Pickett’s Charge Cost Lewis Armistead His Life. Brother Frank Searched For His Fate in 1864.

The vision of Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead in the vanguard of Pickett's Charge, hat on the edge of his raised sword, is etched into the American memory. His mortal wounding and death in enemy hands on July 5 sealed his fate and set his legacy. These facts are widely known to today's students of the Civil War. But confirming his fate proved a challenge for Armistead's younger brother Frank, a fellow West Pointer who resigned to join the Southern cause.
Thanks to Jim Jacobsen for alerting me to a letter of inquiry written by Frank.
"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.
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Image: The Virginia Historical Society.
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