Adjutant’s Call - December 2021
Circular Memorandum #531 - December 2021
“Trust in God and Fear Nothing: Lewis A. Armistead, CSA” Presented by Wayne E. Motts
Meet Our Speaker – Wayne E. Motts
Wayne E. Motts was born and raised in central Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in military history in 1989. Moving to Gettysburg in 1990, Wayne earned a Masters Degree in American History from the Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 1994.
Wayne was one of the youngest persons ever to complete the licensing process to be a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. He has guided parties around the famous field for 33 years. He has spoken to a wide range of historical bodies and groups on topics related to the American Civil War including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
In addition to his speaking engagements, Wayne has published several pieces related to the American Civil War in a variety of publications. He is considered the leading authority in the nation on Southern General Lewis Addison Armistead of Pickett's Charge fame and has published the only biography of the general entitled, Trust in God and Fear Nothing: Lewis A. Armistead, CSA. For ten years he was the research historian for renowned Civil War Artist Dale Gallon of Gettysburg where he assisted in the historical research of 40 works of fine art.
Wayne was the Senior Research Historian for TravelBrains Corporation and in this capacity researched material to be included in a number of audio-visual products related to the American Civil War. The products produced by his research have been endorsed by the H istory Channel and have won numerous awards.
In 2002, Wayne accepted the position of curator at the Cumberland County Historical Society where he managed a collection of 8,000 artifacts. In 2004, he assumed duties as the collections manager of the Adams County Historical Society in Gettysburg. In 2005, Wayne was named executive director of the Society. He led this organization from January 2005 until April 2012 and assisted the Society and Lutheran Theological Seminary in the rehabilitation of Schmucker Hall, one of the country's most significant Civil War structures.
In April 2012, Wayne accepted the position of chief executive officer of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in which he served until August 2021 when he accepted the position of President & CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation.
“Trust in God and Fear Nothing: Lewis A. Armistead, CSA”
Born in North Carolina and reared in Virginia, Lewis Addison Armistead spend 22 years in the United States Regular Army before the American Civil War. He served at some 20 military post from California to Florida, including a stint in Louisville after the Mexican War. In 1861, at the outbreak of the war, he resigned his commission and joined the Confederacy. On July 3, 1863, Armistead was mortally wounded at the head of his command at Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. Join historian, author, guide, and the President and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation as he explores the life and death of this career soldier.
What is the Gettysburg Foundation?
Our speaker this month, Wayne Motts, was named the President and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation and assumed his duties on May 24, 2021. You may be wondering exactly what is the Gettysburg Foundation? It is a non-profit partner of the National Park Service at Gettysburg. It owns and operates the LEED Goldcertified Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in partnership with Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site. The Foundation has a robust preservation and educational mission that includes land and artifact preservation, educational events, and programs. It also owns and operates the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, the Children of Gettysburg 1863, and the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station.
Wayne said about his appointment, “I am honored to be president and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation and I look forward to continuing work with the Foundation’s board, staff, volunteers, and key partners while advancing the Foundation’s mission. As a small boy dreaming of one day living and working in Gettysburg, my life now comes full circle with this wonderful opportunity.”
Wayne’s timely arrival to the Foundation allowed him to be involved in completing the rehabilitation efforts at Culp’s Hill. Through a partnership of the Gettysburg Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation, and generous donations from Cliff Bream and Julie St. John, the visitor experience at Culp’s Hill has been enhanced by thinning 18 acres of woodlot, additional signage, and a new trail to explore this important area of the battlefield. – source The Civil War News September 2021.
Lewis Addison Armistead
Lewis Addison Armistead was born February 18, 1817 in Newbern, North Carolina the son of an army general. He entered West Point in 1834 but only attended two years being expelled after a fight with Jubal Early. He joined the army with the rank of lieutenant in the Sixth United States Infantry. He fought in the Seminole War and the Mexican War where he received brevet promotion to major for heroism at Chapultepec. He then spent the next 14 years on frontier duty and during this time one of his closest friends was future Union General Winfield Scott Hancock from Pennsylvania. Armistead was married twice, first to Cecilia Love and secondly to Cornelia Jamison. He had two children, one girl and one boy.
When the Civil War came, Armistead resigned his commission and left Texas for Virginia where he offered his services to the Confederacy. He was older than most of his fellow officers and had strict adherence to the old army ways. He first served as Colonel of the fifty-seventh Virginia and then on April 1, 1862 he was promoted to brigadier general. His brigade consisted of the Ninth, Fourteenth, Thirty-eight, Fifty-third, and Fifty-seventh Virginia and became one of the most battle-hardened and celebrated brigades in the Army of Northern Virginia. Armistead’s stern leadership was one of the reasons for its success. A superior noted, “he regarded obedience to duty as the first qualification of a soldier. For straggling or neglect of duty on the part of his men, he held the officer in immediate command strictly responsible. The private must answer to the officer but the officer to him.”
From Seven Pines through Second Manassas, a colleague observed, Armistead increased his reputation “displaying everywhere conspicuous gallantry, and winning by his coolness under fire, by his stern perseverance and his indomitable pluck, the applause of his superiors and the entire confidence of his men.”
After serving as Provost Marshal during the Sharpsburg campaign, his brigade became part of George Pickett’s division. His brigade saw little action in the Fredericksburg campaign and was with General Longstreet during the Chancellorsville campaign. It was in the Gettysburg campaign that he would gain immortality. On July 3, 1863, his brigade was part of the climatic Pickett-Pettigrew attack on Cemetery Hill and the Union center. After receiving his order to advance he turned to his drawn-up columns and shouted: “Men! Remember what you are fighting for your homes, your friends, and your sweethearts! Follow me!” With his hat on the point of his sword, Armistead led his men forward. Barely 150 of them made it to the Federal lines. Armistead jumped over the stone wall and fell mortally wounded among the Federal cannon. He would die on July 5th in a Union hospital, after requesting that his watch and other valuables be given to his old friend, General Winfield Scott Hancock whose troop ironically, and unknown to Armistead, were the ones who had repulsed his Virginians.
A monument has been erected commending the spot where Lewis Armistead made his gallant penetration. Armistead is buried next to his uncle, Lieutenant Colonel George Armistead, at the Old Saint Paul’s Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. Lee wrote of Armistead and the three other brigadiers slain at Gettysburg that they “died as the had lived, discharging the highest duty of patriots with devotion that never faltered and courage that shrank from no danger.”
Taken from James I. Robertson, The Encyclopedia of the Confederacy