Grubb Family Tree

FROM NOTES ON FAMILY HISTORY -- TRADITION AND FACT, AS REMEBERED BY ADELE M. MAYNARD. -- 1934

My great-grandfather, Gen. Walker Keith Armistead, was one of the firstfour graduates from West Point; an oil portrait of him hangs in the West Point Military Academy - I believe in the LIbrary. He fought inthe Seminole War, in Florida, and at the outbreak of the war with Mexicowas appointed Gen. in Chief of the U. S. army in Mexico, but died of a heart attack the day he received the dispatches. Gen. Zachary Taylorwas, I believe, appointed in his place. His son, Lewis Armistead (a young Lieutenant at that time) distinguished himself at the taking of afortress at Chapultepec. Afterwards when in command of a small fort onthe Indian frontier, a large and of hostile Indians rode up to the Chief, took hold of his horse's forelock and turned him around, motioning forthe Indians to leave; they wer apparently so surprised that they didso. This was told my mother by a man (I think County Clerk) here in San Jose who was a soldier in the for at the time; - Louis Spitzer.
During the Civil War as Gen. Lewis Armistead, he led Pickett's Division at Gettysburg -- leading his men up a hill to take the Union batteries; he carried his hat on the point of his sword in order thathis men might distinguish him and follow him. He was badly wounded and carried by Union soldiers into the tent of Gen. Hancock (a close friend) where he died. Years before the Civil War, his young wife had died, leaving an infant son. My mother's father Maj. W. I. Newton was stationed at Fort Washita, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), with him was the wife and infant daughter (my mother) Elizabeth Stanley; young Capt. Armistead brought his infant son to his sister -- the brother, Armistead Newton, was talented and Brilliant, but dissipated and worthless; he disappeared many years (about 50) ago; we have neverheard what became of him, but he must be dead. The sister, Cornelia Love Newton, eloped with a wild young man, a Lieut. in the U. S. army, a gambler and a drunkard; she died, leaving two sons, Newton and James Gore; Newton is in a Sanitarium in souther California, the probablyvictim of his own and his father's sins; James is in San Francisco (1289 2nd Avenue) he gas two sons and a daughter.

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From a red notepad, written by Elizabeth Grubb -

Inscription on monument in National Cemetary at Gettysburg - scene ofPickett's charge:

Brigadier General
Lewis A. Armistead C.S.A.
Fell here
July 3, 1863
(died in Union hospital)

Reut? watch etc. to his wife by Gen. Hancock who had been his friend atWest Point. Guide says he really led Pickett's charge. At the end,

Marker on Spangler's wood - Semitary Ridge C. S. A.

Army of Northern _______?
Longstreet's corps
Pickett's division
Armistead's brigade
9th, 14th, 38th, 53rd, 57th Virginia Infantry

July 2
Arrived about sunset and bivouacked on thewestern border of Spangler's woods.
July 3
In the forenoon formed live behindKemper and Garnett East of the Woods. When the cannonade ceased advancedto support Kemper's and Garnett's brigades forming the right ofLongstreet's column. Its route being less at first than those of theother brigades it passed the Emmitsburg road in compact ranks as thefront line was going to pieces near the stone wall pushed forward, andmany from other commands responding to the call and following Lieut. L.A. Armistead sprang over the wall and continued the desperate struggleuntil he fell mortally wounded beyond the stone wall.
July 4
Spent the day in reorganization, and during the night began the march toHagersford.

Present 1650
Killed 88
Wounded 460
Missing 643
Total 1191

Source: Battles and Leaders of the Confederate Army
by Prof. Paxton