He was born in 1837/38, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jackson Armstrong and Mary [unknown surname]. [sources: date: 4 (23 in 1861), 8 (19 in 1860), 10 (12 in 1850), 11 (23 in 1861). place: 4, 6, 8, 10. parents: 9]
In 1850, he was living in ward 6, Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Jackson and Mary Armstrong, and with various others (presumably his siblings). He had attended school within the year. [source: 10]
In 1860, he was living in ward 17, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Jackson and Mary Armstrong, and with George, Mary, Lucy, Thomas, and Clara (presumably his siblings). He was a bookkeeper. [source: 8]
He was a clerk when he enlisted. He had been a clerk for more than seven years. He had earned about $8.50 per week for the last three or four years, and gave all of it to his mother. [source: 4, 11]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. [source: 4]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 10 October 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Zinn. He was mustered in as a private in company H. [sources: 1, 4, 16]
On 5 June 1862, he wrote a letter to his family. He and sixteen other men were on picket duty on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, about seven miles from Alexandria, Virginia, guarding a bridge. During the day, they slept, shot game, and picked strawberries; at night they were on duty. [source: 14]
On 24 April 1863, he wrote to his family, from Camp near Falmouth Virginia. He talked about the regiment's projected movement (to Chancellorsville, though he did not know the destination), and said that William (apparently William Fraley, since the money was addressed to Jane Fraley, William's mother) had sent his money to them, with Sergeant Spangler. He had received the Harpers' Weekly they sent, and sent his love to them. [source: 12]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was then a corporal. The company H register of non-commissioned officers does not mention him. [source: 5]
On 22 December 1863, he wrote a letter to his family, telling them that he was reenlisting as a veteran volunteer, adding in a postscript:
Do not worry yourselves sick because I have reenlisted. I done [sic] it for the best.
He and William [Fraley] were both in good health. He sent $10, sent his love to Martha and to all the family, and mentioned other people. [source: 23]
On 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia, he reenlisted and was mustered in as a veteran volunteer. [source: 1, 11]
He died of disease--phthisis pulmonalis--on 11 May 1864 at Chester Barracks, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a corporal, in company H. He left no widow or child. He was buried from his parents' resident, Frankford Road at Otter Street. He was buried on 16 May 1864, at American Mechanics' Cemetery. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 16]
On 6 October 1864, his mother, Mary Armstrong, successfully applied for a pension, under the act of 14 July 1862. She was living at 1134 Frankford Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her husband, Jackson Armstrong, was disabled by old age. Among others, William H Fraley (H) testified on her behalf that Robert Armstrong sent money to her. Her application was accepted on 6 October 1865. She received $8 per month, retroactive to 11 May 1864. [sources: 7, 11, 15]
On 25 February 1880, his mother, Mary Armstrong, died. She was living at 1436 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 2 April, her daughter Mary applied for the money she hadn't received, to pay funeral expenses. [source: 11]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Robert J Armstrong)
2 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 9 June 1864 (Pri Armstrong)
3 company H, register of deaths (Robert Armstrong)
4 company H, descriptive roll, #38 (Robert J Armstrong)
5 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Robt J Armstrong)
6 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 11 May 1864 (Robert Armstrong)
7 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (Robert J Armstrong)
8 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 17, eastern part, microfilm series M653, film 1167, page 627 = 124 handwritten (Robert J Armstrong)
9 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 16 May 1864 page 4 (Robert J Armstrong)
10 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Kensington, ward 6, microfilm series M432, film 807, page 458 recto = 917 handwritten, lines 10-17 (Jackson Armstrong)
11 dependents' pension certificate files, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, certificate WC 57,300 (Mary Armstrong mother of Robert J Armstrong)
12 letter, Robt J Armstrong to family, 24 April 1863
13 letter, Robt J Armstrong to family, 22 December 1863
14 letter, Robt J Armstrong to family, 5 June 1862
15 pension index, by name (Robert J Armstrong)
16 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Robert Armstrong)
line | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
Dwellings visited | 799 |   | ||||||
Families visited | 940 |   | ||||||
Name | Jackson Armstrong | Mary " | Mary Ann | George F " | Margaret " | Robt J " | Thos J " | Clara G " |
Age | 48 | 42 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 1 |
Sex | M | F | F | M | F | M | M | F |
Color |   | |||||||
Occupation of males over 15 years | Railroad | Carpenter | ||||||
Real estate owned |   | |||||||
Birthplace | Ireland | " | Penna | " | " | " | " | " |
Married within year |   | |||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
Over 20 & can't read/write |   | |||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |   |
line | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
Dwelling number | 864 | |||||||
Family number | 943 | |||||||
Name | Jackson Armstrong | Mary " | George F " | Mary E " | Lucy " | Robert J " | Thomas J " | Clara C J " |
Age | 60 | 60 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 10 |
Sex | " [sc. M] | F | M | F | " | M | " | F |
Color | ||||||||
Occupation | Dealer | Carpenter | Seamstress | Vest maker | Book keeper | " | ||
Value of real estate owned | ||||||||
Value of personal estate | 300 | |||||||
Place of birth | Ireland | " | Pennsylvania | " | " | " | " | " |
Married within year | ||||||||
Attended school within year | 1 | |||||||
Cannot read & write | ||||||||
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
I hereby certify that Robert Armstrong Corpl of Co. H 91st Regt Pa Vols. died at this Hospital on May 11th 1864 of Phthisis Pulmonalis.
Geo Rex U.S. VolsARMSTRONG.--Suddenly, at Chester, on the 11th instant, ROBERT J ARMSTRONG, son of Jackson [?] and Mary Armstrong, of Company H, Colonel Gregory's Ninety-first Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, from the residence of his parents, No [3rd digit illegible--seems to be '11-4'] Frankford road, this (Monday) afternoon [illegible] at 4 o'clock.
It is with pleasure I set down to let you know I received your kind + welcome letter of the 20th on yesterday and I was glad to hear you were all in the enjoyment of your usual health. I have not wrote [sic] to you for some time, but I hope you will excuse me. I wrote a letter dated the 21st. we were then at Banks Ford about 8 miles from here. We were there 10 days. We came back here on Wednesday. There is a move in progress in this Army. And we expect to move every day [page 28] but the weather has been wet for 3 days, which has put us back. We have got to carry 8 days rations + 100 rounds of cartridge and very little clothing. our destination is unknown to us. But wherever we go may the Lord go with us and guide + direct us in all our ways. William sent my money home with Sergeant Spangler of our regiment. It was directed to the care of Mrs Jane Fraley but by the time this reaches you, you will no doubt have received it. William + I are in good health. I am not in want of anything. I also received the Harpers Weekly you sent. I have nothing of any interest to write. I send my love to you all and my respects to Mr Heigler [??] and all inquiring friends and hope to hear from you soon. I still remain your affectionate son + Brother
Robt J ArmstrongIt is with great pleasure I set down to let you know I just received my box with its various contents for which accept my heartfelt thanks. The weather is very dull and looks very much like snow. I am in good health and William also. The 91st Reg. P.V. have 3/4 of the Reg. to reenlist, and they expect to be home this year. I have reenlisted but William has not as yet. My love to all and respects to all inquiring friends. And hoping to see you all soon I remain as ever your Affectionate Son + Brother
P.S. We got paid today and enclosed you will find $10.00, and I will send more again. Do not worry yourselves sick because I have reenlisted. I done [sic] it for the best. Give my love to Martha [several words are crossed out] and my love to all the family I received Theodore + Louisa [?] Letters last night and was glad to hear from them One thousand kisses to Frank. And I hope he is well by this time
No MoreI now take up my pen to let you know that I am quite well and hope these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blessing. There is [sic] 17 men of our Company and I am included in the number on Picket duty on the Railroad, about 7 miles from Alexandria. We are guarding a Bridge and doing Picket duty. There is not much danger in it but still we have to look pretty sharp. In day time we have nothing to do but eat + sleep and shoot game and pick strawberries. There is plenty of them. And in the night we have to do duty. I was sorry to hear of Jesse Stough being sick and I have no doubt it goes pretty hard with him. Tell Harry that I get his papers, but not very often. I think I do not get them all. I am very much obliged to him for them. There has been some very hard fighting going on at Richmond, and by this time it is thought that the city is ours. The weather down here has been very wet for this last week. I got your very kind letter in good season, and I am glad to hear you are all well. And I hope you will continue to enjoy good health. By the time this reaches you, you will no doubt have received $20.00 by the Adams Express Company. I would have sent you word before this, but being so far away from the city I had no chance. As soon as you get this letter, let me know if you got the money, which I should think will be a welcome visitor to you. I send my love to you all, and my respects to all inquiring friends. Remember me to Mr Stoughs [sic] family and to Harry. I have no more to send you at present [page 32] but hoping to hear from you soon. I still remain your affectionate Son + Brother. And may God Bless you all.
P.S. I expect my little sister Clara has got to be a young woman and does she put on any of your dresses now, and play Teacher, or the visitor
Rob.