Autographs
Major General John Armstrong Signed Autograph Letter
JOHN ARMSTRONG (1758-1843). Major General in the American Revolutionary War, In 1756 he led the Kittanning Expedition, President James Madison's Secretary of War during the War of 1812, Pennsylvania Delegate to the Continental Congress, United States Senator and Diplomat.
July 1, 1813-dated War of 1812 Period, Autograph Letter Signed, “John Armstrong,” War Dept., Extremely Fine. A one page letter measuring 9.75” x 7.75” to Brigadier General Henry Burbeck, New London, Connecticut ordering that certain recruits are to be dismissed with the President’s thanks. This following the August 1814 burning of the City of Washington's public buildings by British forces, reguarded as being one of the most humiliating events in U.S. history, John Armstrong resigned amidst blame for failing to defend the capital against the invasion. The paper is bright and crisp with some toning on the reverse. The penmanship is very good and easily read.

Body of Letter transcribed in full:

“Dear Genl. --

Call in Col. Benjamins recruits & with them garrison your Forts. The militia can be ill spared at this busy season, you will therefore dismiss them with the Presidents thanks for the promptitude with which they turned out and expressions of his confidence in their zeal & courage, should farther trials be necessary. Mr. Tracy will furnish you with materials ... for putting the forts in good order.

I am Sir very respectfully Your Obedient Servant,

John Armstrong”

Docketed, “Orders from the W. department 1 July.” Ex: the Papers of General Henry Burbeck.
John Armstrong (October 13, 1717 – March 9, 1795) was an American civil engineer and soldier who served as a major general during the Revolutionary War. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress for Pennsylvania. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania is named in his honor.

In 1756 he led the Kittanning Expedition. In 1758, Colonel Armstrong led 2,700 Pennsylvania provincial troops on the Forbes expedition, the approach of which compelled the French to vacate and blow up Fort Duquesne. Armstrong became a good friend to the other militia commander in this expedition, Colonel George Washington.

In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, Armstrong was a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania militia. On March 1, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed him to that same rank in the Continental Army. He was sent south to begin preparations for the defense of Charleston, South Carolina. He contributed his engineering talents to the construction of defenses that enabled them to withstand the Battle of Sullivan's Island later that year. When General Charles Lee arrived to take command, he returned to his duties with the main army and with the Pennsylvania militia. Pennsylvania named him major general in charge of the state militia. This ended his service in the Continental Army, but not the war or his cooperation with General George Washington.

At the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, Armstrong's militia held the far left of the American line. They were also to guard the army's supplies. After a hard day's fighting the Americans were forced to withdraw or face being surrounded. Armstrong brought the supplies and his militia out from Pyle's Ford after dark.

In the Battle of Germantown on October 4, General Armstrong led the American right. His mission was to skirt the British left flank and attack there and in their rear. Despite delays and the troubles some units had in moving, the overall attack was going well, until the center was held up at the Benjamin Chew House. The attack then collapsed after a friendly fire incident in the fog in which General Adam Stephen's men fired on Anthony Wayne's troops causing their withdrawal. Armstrong, whose men had advanced nearly to the center of Germantown, but were not greatly involved in the fight later complained that it was "....a glorious victory fought for and eight tenths won, ....mysteriously lost, for to this moment no one man can ....give any good reason for the flight."

After Germantown, Armstrong was granted permission to give up active command. At aged sixty, his health was declining, and old wounds were troubling him. Returning home to Carlisle, he was elected to the Continental Congress by the Pennsylvania Assembly. As a delegate from 1777 to 1780 he was a strong supporter of Washington

Throughout his life Armstrong served in a number of local or civic offices. One of these, the Carlisle school board, led him to originally oppose Dr. Benjamin Rush's proposal to start a college in the town. He later relented, and became a member of the first Board of Trustees for Dickinson College. John died at home in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on March 9, 1795, and is buried in the Old Carlisle Cemetery. In 1800, when Pennsylvania created a new county at Kittanning, it was named Armstrong County in his honor.

(From Wikipedia)