The Biographical Dictionary of America/Armistead, Walker Keith

ARMISTEAD, Walker Keith, soldier, was born in Virginia about 1785, brother of George Armistead. He was graduated from West Point in 1803, his class being the second to be graduated at the academy, and was promoted 2d lieutenant of engineers. In 1805 he was promoted 1st lieutenant and in 1806, captain. From 1808 to 1811, he served as superintending engineer of the Norfolk (Va.) defences, being advanced to a major's commission on July 23, 1810. The following year he was at the military academy, remaining there until the outbreak of the war of 1812, when he was assigned to duty on the Niagara frontier as chief engineer of the army. On July 31, 1812, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, was engaged at Fort Niagara during its bombardment in November, 1812, and in 1813 as engineer of the forces for the defence of the mouth of the Chesapeake bay, including Norfolk and Craney Island. From 1814 to 1818 he served as superintending engineer of the defences of Chesapeake bay and its tributary waters, being promoted colonel and chief engineer of the U.S. army on Nov. 12, 1818. For three years following he was in command of a corps of engineers, in charge of the engineer bureau at Washington, and inspector of the military academy. On June 1, 1821, the army being reorganized, he was promoted colonel, and from 1821 to 1827 was stationed at the headquarters of the 3d artillery, established at Fort Washington, Md., Boston, Mass., New London, Conn., Upperville, Va., and Fort Monroe, Va., and served in the Florida war against the Seminole Indians from 1836 to 1838. For two years he was on court-martial duty, and from May, 1840, to May, 1841, was in command of the Florida army serving against the Seminoles. For two years following this he was on the board to select a site for a western armory, and in 1843 and 1844 commanded his regiment at Fort Moultrie, S. C. In the latter part of 1844, he went to Upperville, Va., on sick leave, and died there Oct. 13, 1845.