Private WILLIAM G. (or C.) ARMSTRONG, Co. A, 86th Illinois

William G. Armstrong was born in Dresden, Muskingum County, Ohio on __________ __, 18__ (c. 1843), the son of John Armstrong and Mary E. (Coy) Armstrong. John Armstrong is believed to have been born about 1816 in Ohio, while Mary is believed to have been born about 1819 in New York. John Amstrong and Mary E. Coy were married on December 1, 1836 in Muskingum, Ohio.
All of their children through, at least, William C. (or G) Armstrong are believed to have been born in or near the village of Dresden, which is found in Jefferson and Cass townships in Muskingum County, Ohio. Sometime between 1843/44 and the 1850 census, the Armstrong family moved to Coshocton County, Ohio. This is the Armstrong family as it appears in the 1850 census of Franklin Township, Coshocton County, Ohio;
John Armstrong M 34 Ohio
Mary E Armstrong F 31 New York
James G Armstrong M 13 Ohio
George E Armstrong M 11 Ohio
Rachel Armstrong F 9 Ohio
William C Armstrong M 7 Ohio
Harriet Armstrong F 5 Ohio
Elisabeth Armstrong F 3 Ohio
John F Armstrong M 2 Ohio
Henry Armstrong M 1 Ohio

(Note: George E. Armstrong and Barbara J. Rodebush were married on on May 3, 1860 in Coshocton County. Barbara was very likely pregnant at the time they got married as they are believed to have had a daughter named Rachel Armstrong by the time the 1860 census was taken.)

At the time of the 1860 census, this is the way the family appears in Franklin Township;
John Armstrong 44 Ohio
Mary Armstrong 41 Ohio
James G Armstrong 22 Ohio
William C. Armstrong 18 Ohio
Henry Armstrong 11 Ohio
Mariah Armstrong 8 Ohio
Eliza Armstrong 6 Ohio
Jane Armstrong 5 Ohio
Reuben Armstrong 2 Ohio
George Armstrong 21 Ohio
Barbary Armstrong 20 Ohio
Rachel Armstrong 0 Ohio

It is believed that the Armstrong family moved to Illinois in 1860 or 1861, where they are believed to have settled in Woodford County. By 1862, George and at least two of his brothers are definately residents in Olio Township of Woodford County. In 1862, the three Armstrong brothers volunteered to serve in what was to become Co. A of the 86th Illinois. None of the brothers would survive the war.
If the Armstong family did come as a unit to Woodford County, they did not remain long as at the time of the 1870 census, the Armstrong family is found in Clay Township, Sullivan County, Missouri.
John Armstrong M 54y Ohio
Mary Armstrong F 52y Pennsylvania
Henry Armstrong M 20y Ohio
Mariah Armstrong F 17y Ohio
Eliza Armstrong F 16y Ohio
Jane Armstrong F 15y Ohio
Emily Armstrong F 13y Ohio
Reuben Armstrong M 12y

(Note: Reuben may be the Ruben Armstrong who is found in the 1880 census in Jackson, Putnam County, Missouri. His parents are both listed as having been born in Ohio;
Self Ruben Armstrong M 21 Ohio
Wife Martha A. Armstrong F 24 Illinois)

Carol Dorward, told me that "at some time, they apparently moved to Iowa as I think I found John and Mary in Iowa in 1880. I did find two family records and they have both John and Mary deceased about 1885 in Iowa."

Now to continue with the biography of William G. (or C.) Armstrong;
It was from there in Woodford County that George E. Armstrong on August 7, 1862 volunteered for service in a company which was being raised in the Eureka/El Paso area of Woodford County by William S. Magarity for service in the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, George stated that he was 23 years of age and single. The following day, George's two brothers, James C. and William G. also volunteered.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM G
Rank PVT Company A Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence OLIO, WOODFORD CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 10 Hair DARK
Eyes GRAY Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity DRESDEN, MUSKINGUM CO, OH

Service Record
Joined When AUG 8, 1862 Joined Where OLIO, IL
Joined By Whom CPT MAGARITY Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DIED IN HOSPITAL AT NASHVILLE TENN NOV 30, 1862

When Magarity had about 100 volunteers, he took his company across the river to Peoria, Illinois, where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. There on August 27, 1862, 96 of Magarity's volunteers, including all three of the Armstrong brothers, were mustered into service as Co. A of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The men of the 86th Illinois participated in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky after which they moved south to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving there on Nov. 7, 1862, where the 86th would begin a long period of garrison duty.
However, within days of their arrival in Nashville, all three of the Armstrong boys were ill and sent to the hospital. James died in a Nashville Hospital on Nov. 18, 1862, William died in a Nashville Hospital on Nov. 30, 1862, and Pvt. George E. Armstrong died in a Nashville Hospital on Dec. 27, 1862.
Today the earthly remains of the three Armstrong brothers lie buried in the Nashville National Cemetery, James in grave #5873, Section B; William is most likely buried in a grave marked as UNKNOWN U. S. SOLDIER possibly in Section B; and George in grave #5852 in Section B.

by Baxter B. Fite III and Carol Dorward, of Washington, Illinois

(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Armstrong family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on William Armstrong and the Armstrong family. Baxter would also love to see copies of any photographs of William or his two brothers, who were also members of the 86th Illinois, which may have survived the years added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)