Germanna) Ford, (VA), spelled Germann and Germana Ford, 20-41, 20-43
Gettysburg, (PA, U.S.), Battle of, 13-31, 15-33
Goldsboro, (NC), 6-9, 6-10
Gordonsville, VA, 9-21, 22-49, 22-50
Grant, General (Ulysses Simpson, U.S.), 26-58, 28-61
Gray, 28-61
Green Castle, (PA, U.S.), 12-30
Greensboro, (NC), 7-15
Greensboro F. (Female) College, (NC), 15-33, 16-34
Greensboro Mutual Life Insurance and Trust Company, 23-51
Guinneas Station, (VA), 9-22
Gurganus, Lieutenant (Andrew) J., 30-64
Hagerstown, (MD), 12-29, 13-31
Hall, E.J., 32-66
Hall, T., 32-66
Hall, Eli, 7-14
Hall, Eli W., 20-42
Hallsville, NC, 9-23, 17-38; letters from, 32-66, 32-67, 34-69, 34-72
Hamilton’s Crossing, (VA), 12-28; letter from, 11-27
Hampton, (General Wade), Cavalry of, 17-37
Hand, Iez, 20-44
Hanover, C.H. (Court House, VA), 9-21
Hardee’s Rifle & Light Infantry Tactics, Volume I, 6-9, 76
Harrisburg, PA, (U.S.), 12-29, 12-30, 21-45
Harrods Mill, (VA), 5-7
Haw River, NC, 27-60
Hays’ (General Harry Thompson) LA Brigade, 20-41
Heath’s Division, see (Heth)
(Heth’s, General Henry) Division, 13-31
Hicks, Governor (Thomas Holliday of MD), 4-4
Hill, General A.P. (Ambrose Powell), 13-31, 17-37, 21-45, 26-58
Hill, General (Daniel Harvey), 5-6, 9-21; Division, 8-19
Hill, Sergeant (Owen) C., 8-19, 22-49
Hillsboro, (NC), 4-4
Hines, Captain (J.S.), 6-12, 7-15
Hines, Ginnie, 9-22
Hinton, 20-44
Hoke’s (General Robert Frederick) NC Brigade, 20-41
Holden, W.W. (Governor William W. of NC), 27-60
Holly Shelter, (NC), 17-35
Hood, General (John Bell), 17-37
Hood’s Texas Brigade, 17-37
Hooker, General (Joseph, U.S.), 11-27, 12-30; Hooker’s Army, 12-29, 12-30, 28-61
Hoover, F.D., 27-60
Horrel, (Private Americus) V., 17-35
Hospital, 2nd Corp. A.N.V, VA, 29-63, 31-65, 33-68
Howell, Mr., 9-20
Hyde, 5-6
Isler, Jim (?), 18-39
(Iverson, Colonel Alfred), 6-12
Ivison, see (Iverson)
Jackson’s Troops, 9-20
James, Adjt. (Theodore) C., 13-31, 30-64
Jamestown, (steamer), 6-10
Jenkins, General (Albert Gallatin), 12-29
Johnson, General (Edward “Allegheny”), 11-27, 16-34, 26-58; Division, 11-27, 22-50, 26-58,
27-60
Johnson’s Island Prison, Sandusky, Ohio, U.S., 14-32, 18-39
Johnston, see Johnson
Jones, Reverend John, 8-19, 32-66
Jones County, (NC), 27-60
Kellery’s Ford, see (Kelly’s) Ford
Kelley’s Ford, see (Kelly’s) Ford
Kelly, Isaac, 13-31, 14-32
Kelly, Lieutenant (Thomas) J., 13-31, 14-32
(Kelly’s) Ford, (VA), 10-26, 20-41
Kenan, Major, 7-14
Kenansville, (NC), 32-66, 32-67
Kentucky Governor (Magoffin, Beriah), 4-4
Ketchum, 6-10
Kidder, Mr., 18-39
King, Lieutenant (John) E., 30-64
Kyser, Miss, 17-38
Land lease, 36-74
Lane, Lieutenant (Christopher) C., 13-31, 30-64
Langdon, Captain (Richard) F., 13-31, 20-41, 20-43, 30-64
Lee, Bob, 7-14
Lee, Colonel (Charles) C., 5-7
Lee, Fitz H., see Lee, (Fitzhugh)
Lee, (Fitzhugh), spelled Fitz H., Cavalry of, 17-37
Lee, Sergeant (James) C., 7-14
Lee, General (Robert Edward), 11-27, 12-30, 16-34, 26-58
Leesburg, (VA), 24-55
Lillington, John, 7-16
Lincoln, (President Abraham, U.S.), 5-6; abduction plans, 9-23; ordering out troops, 3-3, 4-4;
proclamations, 3-3, 12-29
Londontown, (PA, U.S.), see (Loudoun, PA, U.S.)
Longstreet, General (James “Pete”), 9-20, 12-29, 13-31, 17-37, 21-45
(Loudoun, PA, U.S.), spelled Londontown, 12-30
Love, Doctor, 8-19
Lowdermilk, Lieutenant (Zemeriah Hadley), 30-64
Lowe, Levin, 24-56
Lowe, Thos. H., 24-56
Lucas, W.H., Mrs., 22-47
Lynchburg, VA, 33-68, 34-69
Lyon, Lieutenant (Robert) H., 13-31, 30-64
Lyoon, see Lyon
McCaleb, Mrs., 20-44
McCaleb, Mary (Cousin), 22-49
McClammy, Lieutenant (Charles) W., 13-31, 30-64
McClamy, see McClammy
McConnelsburg, (PA, U.S.), 12-30
McCormick, 24-54
McCree, Sergeant, see McRee, Sergeant R.C. (Robert) C.
McDowel, Lieutenant Colonel (John A.), 6-12, 7-15
McIntire, D., 32-66
McIntire, Frank, 6-12
McIntire, Thos. Tate, 6-12
McPeake, 18-39
McRae, Bob (Captain Robert B.), 6-12
McRee, Doctor (James Fergus), 33-68
McRee, Sergeant R.C. (Robert) C., also spelled McCree, 31-65, 33-68
Madison C.H. (Court House, VA), 14-32
Magnolia, (NC), 32-66
Magruder, General (John Bankhead), 5-7
Mallett, Captain (Peter), 30-64, Company of, 6-11
Malvern Hill, (VA), Battle of (Seventh of the Seven Days’ Battles), 7-14
Manassas, (VA), Second Battle of, 9-24
Martin, Adjunct General James G., of NC, 6-13
Maryland, 4-4, 6-9, 8-19, 12-28, 12-29, 34-70
Massanutta Mountains, (VA), 9-21
Meade, General (George Gordon, U.S.), 16-34, 20-41, 22-50
Meares’, Captain (Edward) G. Company, 6-11; died, 12-29
Meares, Colonel (Gaston), 7-14
Mechanicsville, (VA), Battle of (Second of the Seven Days’ Battles), 6-12, 7-14, 7-15
Mercersburg, PA, U.S., 12-30
Merrimac (ship), 6-10
Methodist Church, 11-27
Metts, Mrs., 18-39
Metts, Lieutenant Jim (James Isaac), 28-61; prisoner, 14-32, 18-39; wounded, 13-31, 16-34
Middleburg, (VA), 12-30
Military Instructions, 37-75
Miller, 17-38
Miller, Mr., 9-20
Miller, C.B., 36-74
“Millroy”, 12-29
Millroy, General (Robert Huston, U.S.), 12-29
Mine Run, (VA), 20-43
Mitchel’s Ford, (VA), 20-41; letter from, 17-37
Money and pay, see Currency, value of, and Soldier’s pay
Monitor (ship), 6-10
Monk, James, 9-22
Monroe, Fortress, 5-7
Moore, 5-6
Moore, J.L., 1-1
Moore, Joel L., 26-59
Moore, John, 7-14
Moore, Reverend W.H., 35-73
Moore, Wm. L., 1-1, 18-39
Morehead, Colonel (James) T., 25-57
Morrow, George, 1-1
Morton’s Ford, (VA), 20-43, 24-52, 28-61
Mount Jackson, VA, 9-21
Mountain Run, 37-75
Mounted Rifles Cavalry, 12-29
Murray, Asa, 6-11
Murray, David, 6-11
Nash, Anita, 4-4
Nassau, (NY, U.S.), 18-39
New Berne, (NC), 6-9, 22-50
New Boston, (NC), 6-9
New Hanover County, NC, 3-3, 4-4, 20-42, 22-46, 36-74
New Inlet, (NC), 3-3
New Market, (VA), 9-21
New York, (U.S.), 4-4, 18-39
Newberne, (NC), see New Berne
Newport News, (VA), fall of, 6-10
North Carolina Standard (newspaper), 27-60
North Hampton (steamer), 6-10
Oak Plantation, NC, 36-74
Onslow, NC, 27-60
Orange C.H. (Court House), VA, 7-16, 7-17, 8-19, 14-32, 17-37, 20-41, 22-49; letters from,
15-33, 16-34, 17-35, 17-36
Orange Guards, (NC), 4-4
Orange Light Infantry (NC), 3-3, 4-4
Ormsby, G. (Lieutenant George) M., 10-26, 30-64
Ormsby, R.S. (Private Robert S.), 6-12, 7-14
Parsley, Captain/Major/Colonel (William Murdock), 6-11, 7-14, 8-9, 11-27, 13-31, 16-34, 17-36,
17-38, 19-40, 20-41, 22-49, 22-50, 30-64, 31-65
Patterson, Reverend George, 11-27, 17-35, 17-38, 28-61, 29-63, 33-68
Pender’s (General William Dorsey) Division, 13-31
Pennsylvania, (U.S.), raid into, 12-29, 16-34
Petersburg, VA, 6-10, 22-48, 32-66; battle of, 35-73
Philadelphia Enquirer (newspaper), 9-23, 12-30
Picket, Jim, 5-6
Pickett, Lieutenant (Isaac) J., 30-64
Point Cape Fear Office, (NC), 26-59
Port Royal, (VA), letter from, 9-23
Potomac, 12-29, 16-34, 21-45
Potter, Lieutenant (Henry), 13-31
Potter, Liza, 17-38
Powers, Captain (Kinchen), 30-64
Provost Marshal’s Office, Richmond, VA, 6-10
(Raccoon) Ford, (VA), 20-41
Racoon Ford, (VA), see (Raccoon) Ford
(Rainer, Private John N.), spelled Rayner, 17-35
Rains, Camp, (VA), letter from, 5-7
Raleigh, NC, 6-13, 15-33, 17-36, 18-39, 20-42, 22-47
Ramseur, General (Stephen Dodson), 26-58; Brigade of, 20-41, 26-58
Ransom, 5-7
Rapanhannock River, see (Rappahannock River)
Rapanhannock Station, see (Rappahannock Station)
Rapid An, Rapid Ann, see Rapidan River, (VA)
Rapidan River, (VA), 12-28, 14-32, 17-37, 20-41, 28-61
Rapidan Station, (VA), 12-28
(Rappahannock River, VA), spelled Rapahannock, 9-22, 14-32, 20-41
(Rappahannock Station, VA), spelled Rapahannock, 20-41
Rattlesnake Gap, (VA), 9-21
Rayner, see (Rainer)
Red Hill Plantation, NC, 36-74
Revenue Stamps, 36-74
Rhodes, General, see Rodes, General
Rhodes, Lieutenant (Anthony) H., 8-19
Rhodes, Captain (Edward) H., 6-10, 8-19, 27-60
Richmond, VA, 7-16, 7-17, 8-19, 9-23, 13-31, 16-34, 17-35, 17-37, 20-41, 22-49, 26-58; bank
of, 27-60; Battle of, 6-10, 6-11, 6-12, 9-24; dispatch from, 30-64; letters from, 7-15, 22-48;
newspaper, 9-23; Provost Marshal, 6-10; Surgeon General, 6-10; Transportation Department,
6-10; War Department, 6-10
Riggs, W.A., 34-71
Ripley’s (General Roswell Sabine) Brigade, 8-19
Robinson, Evan, 9-21
Robitzsch, (Private John) E., 6-12
Robitzsch, (Sergeant Richard) F., 6-12
Robitzsch, (Private Robert) B., 6-12
Rocky Point, (NC), 17-35, 22-47, 24-54
Rodes, General (Robert Emmett), also spelled Rhodes, 12-30, 26-58; Division of, 12-29, 13-31,
29-63
(Saint Thomas, PA, U.S.), spelled Thomastown, 12-30
Salt business, 7-15
Sandusky, OH, U.S., 14-32, 18-39
Savage, Major (Edward), 6-12
Scales, General (Alfred Moore), 35-73; Brigade of, 35-73
Scot, Obed, see (Scott, Lieutenant Obediah) R.
Scott, General, 4-4
(Scott, Lieutenant Obediah) R., spelled Scot, Obed., 6-12
Second Regiment of NC Troops, 6-9
Sharpsburg, MD, 24-56; Battle of, 9-24; letter from, 12-29
Shenandoah River, (VA), 9-20
Shepardstown, see (Shepherdstown, WV)
Sheperdstown, see (Shepherdstown, WV)
(Shepherdstown, WV), spelled Shepardstown and Sheperdstown, 8-19; cemetery, 12-29
Ship Point, (VA), 5-5
Shipensburg, (PA, U.S.), see (Shippensburg)
(Shippensburg, PA, U.S.), spelled Shipensburg, 12-30, 13-31
Sickels, see (Sickles, General Daniel Edgar)
(Sickles, General Daniel Edgar, U.S.), spelled Sickels, 6-9
Sidbury, Lieutenant (Amos), 13-31
Silers, Captain, 35-73
Skinner, Major (T.J.), 6-12
Slave sale receipt, 1-1
Smith, W.D., 22-48
Smith, W.N.H., 22-50
Smiths, 22-46
Soldier’s pay, 5-5, 18-39, 24-55, 24-56, 28-61
So. River, (NC), 16-34
Spartansburg, (NC), 18-39
Spotsylvania/Spottsylvania C.H. (Court House), VA, 12-28; Battle of, 29-63, 31-65, 33-68,
34-70
Sprunt, Mr., 32-66, 34-72
Stafford, General (Leroy) A., 26-58
Standard, see North
Carolina Standard
Staunton Road, (VA), 9-21
Stephens, Vice President (Alexander Hamilton, Confederate States of America), 27-60
Steuart, see also Stuart
Steuart, General G.H. (George) H., 26-58; Brigade of, 11-27, 22-50, 24-52; see also Stuart,
J.E.B.
Steward, see Stuart
Stokely, Lieutenant (John) W., 30-64
Stokes, Colonel (Mumford Sidney), 6-11, 6-12, 7-15
Stone, Lieutenant (Irving) C., 13-31
Stoneman, General (George, U.S.), 17-37
Stonewall Academy, Mount Jackson, VA, 9-21
Stonewall Brigade, 25-57
Strasburg, (VA), 9-21
(Stuart, General James Ewell Brown), spelled Steuart, 26-58; Cavalry, 13-37
Summerville Fort, 37-75
Surgeon General, Richmond, VA, 6-10
Swan(‘s) Point, NC, 7-17, 9-23, 36-74
Taylor, Mrs., 9-22
Tennessee, 17-37
Tenth Regiment of VA, U.S., 25-57
Third Regiment of AK, 6-9
Third Regiment of NC Troops, 6-9, 6-11, 6-12, 6-13, 7-18, 8-19, 9-21, 9-24, 11-27, 22-50,
27-60, 34-70, 34-71
Thirtieth Regiment of VA, 6-9
Thirty-Seventh Regiment of VA, 20-43
Thirty-Seventh Regiment of VA, U.S., 25-57
Thomastown, (PA, U.S.), see (St. Thomas, PA, U.S.)
Thompson, Captain, see Thomson
Thomson, Captain (William Hanry), 14-32, 30-64
Thornton, Captain, 30-64
Thorp, 22-46
Thruston, Major/Colonel (Stephen) D., 8-19, 9-21, 16-34, 22-49, 30-64
Thurston, see Thruston
Transportation Department, Richmond, VA, 6-10
Turkey Creek, NC, 17-37, 36-74
Twentieth Regiment of VA, 6-12, 7-15
Twenty-Second Regiment of NC Troops, 35-73
Twenty-Third Regiment of VA, U.S., 25-57
Typhoid fever, 8-19, 13-31
U.S. Fort, letter from, 10-26
Upperville, VA, 9-20
Van, Sheriff, 19-39
Van Bok, Mr., see Mr. Van Bokkellen
Van Bokkelen, Captain J. (John) F.S., 13-31, 18-39
Van Bokkelin, A.H., 30-64
Van Bokkellen, Mr., 7-17, 27-60; Van Bok, 18-39
Vance, Governor Zebulon B., 7-18, 25-57, 26-58
Vernon, John, 22-46
Vicksburg, (MS), 11-27, 13-31
Virginia, 6-9, 18-39; seceded, 4-4; troops, 4-4
Walker, General, 26-58
Walker, Doctor (Joshua) C., 27-60
War Department, Richmond, VA, 6-10
Ward, Lieutenant (George) W., 13-31, 20-43, 30-64
Warrenton, (VA), 7-17, 12-28
Warrn/Wann (?), Esquire, 17-38
Washington City (D.C.), 4-4, 12-30
Washington, NC, 9-23
Weekly Wilmington Journal (newspaper), 22-50
Wharton Studio, Raleigh, NC, 22-47
Whites Creek, (NC), 28-62
Whitick, 5-7
Wilderness Church, (VA), Battle of, 10-26
Wilkeston, 26-58
Williams, Lieutenant Andrew J., 8-19
Williams, Bob, 7-14
Williams, Captain (David), 6-9, 6-11, 6-12, 7-14
Wilmington, NC, 1-1, 5-6, 5-7, 7-17, 13-31, 14-32, 15-33, 16-34, 17-38, 18-39, 20-42, 20-43,
22-48, 28-62, 33-68, 34-72; companies, 3-3, 4-4; Weekly Wilmington Journal, 22-50; yellow
fever, 8-19
Winchester, VA, 12-29, 12-30, 13-31; letter from, 8-19
Winder, General (John Henry), 6-10
Winthrop, 5-7
Wood, Sergeant, 27-60
Wood, Doctor (Thomas) F., 9-25, 14-32, 24-55
Woodstock, (VA), 9-21
Woten, Mary M., 28-62
Wright, Captain Joseph A., 6-12
Wright, M.A., 20-44
Yellow fever (in Wilmington, NC), 8-19
York Point, (VA), 5-7
Yorktown, (VA), 5-5, 5-8
Private Papers, 1859-1868
Boatner, Mark Mayo III, The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay Company, Inc.,
1959.
Clark, Walter, Editor, Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in
the Great War 1861-1865. Written by members of the respective commands. 5 volumes.
Raleigh, NC: State of North Carolina, 1901.
Davis, George B., Perry Major, J. Leslie, and Joseph W. Kirkley. Atlas to Accompany the
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Compiled by Captain Calvin D.
Cowles, 23rd U.S. Infantry. 2 Volumes. Washington: Government Printing Office,
1891-1895.
Manarin, Louis H., Compiler, North Carolina Troops 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume III, Infantry.
Raleigh, NC: State Department of Archives and History, 1971.
Sprunt, James. Chronicles of the Cape Fear River. 2nd edition, Reprint. Spartanburg, SC: The
Reprint Company, 1973. Reprint of 1916 edition in the North Carolina Collection,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Accession No. 1, Addition No. 1: 1862-1865
Description
These papers are photocopies of the public documents of Edward Hall Armstrong’s military service during the Civil War as a Confederate soldier. These papers are the requisition forms signed by Armstrong, pay receipts, rosters of both the 3rd Regiment of North Carolina’s Volunteers and Infantry, Roll of Honor listings, and company muster rolls nothing his presence, furloughs, dates of promotion, and date and place of death.
These photocopies were made by the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and were received by the William Madison Randall Library on June 30, 1976. They are preserved in File Folder 39, as Addition No. 1 to the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885. Each item has been assigned a number. Following is a biographical sketch and inventory.
Biographical Sketch
Edward Hall Armstrong fought in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier. Born in Wilmington, NC, he enlisted from New Hanover County at the age of 21. By his own description, he was 5’9” tall, had dark hair and gray eyes, and was by occupation a farmer. His father, Thomas J. Armstrong, owned a plantation at Rocky Point, NC.
Edward Armstrong was a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when the war broke out. He left before graduating and joined Company G of the 3rd Regiment of North Carolina Troops. Promoted rapidly, he was appointed a captain within months of his enlistment.
Captain Armstrong was severely wounded in the Battle of Spotsylvania on May 12, 1864. He died on June 7, 1864.
Chronological Inventory and Description
Item 1
January-February 1862
Company Muster Roll of the 3rd Regiment of North Carolina Infantry (State Troops)—hereafter termed CMR. Notes the Edward Hall Armstrong (EHA), a 2nd Sergeant of Company G, enlisted February 21, 1862 from New Hanover County by Captain E.H. Rhodes for the period of “War”. Noted EHA was last paid by Captain R.P. Atkinson (RPA); EHA was present during this two month period; and that he was promoted February 20, 1962.
Item 2
March-April 1862
CMR, EHA, now 1st Sergeant, was last paid by RPA to February 28, 1862. EHA was present and promoted from 2nd Sergeant April 10, 1862.
Item 3
April 30 to July 14, 1862
CMR, EHA, last paid by RPA to April 30, 1862, was accounted present and “bounty paid $50.00.”
Item 4
July 1862
Roll of Honor, listing EHA’s promotions
Item 5
July 1862
Register, records EHA’s promotion of July 1, 1862, to 2nd Lieutenant
Item 6
July 1862
Roster of the 3rd Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers (RV), notes EHA’s promotion of July 1, 1862, and names successor as J.J. Mitts.
Item 7
July 1862
RV, lists EHA’s promotion of July 1, 1862, and names successor Jas. F. Clark.
Item 8
July 14 to October 31, 1862
CMR, EHA present and promoted to Captain on September 17, 1862.
Item 9
August 16, 1862
Receipt for payment of $80.00 to EHA as a 2nd Lieutenant, from July 1 to July 31, 1862.
Item 10
September 17, 1862
Roll of Honor listing EHA as a 2nd Lieutenant and noting his promotion to Captain on September 17, 1862
Item 11
September 17, 1862
Roll of Honor listing EHA as a Captain
Item 12
November-December 1862
CMR, showing EHA present for these two months.
Item 13
December 18, 1862
Quartermaster’s Account Record, giving personal and enlistment information about EHA. This form is a request and receipt for $63.00 pay to EHA. Of this sum, $40 was pay for May and June of 1862 (@$20 per month) and $23 for “Commutations for Clothing for Six Months.”
Item 14
January-February 1863
CMR, noting EHA’s absence “on 20 days furlough since February 16, 1863.”
Item 15
February 28 to May 15, 1863
CMR, lists EHA as present
Item 16
May 15 to August 11, 1863
CMR, EHA present
Item 17
August 11 to August 31, 1863
CMR, EHA present
Item 18
September-October 1863
CMR, EHA present
Item 19
November-December 1863
CMR, EHA absent “with leave since December 23/63, for 18 days.”
Item 20
1863
RV, lists EHA as 1st Lieutenant, promoted September 16, 1863. This information appears to be spurious. EHA was promoted to Captain on September 17, 1862.
Item 21
February 5, 1864
Requisition (R) for shoes from John H. Scott, William M. Thompson, William Sutton, and T.F. Hewitt. Requisitioned by EHA, as Commander of Company G, 3rd NC Troops. Notes Captain R.F. Langdon will issue the articles approved by Commanding Major Wm. T. Ennett.
Item 22
February 20, 1864
R, for jackets for Private Lewis J. Packer and Private J.Q. Adams and pants for Private W.L. Wilkins. Requisitioned by Lieutenant James F. Clark, Commander of Company G, and approved by EHA as Regiment Commander.
Item 23
February 25, 1864
R, for shoes for Levi Phillips, requested by EHA and approved by Lieutenant Colonel Wm. M. Parsley.
Item 24
February 29, 1864
R, for pants for Private John M.L. Wallace, requisitioned by N.A. Graham and approved by EHA as regiment commander.
Item 25
March 31, 1864
R, for clothing for ten soldiers, requested by EHA and approved by Colonel S.D. Thruston.
Item 26
August 31, 1864 to December 31, 1864
CMR, “Died about 9 June 1864 from wound received in battle Spotsylvania C.H. May 12/64.”
Item 28
January 1865
RI, listing EHA as Captain, then noting Date of Vacancy due to “Deceased of wounds received in battle Spotsylvania C.H.”
Item 29
No date
RV showing date of EHA’s death as June 7, 1964 and naming his successor to be J.J. Mitts.
Accession No. 1, Addition No. 2: 1860-1885
Description
These papers are photocopies of letter primarily from Edward Hall Armstrong, a Confederate soldier, to his family. The originals belong to Martha Pearsall of Rocky Mount, NC, who loaned her papers to the William Madison Randall Library of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, for study and photo duplication, in June of 1977. Martha Pearsall’s mother was Barbara Susan Armstrong Pearsall—Edward’s sister, Bobbie. Some of these items are photocopies, not of the original letters, but of transcripts of the originals, copied by Martha Pearsall and her family. Letters written to Edward Hall Armstrong are not part of the collection.
Included in this group of papers is a transcript of “Camouflage Against Raiders” found in Women of the South in War Times, compiled by Mathew Page Andrews, and published by Norman, Remington Company. This article describes the experiences of Rachel Pearsall of Kenansville, Duplin County, NC, in hiding food and possessions from raiders while her husband, David Pearsall, was away from home fighting in the Confederate Army.
These papers are preserved in file folder 40, as Addition No. 2 to the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885.
The original letters are the private and literary property of Miss Martha Pearsall and the Armstrong Family descendants. Requests for permission to publish, copy, or transcribe these papers should be directed to Miss Pearsall. Each item has been assigned a number. Following is a biographical sketch and inventory.
EDWARD HALL ARMSTRONG
Biographical Sketch
Edward Hall Armstrong, a Confederate soldier in the Civil War, wrote home frequently and descriptively relating his experiences as a soldier and officer.
Armstrong was born in Wilmington, NC on May (11?), 1841, the oldest child of Martha Ann Wilson and Thomas James Armstrong.[1] Their other children (in descending order) were named Mary (Mollie), Martha Anne (Monnie), Barbara Susan (Bobbie), Thomas James (Tommie), William Wilson (Willie), Ella and Mary. Edward’s mother, Martha Ann Wilson Armstrong, was born on September 15, 1820, married Armstrong on October 5, 1835,[2] and died on December 31, 1858.[3] Thomas J. Armstrong soon remarried. By his second wife, Martha (Mattie) Freeman Armstrong, his children were Sarah Isabella (Bell), William and Sammy. His third wife was Mrs. Hulda Moore Armstrong, a childless widow, by whom he had no children. His fourth wife was Alice Bordeaux Armstrong with whom he had one child, Richard James Armstrong. These names of Thomas James Armstrong’s wives and children were provided by his granddaughter—Barbara Susan Armstrong Pearsall’s daughter, Martha Pearsall of Rocky Mount, NC.[4]
According to Mrs. Pearsall, the Thomas J. Armstrong family moved from Wilmington to Swan’s Point, NC, when Monnie was born. During the Civil War, Thomas J. Armstrong had a salt business in Wilmington, however, the family continued living at Swan’s Point.
Edward studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1858 to 1861.[5] During the war, his letters home reveal that his sisters, Mollie, Monnie and Bobbie, studied at Greensboro (NC) Female College and he urged his father to hire a tutor for Tommie and Willie.[6]
Edward had two cousins named Thomas Armstrong, which gives rise to confusion in these letters. One was the son of Edward Armstrong of Hallsville, NC, and the brother of Nicholas (Nick) Armstrong. Thomas and Nick were both Confederate soldiers and both survived the war.
The other cousin was Thomas E. Armstrong, son of Isham Armstrong of Ashton, NC. He was married to Annie Jane Bordeaux. This Thomas Armstrong was promoted to Captain (of Company K, Third Regiment, NC State Troops) at about the same time Edward received his captain’s commission.[7] He and Edward both fought at Chancellorsville, VA, where Thomas was killed. Edward saw to his removal from the battlefield and his burial.
It would be repetitive to list Edward’s wartime experiences here. The researcher is instead referred to Manarin’s North Carolina Troops 1861-1865 (footnote 6); Walter Clark, editor, Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-1865, written by members of the respective commands, 5 volumes, Raleigh, NC: State of North Carolina, 1901; but especially to Edward’s letters to his family in this group of papers, and in the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885 (Accession No. 1). The Military Service of Edward H. Armstrong, 1862-1865, are also available and described in Accession No. 1, Addition No, 1.
Though he joked in his letters about marriage, Edward was never married. His sister Bobbie, Barbara Susan Armstrong, was born on May 29, 1848. Edward Dixon Pearsall was born on February 6, 1848. They married on May 11, 1876, and their daughter, Martha Ann Pearsall, was born on December 23, 1891. These dates are taken from a bibl in Martha Pearsall’s possession. According to Miss Pearsall, Millie married David Everett, a former Confederate soldier, after the war and died young. Monnie (March 10, 1846-June 5, 1935)[8] married Wilson Hodges Lucas.
Edward was wounded in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, VA, on May 12, 1864, and died on June 7, 1864. His body was brought home to Swan’s Point.[9]
Inventory
All of the items listed below are photocopies, some of original papers, some of handwritten transcripts. The latter items are listed as transcripts in the inventory.
Item 1
November 10, 1860
Letter, Chapel Hill (NC), Edward Hall Armstrong (EHA) to his stepmother, Martha Freeman Armstrong at Rocky Point, NC--Transcript, 3 pages.
Item 2
July 9, 1861
Letter, Yorktown, VA, EHA to his father, Thomas J. Armstrong (TJA) at Rocky Point, NC—Transcript, 2 pages
Item 3
August 11, 1862
Letter, Richmond, VA, EHA to TJA. Mentions Malvern Hill battle and his appointment as Lieutenant of Company G, 3rd NOC Troops—Transcript, 2 pages
Item 4
August 11, 1862
Typescript of item 3, 2 pages.
Item 5
December 5, 1862
Letter, Port Royal, VA, EHA to TJA. Relates how his near court-martial was resolved. Requests a servant to be sent to him. Asks about his father’s salt business in Wilmington, NC—6 pages
Item 6
December 18, 1862
Letter, Fredericksburg, VA, EHA to TJA. Describes Fredericksburg battle from his viewpoint—Transcript, 3 pages.
Item 7
February 11, 1863
Letter, Fredericksburg, VA, EHA to his sister, Bobbie--Barbara Susan Armstrong (BSA)—3 pages
Item 8
May 14, 1863
Letter, United States Ford, VA, EHA to his sister, Mollie—Mary Armstrong (MA). Writes of funeral service for his cousin, Thom Armstrong, killed in recent battle—2 pages.
Item 9
May 26, 1863
Letter, Hamilton’s Crossing, VA, EHA to TJA. Mr. Bordeaux visited to bury Thom Armstrong in coffin, wished to take body home but couldn’t, so reburied the body. Speculates about future of the South. States, if he is killed, his desire to be buried at home rather than on the battlefield, if possible—4 pages.
Item 10
August 7, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to BSA—4 pages.
Item 11
September 18, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to MA—2 pages.
Item 12
March 8, 1864
Letter, Camp 3 NC Troops, EHA to MA. Writes of the “Black Flagg- no prisoner policy”—3 pages.
Item 13
March 8, 1864
Typescript of item 12—2 pages.
Item 14
March 16, 1864
Letter, Camp 3 NC Troops, EHA to BSA—2 pages.
Item 15
March 16, 1864
Typescript of item 14—2 pages.
Item 16
May 19, 1864
Letter, Swan’s Point, NC, TJA to his daughters, Monnie-Martha Ann Armstrong, and BSA. Notifies them of his receipt of dispatch stating EHA has been wounded. Letter includes transcript of dispatch—4 pages.
Item 17
May 19, 1864
Typescript of item 16—2 pages.
Item 18
October 1, 1864
Letter, Hallsville, NC, Thomas Armstrong to “Cousin”. Was at home in ill health, on furlough from hospital—2 pages.
Item 19
March 20, 1868
Report of grades for BSA from Louisburg (NC) Female College. Verso lists college regulations—2 pages.
Item 20
January 6, 1885
Letter, Wilmington, NC, Sister Bell (Sarah Isabella Armstrong) to BSA—2 pages.
Item 21
No date
Letter, fragment, transcript. EHA to (TJA). Date and place of origin unknown. Presumes written in late 1862, EHA writes that he just became a captain—2 pages.
Item 22
No date
Typescript of Item 21—2 pages.
Item 23
No date
Letter, fragment, EHA to a sister or brother. Date and place of origin unknown. Presumes written in late 1863, he mentions Mine Run, VA, in describing preparations for battle—2 pages.
Item 24
No date
Typescript of item 23
Item 25
No date
Transcript of “Camouflage Against Raiders” extracted from Women of the South in War Times, compiled by Mathew Page Andrews. Describes the experiences of Rachel Pearsall of Kenansville, Duplin County, NC, whose husband, David Pearsall, was away from home fighting the Confederate Army—9 pages.
Item 26
June 1977
Copy of birth, death and marriage dates of Pearsall family from bible owned by Martha Pearsall, Rocky Point, NC. Inclusive dates: 1812?-1967. Typescript copy made by Leora Hiatt McEachern, Wilmington, NC—2 pages.
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1858-1885
Accession Number 1, Addition Number 3: 1867
This paper is a photocopied typescript of Thomas James Armstrong’s boyhood reminiscences, written in response to a request from his daughter in 1867. This narrative was transcribed by Stephen C. Pearsall, an Armstrong descendent, in 1977. The original belongs to Miss Martha Pearsall of Rocky Point, NC, a granddaughter of Thomas James Armstrong. The narrative consists of 23 pages, plus a page of footnotes by Stephen Pearsall. Pearsall used Armstrong’s spelling and punctuation, and he notes the original appears to have been torn from a binder or ledger.
Thomas James Armstrong was the father of Edward Hall Armstrong, a Confederate soldier, whose letters home during the Civil War are the major portion of the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885. T.J. Armstrong writes that he was born at South Washington, NC on April 21, 1813, of Edward and Mary Sheffield Armstrong. Edward Armstrong’s parents were John Armstrong and Barbara, who was born in 1766 on a voyage from Ireland to Wilmington, NC. Mary Sheffield’s parents were Isham and Barbara Boney Sheffield. Isham Sheffield died a prisoner of war in Smithfield, NC, sometime in the mid-1770s. In this narrative he lists as brothers, Ed, John, Hugh and Isham, and as sisters, Susan, Julia and Barbara.
Thomas J. Armstrong writes movingly of the death of his oldest sister, Susan, of a severe financial setback suffered by his parents, and then of his mother’s death on April 21, 1826, followed the next year by his father’s death on October 5, 1827, when he was only 14 years. This narrative ends with a description of a Negro uprising in September of 1831; he wrote that, locally, it extended from South Washington to Wilmington, though it was considered a general rising all over the South. At that time he was 18 years old and was clerking for James Chambers in Wilmington.
South Washington was laid out in about 1740 as a center of trade for the Welsh Tract and was incorporated as South Washington in 1791. It was located in north central Pender County on Washington Creek, near its mouth in the Northeast Cape Fear River. In about 1840, the community moved about 1 ½ miles southwest to a site on the newly completed railroad and became Hiawatha, shortened to Watha. South Washington no longer exists and for this reason, this narrative is of remarkable historical interest. Armstrong described South Washington as a “thriving business place” with “merchandise business at Wilmington So Washington and Kenansville under the name and style of Armstrong McIntire and McGowan.” He mentioned other residents’ names and described where they lived, what they did for recreation, and to whom they sent their children for education.
This narrative is preserved in File Folder 41, as Addition Number 3 to the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885. The original of the narrative is the private and literary property of Miss Martha Pearsall and the Armstrong Family descendants. Requests for permission to publish, copy, or transcribe this paper should be directed to Miss Pearsall.
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1859-1885
Accession Number 1, Addition Number 3a
This paper is a photocopy of a notarized statement made by Stephen Carroll Pearsall, certifying that he transcribed the entirety of an original narrative written by Thomas James Armstrong. The statement was made on March 11, 1978, in Fairfax County, Virginia, before Barbara Ghent, Notary Public.
The narrative referred to contains Thomas James Armstrong’s reminiscences of his boyhood in North Carolina, and is described in Accession Number 1, Addition Number 3. This paper is preserved in File Folder 42, as Addition Number 3a to the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885.
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1859-1885
Accession Number 1, Addition Number 4: Microfilm
This is a microfilm copy of the Armstrong papers, Accession Register Entry Number 1 and its Additions, 1 and 2. A description of the film and an errata sheet follow.
These papers were microfilmed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Southern Historical Collection has the microfilm master. No copying is allowed without express permission. Apply to the Special Collections Department for information in acquiring permission to copy.
Microfilm Copy Errata
The errors listed below were noted during collation of the microfilm copy of the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885. They are listed in order of occurrence on the microfilm. For a full description of item numbers, refer to the inventory of the collection.
Item 2
Inventory lists as 6 pages. Microfilm does not show pages 2 or 4, which are the reverse of EHA’s essay and contain an instructor’s criticisms.
Item 12
March 26, 1862 letter: page 1 is shown twice.
Item 28
December 5, 1862 letter: pages 2 and 3 are shown in reverse order.
Item 45
Original of July 10, 1863 letter: pages 5 and 6 are shown in reverse order.
Item 48
August 7, 1863 letter: page 4 is shown as page 2, therefore pages 2 and 3 appear as 3 and 4.
Item 56
Original of October 30, 1863 letter from EHA to Pa and to Tommie: pages are shown out of order. The letter consists of 10 pages, 9 to Pa and the reverse of 9 (page 10) to Tommie. EHA signed letter to Pa on page 3, then continued writing below the signature and on more pages, then signed again at the bottom of page 9. On the reverse of page 9, he wrote a one page latter to Tommie, this being page 10. The microfilm shows page 10 (Tommie’s letter) first, then page 9 of the letter to Pa. Then pages 5 through 8 are shown, then pages 1 through 4.
Item 57
Typescript of Item 56 (October 30, 1863 letter), precedes the original on the microfilm, rather than follows it.
Item 63
(1863) letter fragment, is shown after Item 58 (November 6, 1863 letter).
Item 64
January 3, 1864 letter: page 2 is shown twice.
Item 65
EHA’s photograph is shown out of place. It appears on the microfilm after Item 53 (September 18, 1863 letter).
Item 66
January 11, 1864 letter: page 2 is shown first, the page 1, then page 2 appears again.
Item 69
Is shown out of place. Receipt from Greensboro Mutual Life Insurance and Trust Company, dated November 1, 1861, is shown on the microfilm after Item 11 (letter dated October 25, 1861). It belongs, however, after Item 68 (letter dated January 26, 1864), as its enclosure.
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1859-1885
Edward Hall Armstrong, a Confederate soldier in the Civil War, wrote home frequently and descriptively relating his experiences as a soldier and officer. These papers consist primarily of his letters home to his family. Other items are his photograph; his officer commissions; a letter from his body servant, a slave named Mose; and miscellaneous letters and documents, the latter including a receipt for sale of a slave and a receipt for a $1,000.00 Confederate bond. Letters written to Armstrong are not a part of this collection. As a separate series, photocopies of public documents relating to Armstrong’s military service, such as requisition forms, pay receipts, rosters of both the 3rd Regiment of NC Volunteers and Infantry, Roll of Honor listings, and company muster rolls, are included.
Armstrong was born in Wilmington, NC on May (11?), 1841, the oldest child of Martha Ann Wilson and Thomas James Armstrong. Their other children (in descending order) were named Mary (Mollie), Martha Anne (Monnie), Barbara Susan (Bobbie), Thomas James (Tommie), William Wilson (Willie), Ella and Mary. Edward’s mother, Martha Ann Wilson Armstrong, was born on September 15, 1820, married Armstrong on October 5, 1835, and died on December 31, 1858. Thomas J. Armstrong soon remarried. By his second wife, Martha (Mattie) Freeman Armstrong, his children were Sarah Isabella (Bell), William and Sammy. His third wife was Mrs. Hulda Moore Armstrong, a childless widow, by whom he had no children. His fourth wife was Alice Bordeaux Armstrong with whom he had one child, Richard James Armstrong. These names of Thomas James Armstrong’s wives and children were provided by his granddaughter—Barbara Susan Armstrong Pearsall’s daughter, Martha Pearsall of Rocky Mount, NC.
According to Mrs. Pearsall, the Thomas J. Armstrong family moved from Wilmington to Swan’s Point, NC, when Monnie was born. During the Civil War, Thomas J. Armstrong had a salt business in Wilmington, however, the family continued living at Swan’s Point.
Edward studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1858 to 1861. During the war, his letters home reveal that his sisters, Mollie, Monnie and Bobbie, studied at Greensboro (NC) Female College and he urged his father to hire a tutor for Tommie and Willie.
Edward had two cousins named Thomas Armstrong, which gives rise to confusion in these letters. One was the son of Edward Armstrong of Hallsville, NC, and the brother of Nicholas (Nick) Armstrong. Thomas and Nick were both Confederate soldiers and both survived the war.
The other cousin was Thomas E. Armstrong, son of Isham Armstrong of Ashton, NC. He was married to Annie Jane Bordeaux. This Thomas Armstrong was promoted to Captain (of Company K, Third Regiment, NC State Troops) at about the same time Edward received his captain’s commission. He and Edward both fought at Chancellorsville, VA, where Thomas was killed. Edward saw to his removal from the battlefield and his burial.
Edward H. Armstrong participated in some of the decisive battles of the Civil War, saw action, and buried many comrades. His letters describe field events, such as marching for hours only to return to the original position and standing picket in the rain without cover, or in the snow without fire, shoes or a blanket. He depicts the fortunes and misfortunes of the South through battles won and conditions deteriorating. Although seeing the inevitable end, he continued to stand firm for Southern independence, even while admitting he had “no desire to see any more bloodshed.” He was engaged in, and his letters describe from his viewpoint, the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), the Sevens Days’ Battles, The Battle of Gettysburg, and the Battle of Spotsylvania.
Edward was wounded in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, VA, on May 12, 1864, and died on June 7, 1864. His body was brought home to Swan’s Point.[10]
In the first series are several photocopies of letters written by Edward Hall Armstrong. Copyright of all papers indicated as photocopies in this series is his niece, Miss Martha Pearsall, of Rocky Point, NC, who loaned her papers to the William Madison Randall Library of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, for study photoduplication in June of 1977. Some of these items are photocopies of handwritten transcripts of the originals, copied by Miss Pearsall and her family.
The original letters and documents in the first series are preserved in the Helen Hagan Rare Book Room of the Randall Library. These papers are available to serious researchers. Their copyright is in the William Madison Randall Library, University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Use of the papers for proposed publication must be approved beforehand by the Director of Library Services.
The second series consists of photocopies of public documents relating to Armstrong’s military service, copies of which are available from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
An itemized inventory precedes the documents. This work was compiled under the direction of David Ronald Johnson, Librarian-in-Charge of Special Collections at the Randall Library.
Judith H. Davis
August 18, 1977
Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885
Inventory
Series I
Item, Date, Description
Item 1
1859
Receipt for slave purchase
Item 2
No date
Corrected essay written by Edward Hall Armstrong (EHA), 6 pages
Item 3
November 10, 1860
Letter, Chapel Hill, NC, EHA to his stepmother, Martha Freeman Armstrong (MFA), at Rocky Point, NC, handwritten transcript, photocopied, 3 pages
Item 4
April 16, 1861
Letter, Chapel Hill, NC, EHA to his father, Thomas J. Armstrong (TJA), at Rocky Point, NC, 4 pages
Item 5
April 18, 1861
Letter, Chapel Hill, NC, EHA to TJA, 8 pages
Item 6
April 18, 1861
Typescript of item 5, 5 pages
Item 7
July 9, 1861
Letter, Yorktown, VA, EHA to TJA, handwritten transcript, photocopied, 2 pages
Item 8
September 8, 1861
Letter, Camp Fayetteville, VA, EHA to MFA, 2 pages
Item 9
October 2, 1861
Letter, Camp Fayetteville, VA, EHA to TJA, 3 pages
Item 10
October 20, 1861
Letter, Camp Rains, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 11
October 25, 1861
Letter, Yorktown, VA, EHA to MFA, 2 pages
Item 12
March 26, 1862
Letter, Goldsboro, NC, EHA to TJA, 3 pages
Item 13
May 15, 1862
Letter, Richmond, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 14
June 18, 1862
Letter, Richmond, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 15
June 29, 1862
Letter, Richmond, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 16
July 1, 1862
Letter, Second Lieutenant’s Commission
Item 17
July 6, 1862
Letter, Frazier’s Farm, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 18
August 4, 1862
Letter, Richmond, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 19
August 11, 1862
Letter, Richmond, VA, EHA to TJA, handwritten transcript, photocopied, 2 pages
Item 20
August 11, 1862
Typescript of item 19, 2 pages
Item 21
August 26, 1862
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to TJA, 3 pages
Item 22
August 31, 1862
Gainesville, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 23
September 17, 1862
EHA’s Captain Commission
Item 24
October 17, 1862
Letter, Winchester, VA, EHA to TJA, 6 pages
Item 25
November 8, 1862
Letter, Front Royal, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 26
November 26, 1862
Letter, Gordonsville, VA, EHA to TJA, 3 pages
Item 27
November 26, 1862
Typescript of item 26, 3 pages
Item 28
December 5, 1862
Letter, Port Royal, VA, EHA to TJA, photocopy, 6 pages
Item 29
December 18, 1862
Letter, Fredericksburg, VA, EHA to TJA, handwritten transcript, photocopied, 3 pages
Item 30
January 2, 1863
Letter, Fredericksburg, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 31
February 11, 1863
Letter, Fredericksburg, VA, EHA to his sister, Bobbie—Barbara Susan Armstrong (BSA), photocopy, 3 pages
Item 32
April 15, 1863
Letter, Port Royal, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 33
April 15, 1863
Typescript of item 32, 2 pages
Item 34
(May 3, 1863)
Eulogy of Thomas E. Armstrong (EHA’s cousin)
Item 35
May 4, 1863
Letter, Trenches, fragment, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 36
May 9, 1863
Letter, U.S. Ford, VA, EHA to TJA, 6 pages
Item 37
May 14, 1863
Letter, U.S. Ford, VA, EHA to his sister, Mollie—Mary Armstrong (MA), photocopy, 2 pages
Item 38
Typescript of Item 37
Item 39
May 26, 1863
Letter, Hamilton’s Crossing, VA, EHA to TJA, photocopy, 4 pages
Item 40
June 3, 1863
Letter, Hamilton’s Crossing, VA, EHA to TJA, 8 pages
Item 41
June 13, 1863
Letter, Culpepper Court House, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 42
June 19, 1863
Letter, Sharpsburg, MD, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 43
June 29, 1863
Letter, Carlisle, PA, fragment, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 44
June 29, 1863
Typescript of item 43, 2 pages
Item 45
July 10, 1863
Letter, Hagerstown, MD, EHA to TJA, 6 pages
Item 46
July 10, 1863
Typescript of item 45, 4 pages
Item 47
(1863)
Letter, fragment, date (possibly July or August) and place of origin unknown, EHA to (TJA), 3 pages
Item 48
August 7, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to BSA, photocopy, 4 pages
Item 49
August 17, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 50
August 22, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to TJA, 6 pages
Item 51
September 8, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 52
September 10, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 53
September 18, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to MA, photocopy, 2 pages
Item 54
September 25, 1863
Letter, Mitchel’s Ford, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 55
October 4, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to MFA, 2 pages
Item 56
October 30, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 9 pages, with an additional letter to EHA’s brother, Tommie, 1 page
Item 57
October 30, 1863
Typescript of first 9 pages of item 56, 6 pages
Item 58
November 6, (1863)
Letter, Camp of (3rd NC Troops), EHA to TJA, laminated, 2 pages
Item 59
November 13, 1863
Letter, Orange Court House, VA, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 60
November 27, 1863
Letter, Raleigh, NC, Eli W. Hall to TJA
Item 61
December 4, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 62
Letter, M.A. Wright to her uncle, TJA, 2 pages
Item 63
(1863)
Letter, fragment, date and place of origin unknown, EHA to (TJA), laminated, 2 pages
Item 64
January 3, 1864
Letter, Thomas E. Armstrong (EHA’s uncle) to TJA, 2 pages
Item 65
January 11, 1864
Photograph of EHA in Confederate uniform
Item 66
January 11, 1864
Letter, Richmond, VA, EHA to TJA, 3 pages
Item 67
January 14, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 68
January 26, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 69
January 26, 1864
Receipt of Greensboro Mutual Life Insurance and Trust Company, dated November 1, 1861, and enclosed with January 26, 1864 letter, laminated
Item 70
February 8, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 3 pages
Item 71
February 11, 1864
Letter, ‘On Picket’, EHA to TJA
Item 72
February 14, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 73
February 28, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 74
March 8, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to MA, photocopy, 3 pages
Item 75
March 8, 1864
Typescript of item 74, 2 pages
Item 76
March 9, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 77
March 16, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to BSA, photocopy, 2 pages
Item 78
March 16, 1864
Typescript of Item 77, 2 pages
Item 79
March 23, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 5 pages
Item 80
March 30, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 4 pages
Item 81
March 1864
Receipt for $1,000.00 Confederate Bond issued at Point Cape Fear Office, NC, 2 pages
Item 82
April 5, 1864
Letter, Haw River, Alamance County, NC, F.D. Hoover to EHA, 8 pages
Item 83
April 8, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 84
April 8, 1864
Typescript of Item 83
Item 85
May 8, 1864
Letter, M.A. Anders, on behalf of Mary M. Wooten, to TJA
Item 86
May 14, 1864
Letter, Camp Hospital, Reverend George Patterson notifying TJA of EHA’s wounds, laminated, 2 pages
Item 87
May 15, 1864
Dispatch, Richmond, VA, from A.H. Bokkelin, listing EHA wounded, 2 pages
Item 88
May 19, 1864
Letter, Swan’s Point, NC, TJA to his daughters, Money (usually spelled Monnie)—Martha Ann Armstrong, and BSA. Letter includes TJA’s handwritten transcript of dispatch (Item 87), photocopy, 4 pages
Item 89
May 19, 1864
Typescript of Item 88, 2 pages
Item 90
May 21, 1864
Letter, Hospital, Spotsylvania Court House, VA, EHA’s servant, Mose, to Mose’s mother, laminated, 2 pages
Item 91
May 21, 1864
Typescript of Item 90, 2 pages
Item 92
May 25, 1864
Letter, Hallsville, NC, Edward Armstrong (EA) (EHA’s uncle) to TJA, 2 pages
Item 93
May 27, 1864
Letter, Hallsville, NC, EA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 94
May 28, 1864
Letter, Hospital, Spotsylvania Court House, VA, EHA’s last letter to TJA, laminated, 2 pages
Item 95
May 28, 1864
Typescript of Item 94
Item 96
June 8, 1864
Letter, Hallsville, NC, EA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 97
(1864)
Obituary for EHA, newspaper clipping
Item 98
October 1, 1864
Letter, Hallsville, NC, Thomas Armstrong (EA’s son and EHA’s cousin) to “Cousin,”
photocopy, 2 pages
Item 99
October 11, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd Regiment of NC and Army of Northern Virginia (A.N.V.), W.A. Riggs to TJA, 2 pages
Item 100
December 28, 1864
Letter, Hallsville, EA to TJA, 2 pages
Item 101
January 12, 1865
Letter, Petersburg, VA, Reverend W.H. Moore to TJA, 5 pages
Item 102
January 1, 1868
Lease of TJA’s land in New Hanover County to Reubin A. Corbett and A.B. Corbett, 3 pages
Item 103
March 20, 1868
Grade Report for BSA from Louisburg (NC) Female College. Verso lists college regulations, photocopy, 2 pages
Item 104
January 6, 1885
Letter, Wilmington, NC, Sister Bell (Sarah Isabella Armstrong) to BSA, photocopy, 2 pages
Item 105
No date
Letter, fragment of handwritten transcript, photocopied, EHA to (TJA), date and place of origin unknown
Item 106
No date
Typescript of Item 105, 2 pages
Item 107
No date
Letter, fragment, EHA to a brother or sister, date and place of origin unknown, photocopy, 2 pages
Item 108
No date
Typescript of item 107
Item 109
No date
General instructions for the Picket along the river and other military instructions, laminated, 4 pages
Item 110
No date
“ Camouflage against Raiders” extracted from Women of the South in War Times, compiled by Mathew Page Andrews. Handwritten transcript, photocopied, 9 pages
Item 111
No date
Birth, death and marriage dates of the Pearsall family from bible owned by Martha Pearsall, Rocky Point, NC, inclusive dates: 1812?-1967. Typescript, copied in June 1977, by Leora Hiatt McEachern, 2 pages
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1859-1885
Inventory
SERIES II
Item, Date, Description
Item 1
January-February 1862
Company Muster Roll of 3rd Regiment of North Carolina Infantry (State Troops) (CMR)
Item 2
March-April 1862
CMR
Item 3
April 30 to July 14, 1862
CMR
Item 4
July 1862
Roll of Honor
Item 5
July 1862
Register
Item 6
July 1862
Roster of the 3rd Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers (RV)
Item 7
July 1862
RV
Item 8
July 14 to October 31, 1862
CMR
Item 9
August 16, 1862
Receipt for payment of $80.00 to EHA
Item 10
September 18, 1862
Roll of Honor
Item 11
September 18, 1862
Roll of Honor
Item 12
November-December 1862
CMR
Item 13
December 18, 1862
Quartermaster’s Account Record, giving personal and enlistment information about EHA
Item 14
January-February 1863
CMR
Item 15
February 28 to May 15, 1863
CMR
Item 16
May 15 to August 11, 1863
CMR
Item 17
August 11 to August 31, 1863
CMR
Item 18
September-October 1863
CMR
Item 19
November-December 1863
CMR
Item 20
1863
RV
Item 21
February 5, 1864
Requisition (R)
Item 22
February 20, 1864
R
Item 23
February 25 1864
R
Item 24
February 29, 1864
R
Item 25
March 31, 1864
R
Item 26
December 31, 1863-August 31, 1864
CMR
Item 27
January 1865
Roster of the 3rd Regiment of North Carolina Infantry (RI)
Item 28
January 1865
RI
Item 29
No date
RV
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1859-1885
Accession Number 1, Addition Number 5: 1863-1870
Description
These papers are photocopies of letter, military forms, and a narrative of boyhood reminiscences written by Thomas J. Armstrong. The originals belong to Isabel Jewell of Wilmington, NC, who loaned her papers to the William Madison Randall Library of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, for study and photoduplication in December of 1978.
Two of the letters are written by Mose, Edward Hall Armstrong’s servant. He wrote to his mother about watching over Edward, who was suffering a fatal wound. Later in the month he wrote Captain Armstrong’s father, Thomas J. Armstrong, informing him he could not bring Edward’s body home, that he was having difficulty getting back himself, but would return as soon as possible, bringing Edward’s papers with him. These letters are written in different handwriting, and are both signed Moses, though he was always referred to as Mose in earlier letters. (See: Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885, Accession Number 1, and Additions,)
Mose’s letter clearly states Edward died on June 6, 1864, as does an obituary notice (Item 70 of the first group of Armstrong Family Papers) about Edward. However, military records, provided in photocopy by the National Archives, Washington, D.C., note the date as June 7, 1864 (Items 28 and 29 of Armstrong Family Papers, Addition Number 1). Louis H. Manarin’s North Carolina Troops 1861-1865, a Roster[11], lists his date of death as June 7, 1864. Walter Clark’s Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-1865[12] mentions Armstrong’s death but does not list a date. On his tombstone, in a Marlboro graveyard in Pender County, NC, the date is listed June 7, 1864, as noted in Leora H. McEachern’s Gravestone Records.[13] However, in the St. James Church, Wilmington, North Carolina Historical Records[14] the following data is found: Date of Burial—April 16, 1866. Name: Edward Hale Armstrong, Captain of Company G, 3rd North Carolina Troops, son of Thomas J & Martha Ann Armstrong—wounded Spotsylvania Court House 12 May 1864. Interment: Marlboro, New Hanover County. Age: 10 May 1841—6 June 1864.
One of the letters is from Munnie to her father, Thomas J. Armstrong, requesting that he write about his childhood. Though she signed her name as Munnie, her brother, Edward, always referred to her as Monnie in his letters.
These papers are preserved in File Folders 44 and 45 as Addition Number 5 to the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885.
The original letters are the property of Mrs. Isabel Jewell and the Armstrong Family descendants. Requests for permission to publish, copy, or transcribe these papers should be directed to Mrs. Jewell.
Each item has been assigned a number. Following is an inventory. Names in the inventory are listed as they appear to be spelled in the papers. Initials only are found in the papers for first names; where possible, the full name was supplied from Manarin’s North Carolina Troops. Names so supplied are indicated by parentheses. Items 2 and 3 appear to have the initials J.J. in the name Lieutenant J.J. Metts; however, it is highly probable that would be Lieutenant James Isaac Metts, of the 3rd NC Regiment—the only Metts listed by Manarin.
For biographical data, the researcher is referred to the preceding descriptive inventories of the Armstrong Family Private Papers.
Judith H. Davis
January 1979
Inventory
File, Item, Date, Description
File 44, Item 1
December 4, 1863
Letter, Richmond, VA, N(athaniel) S. Owens, Company G, 3rd NC Troops, to Captain Edward H. Armstrong (EHA). Requests EHA to send Owens a fuller, itemized list of expenses, including clothing expenses. On verso of original are columns of figures. 2 pages.
File 44, Item 2
March 15, 1864
Form letter, J.W. Brewey of Subsistence Bureau, Richmond, VA, to Lieutenant J.(J.) (James Isaac) Metts, A.A.C.S., 3rd NC Regiment. Envelope has words “Confederate State of America” and “Subsistence Department” on the upper right corner.
File 44, Item 3
No date
Paper, perhaps an enclosure of Item 2, lists Mett’s name and forms needed, and at bottom are initials J.W.B.
File 44, Item 4
April 23, 1864
Notification form, Small Pox Hospital, Lynchburg, VA, signed by (Captain R.) Kemper announcing that Sergeant L(ewis) A. Avery, Company G, 3rd NC Regiment, Stewart’s Brigade, was furloughed by Board of Examiners for 60 days to Catherine’s Lake, Onslow County, NC. On verso, columns of figures, entitled Killed, Wounded. 2 pages.
File 44, Item 5
June 5, 1864
Letter, 2nd Corps Hospital near Spotsylvania Court House, VA, from Mose to his mother. Writes about EHA’s wound and expected death. 2 pages.
File 44, Item 6
June 5, 1864
Typescript of Item 5
File 44, Item 7
June 29, 1864
Letter, Farmville, VA, Moses (Mose) to Thomas J. Armstrong (TJA). Tells him details of EHA’s wound, death and burial. Mose was unable to take EHA’s body home and was having difficulty getting home himself. Handwriting in this letter is quite different from the June 5, 1864 letter—Item 5.
File 44, Item 8
March 21, 1867
Letter, Bogue Swamp, NC, Munnie (Monnie) to her father, TJA, requesting that he write a sketch of his life and send it to her.
File 44a, Item 9a
November 9, 1870
Letter, Swan’s Point, NC, TJA to his son, Tommie. 2 pages.
File 44b, Item 9b
November 9, 1870
Typescript of Item 9a. 2 pages.
File 45, Item 10
No date
Narrative written by TJA of boyhood reminiscences. (Typescript of this item is in File Folder 41 of Manuscript Box 1.) 47 pages.
File 45, Item 11
No date
Two lists of items and events concerning EHA.
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1859-1885
Accession Number 1, Addition Number 6: 1867-1870
This addition consists of three original items—two letters and a narrative Thomas J. Armstrong wrote about his boyhood. Photocopies of each of these items are described in Addition Number 6, Items 8-10. In 1977 Stephen C. Pearsall, an Armstrong descendant, transcribed Thomas J. Armstrong’s boyhood reminiscences. Addition Number 3 is a photocopy of that transcription. That addition’s description fully explains the narrative’s contents. Accession Number 1 and its Additions 2 and 4 provide biographical data on Armstrong family members.
The first letter in this group, dated March 21, 1867, is from Munnie, at Bogue Swamp, NC, to Pa, in which she requests him to write a sketch of his life. The other letter, dated November 30, 1870, is from T.J. Armstrong (Pa), Swan’s Point, NC, to his son, Tommie.
The original papers were donated by Mrs. Isabelle Jewell on October 4, 1979. These are preserved in File Folder 46, as addition Number 6 to the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885.
Judith H. Davis
October 16, 1979
ARMSTRONG FAMILY PRIVATE PAPERS, 1859-1885
Accession Number 1, Addition Number 7
This is a group of letters, most of which were written by Edward Hall Armstrong during his service with the 3rd North Carolina Troops during the Civil War. An inventory listing each item follows.
These papers were donated by Mrs. Isabelle Jewell, of Wilmington, on December 21, 1984. They are preserved in File Folder 47, as Addition Number 7 of the Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885,
Sue Hiatt
June 25, 1985
Inventory
Item, Date, Description
Item 1
November 2, 1860
Letter, Edward Hall Armstrong (EHA) to his sister—Mollie—Mary Armstrong (MA), 1 page.
Item 2
December 5, 1862
Letter, (Bivouac) near Port-Royal, VA, EHA to his father, Thomas J. Armstrong (TJA), 6 pages.
Item 3
February 11, 1863
Letter, (Bivouac) near Fredericksburg, VA, EHA to his sister Bobbie—Barbara Susan Armstrong (BSA), 3 pages.
Item 4
May 16, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops near W.S. Ford, EHA to MA, 2 pages.
Item 5
May 26, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops near Orange Court House, VA, EHA to BSA, 4 pages.
Item 6
August 7, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops near Orange Court House, VA, EHA to BSA, 4 pages.
Item 7
September 8, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to MA, 4 pages.
Item 8
September 18, 1863
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops near Orange Court House, VA, EHA to MA, 2 pages.
Item 9
January 24, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to MA, 4 pages.
Item 10
March 8, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to MA, 3 pages.
Item 11
March 16, 1864
Letter, Camp of 3rd NC Troops, EHA to BSA, 2 pages.
Item 12
May 19, 1864
Letter, Swan’s Point, NC, TJA to (Money and Dollie); 4 pages.
Item 13
June 7, 1864
Letter, (Lidd) Hospital near Richmond, VA, A. Hill Patterson (AHP) to TJA, informing TJA of EHA’s health, torn at center fold, 2 pages.
Item 14
September 7, 1864
Letter, Camp at Half Way House (R & P Turnhill), AHP to TJA, asking for information concerning EHA, 1 page.
Item 15
October 1, 1864
Letter, Hallsville, NC, Thomas (?) to a cousin, 2 pages.
Item 16
December 26, 1865
Letter, Louisville, KY, AHP to TJA, 1 page.
Item 17
March 20, 1868
Progress report from Louisburg Female College for BSA, addressed to TJA, 2 pages.
Item 18
January 6, 1885
Letter, Wilmington, NC, Bell to her sister BSA, 2 pages.
Item 19
No date
Letter, EHA to sister, discusses a battle, fragment.
Addition 8, Accession 1, folder # 48
Transcription of narrative of Armstrong Family by Thomas James Armstrong, transcribed by Stephen Carroll Pearsall
[1] Date uncertain, deduced from Edward Hall Armstrong’s obituary and military service records: Armstrong Family Private Papers, 1859-1885 (Accession No. 1) and The Military Service Records of Edward Hall Armstrong, 1862-1865 (Armstrong Addition No. 1), Manuscript Collection, William Madison Randall Library, University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
[2] Broughton, Carrie L. Marriage and Death Notices in Raleigh Register and North Carolina State Gazette, 1826-1865. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. 127.
[3] McEachern, Leora Hiatt. Pender County, North Carolina, Gravestone Records. Wilmington, NC, 9 Volumes, 1971. Volume 3, 29.
[4] This biographical sketch is based on interviews with Miss Martha Pearsall by the writer, Judith H. Davis, on June 7 and July 8, 1977, except when noted otherwise.
[5] Grant, David Lindsey, Alumni History of the University of North Carolina, 2nd edition, Durham, NC: Printed by Christian and King Printing Company, 1924. 18.
[6] Private Papers of Thomas J. Armstrong, 1859-1868. Accession No. 1, Manuscript Collection, William Madison Randall Library, University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
[7] Manarin, Louis H., Compiler North Carolina Troops 1861-1865, a Roster, Volume III, Infantry. Raleigh, NC: State Department of Archives and History, 1971. 589.
[8] McEachern, Leora Hiatt, Pender County, North Carolina, Gravestone Records. Wilmington, NC, Volume 3, 29-30.
[9] For location of his grave, see McEachern, Volume 3, 29-30.
[10] For location of his grave, see McEachern, Volume 3, 29-30.
[11] Manarin, Louis H., Compiler North Carolina Troops 1861-1865, a Roster, Volume III, Infantry. Raleigh, NC: State Department of Archives and History, 1971. 554.
[12] Clark, Walter, Editor, Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-1865. Written by members of the respective commands. 5 volumes. Raleigh, NC: State of North Carolina, 1901.
[13]McEachern, Leora Hiatt, compiler. Pender County, North Carolina, Gravestone Records. Wilmington, NC, 9 Volumes, 1971. Volume 3, 30.
[14] Mathews, Lula W., Leora H. McEachern and Curry K. Walker, compliers. St James Church, Wilmington, North Carolina: Historical Records, 1737-, Volume II, 1852-1872. Wilmington, NC, 1976, 83.