Thomas Armstrong

Thomas was born in 1841 in New York, but by the 1850 census his family, including Thomas and his two brothers, James and William, had moved to Livonia Center, Michigan. Thomas grew up working on the family farm. At the time Livonia was very small, and was not incorporated as a city for many years.

The nearest city was Plymouth, just a few mile to the west. It is likely that Thomas' family went to Plymouth to go to market and possibly to church.

On Sunday, August 9, 1862, immediately after church, a recruiting rally was held on Plymouth common. Within the space of only two hours Captain Crosby, a prominent merchant, had managed to enlist an entire company of about 100 men. By the summer of 1862 this sort of enthusiasm for the the war was uncommon. The Colonel of the Regiment, Henry Morrow referred to the Plymouth boys, company C, as his 2 hour men.

Thomas Armstrong signed the roll for Company C on that Sunday afternoon. The recruiting officer was Charles Hoyt. He had a few days with his family before he was mustered into service on August 15, 1862. He was 21. years old.

As in most Regiments, men in the 24th Michigan experienced extremely high rates of disease during their first few months of service. This was in part due to childhood illnesses like measles to which rural rural soldiers may not have been previously exposed. It was also due in part to the unsanitary conditions in the Regiment's first few camps, mostly due to in experience.

Thomas was discharged for disability at Frederick, Maryland, November 13, 1862. The cause is not specified, but was probably due to a sever or chronic illness which prevented him from actively campaigning with the Regiment.

Not much is known about Thomas' life after the war, although the fact that he joined the GAR is evidenced by the medal he is wearing in this post-war photograph.

After the war, Thomas moved his family to Washington State.

Thomas Armstrong died on August 17, 1891. He was buried in Sequim City Cemtery, presumably with a GAR ceremony.

Descendant: Mark W. Stevens mail@glorene.com

Family genealogy site: http:/familytreemaker.com/users/s/t/e/Mark-W-Stevens/index.html