Robert M. Armstrong

Son of an Irish-born master shoe last maker, in 1860 he was a 19 year old apprentice last maker living with his parents and 5 siblings in Boston, MA. He enlisted there on 25 April 1861, then a 21 year old clerk, and mustered at Fort Independence in Boston Harbor on 16 July as 6th Corporal of Company B, 13th Massachusetts Infantry.

He was wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was sent to a hospital in Harrisburg, PA, promoted to Sergeant on 1 November 1862, and was on detached duty in Harrisburg to February 1863. He was promoted to First Sergeant on 1 April 1863 and was captured in action at Gettysburg, PA on 1 July. He was sent to a prison in Richmond, VA on 21 July, paroled for exchange at City Point, VA on 6 August, and was in the parole camp at Annapolis, MD on 8 August. He returned to duty with his company on 4 October 1863. He was commissioned First Lieutenant on 16 April 1864 and transferred to Company D on 9 June. He mustered out on 1 August 1864 in Boston.

In 1870 he was making lasts in a boot factory and living with his parents and 3 siblings at Weymouth in Norfolk County, MA.

His service from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 online from fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860 & 1870. His picture, from a Company B photo album in Scott D Hann's collection, was published in the September/October 2002 issue of Military Images magazine.

c. 1841; Albany, NY