Details
[CIVIL WAR]. ARMISTEAD, Lewis A. (1817- 1863), Confederate general. Clipped autograph signature ("L. A. Armistead Bvt. Maj. 6th Infy. A.A.G.M."), n.d. Oblong, 2¼ x 3¾, matted and framed. Clipped with the salutation in another hand. A CONFEDERATE HERO AT GETTYSBURG. A West Point classmate of Jubal Early, and a veteran of the Mexican War, Armistead resigned his U.S. Army commission in May 1861 and became a Colonel in the 57th Virginia. In April 1862 he rose to Brigadier General and took command of a brigade in George Pickett's division. It was this division which launched the now famous charge at the Union center on the third day of Gettysburg ("Pickett's charge"). After traversing a field of withering artillery and small arms fire Armistead led his men to the crest of the stone wall atop Cemetary Ridge. He advanced in the face of Union cannons blasting away at point blank range, and was mortally wounded. This astounding charge--now regarded as the high water mark of the Confederacy--saw his brigade suffer an appalling 73 percent casualty rate.