National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-08-19
A UNION AND A REBEL OFFICER,


Fights with Federal Troops and Then
in the Confcderacy.
Correspondence New York Tribune.1
Some weeks ago Secretary Lamar APP
pointed +. G. Armstrong as an Indian in
spector at salary of $1,000 year, plus his
actual travelling expenses while on duty.
Inspector Armstrong was formerly an officer
In the % United States Dragons, and later
a brigadier general in the rebel army. The
circumstances Of his retirement from the
Union service were somewhat peculiar, and
In view OF his recent appointment to re-
sponsiblc and lucrative Office by the present
administration they deserve notice. When
Fort Sumter was fired upon by the rebels
in 1861 Inspector Armstrong, then a first
lieutenant, was q member Of the staff
of Gen. Harvey, then In com
mand Of the western department, Lieut..
Armstrong continued on staff duly until
May, 1861. On June 8, 1861, he was
promoted to the rank Of captain and as.
signed TO duty with company X, 81
dragons, which he commanded IN the bat
tie of Bull Run on July 81, 1861. lie re.
turned with his company TO Arlington, Va,
and on July % obtained from his command
ing officer permission TO visit relatives in
Washington. lie never returned to his
command, and the records Of the War De
accepted on Aug. 10, 1861. IL was the be-
lief Of officers OF the command to which
Capt Armstrong belonged that when he
came to Washington he placed his resigna-
ton in the hands of his brother-in-law
and Immediately made his way within
the rebel lines, and that his resignation
was not presented at the War Department
until his relatives knew that he was safely
| beyond the Union lines. lie went to the
southwest and served for some time rs q
| volunteer staff officer. On Jan. /, 1862,
| Gen. Van Dorm recommended that Mr..
| Armstrong be promoted to the rank OF
| lieutenant colonel on account Of his valu-
able and distinguished service to the con-
federatc cause, and because OF his expert
ence gained while in the sold army.n
| Therefore, Mr.. Armstrong, only five months
after his disappearance from his command
in the Union army, had already rendered
services to the confederate cause which IN
the opinion Of the rebel general In com
mand Of tho trans Mississippi department
entitled him to promotion to the rank Of
lieutenant colonel.
The battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri,
In which the gallant Gen. Lyon fell, was
fought on Aug. 10, 1861 three days before
Capt. Armstrong; resignation from the
Union army was accepted. In that battle
| the rebel forces were commanded by Gen.
McCulloch, who, in his official report, dated
Aug. 12, 1861, acknowledged his indebted
ness to the members Of his personal staff
"for the GOODNESS and rapidity with which
they carried orders about the field" and
referred by name to his "yoluntcer aids %
Armstrong, Pike, and Maj King"
Whether this Armstrong and Secretary
Lamar's Indian inspector are identical is q
question involved in some doubt, but 1t is
strongly suspected by some persons in
Washington that such is the case. II so,
Mr. Armstrong was actually an officer of
the Union army on the day when he won
distinction on the battle field as volunteer
aid to n rebel general. At any rate his is
believed to be the only case where an officer
who actually fought on the Union side at
the beginning Of the rebellion afterward
| took up arms npainst his country.