Military: CWR: Armbrust, John David Michael of interest in Somerset and 
Westmoreland Counties, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Keith Petenbrink and 
Meyersdale Public Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Keith Petenbrink.

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
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Armbrust, John David Michael

* Born Feb, 13, 1820 in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co. Pa. 
* Died May 10, 1910 
* Buried in Union Cemetery, Meyersdale, Somerset Co. Pa. 
* Sergeant Co. B 133rd Regiment Pa. Infantry 
* Enlisted Aug 1, 1862 at age 42 in Johnstown, Pa
* Mustered in Aug. 14, 1862 in Harrisburg, Pa 
* Promoted to Sergeant Aug. 21, 1862 
* Mustered out May 23, 1863 with company 
* Served Aug. 1, 1862 - May 23, 1863 
* Sergeant Co. F 198th Regiment Pa. Infantry 
* Mustered in Sept. 3, 1864 
* Promoted to Sergeant Sept. 13, 1864 
* Mustered out June 4, 1865 with company 
* Served Sept. 3, 1864 - June 4, 1865 - 9 month 1 day 
* Disability - Heart and Lung trouble 
* In 1838 he enlisted in the Greensburg Blues Infantry, which was disbanded 
after one year. Next he enlisted in "Farmer's Infantry" near Greensburg, Pa. He 
then joined Adamsburg Artillery. Next joined Apollo Blues Infantry. He held 
almost all ranks in these companies until in 1854 Brigadier General Anderson, of 
Freeport, Allegheny Co. appointed him brigade quartermaster, with the rank of 
major, in command over Allegheny, Indiana, Jefferson and Armstrong counties, Pa. 
In this capacity he served from 1854 to1859. On Aug. 1, 1862 he enlisted in 
Captain Charles Rutland's Co. of infantry, under the command of General 
Allabaugh. Enlisted as a Private, but was soon raised to Corporal, and later to 
Sergeant by Colonel Speakman in Co. B 133rd Regiment Pa. Infantry Went from 
Washington to Antietam on a forced march with 8 days rations. On this march his 
strength gave out under all the accoutrements each soldier was required to 
carry. Fell out and was not able to rejoin regiment until 9 that evening. His 
son came back and helped him with his load. At Antietam he was sent to field 
hospital. After the battle of Antietam, General Allabaugh appointed him as his 
body guard, Sergeant, with the rank of Sergeant Major. When in camp he had 
charge of the General's team, and when camp was broken of General Tyler's teams 
in addition.  At Warrington he ordered his men to help take down a rail fence 
and carry the wood to headquarters, as the general said he wished headquarters 
to be supplied before any other place. After this was done the general inquired 
where the wood had come from and ordered that it should be replaced, as the 
fence belonged to people who were in sympathy with the north. The men refused to 
carry back the wood and Sergeant Armbrust coincided with them. The general then 
relieved him of his command, and he went back to his Co. at Fredericksburg. It 
was at this place that Adjutant James Noon was shot down at Armbrust's side. He 
volunteered to take a squad of men and get Adjutant Noon's body from the 
battlefield. He was given permission to do so and succeeded in accomplishing his 
purpose. After this battle his term of service had expired, but he, with the 
rest of the Co. voted to remain in active service until after the battle of 
Chancellorsville, which took place a month later. After being discharged, Mr. 
Armbrust communicated to E. M. Stanton, secretary of war, that if more men were 
needed he would raise a Co. He opened a recruiting office and paid all the 
expenses for the recruits and the office for a period of two months. There was 
dissention in the Co. about electing officers, and finally he received orders 
from Secretary Stanton to disband the company. He was never reimbursed for his 
expenses in connection with raising this company. He next enlisted in a Co. 
which was then forming under the command of Captain Paul Stackhouse. He was 
rejected because of some artificial teeth. He was determined to enlist, however, 
and went to a recruiting office in Philadelphia, where he was examined and 
accepted. He was put in the Stackhouse Co. at his request and was one of the 
first to be supplied with a uniform. The company was attached to the 198th 
Regiment, commanded by General Sickles. After the battle of Hatcher's Run, he 
was appointed ambulance Sergeant, First Regiment, Second Division. He had charge 
of four ambulances, nine horses, four stretchers and twenty men. He held this 
position until after the review at Washington. He was present at Appomattox 
Court House when Lee surrendered. There his horse was stolen and he was never 
reimbursed for it. He was mustered out at Camp Cadwalder, Philadelphia. 
* Invalid Pension: Applied Apr. 13, 1880, Application #355994, Certificate 
#555351; Widow Pension: Applied Oct. 11, 1911, Application #973219, Certificate 
#742642

SOURCE:
* Somerset Co. Pa. Genealogy Web 
* Somerset Past Vol. 10 No. 2 
* Census 1890 Veterans, Meyersdale, Somerset Co. Pa.  
* History of Bedford & Somerset Counties Volume III 
* Veterans Grave Registration 
* M. C. Lowry Post, G. A. R. Application, not dated [Lists discharge from Co. 
133rd as May 26, 1863 as Sergeant by reason of expiration of term of service, 
reenlisted Sept. 3, 1864 as Private in Co. F 198th, discharged as Sergeant in 
camp near Washington, D. C., Occupation - Artist] 
* Muster Roster Co. B 
* Muster Roster Co. F 
* Footnote.com
* Military Affairs Register, Pa. Volunteers, Roll 295757
* Military Affairs Register Pa. Volunteers, Roll 295753
* Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards 1777 - 1999 [Lists year of birth as 1821 
and year of death as 1911]