Richard L. Armstrong, a 1972 graduate of Bath County High School, has worn many hats as a student, soldier, lawman, and writer.
Armstrong, the uncle of Michael Armstrong of Covington, attended Dabney S. Lancaster Community College for two years. After earning his associate degree in liberal arts at DSLCC, he entered the U.S. Air Force.
Richard is combining the promotion of his latest book about the War Between the States, “The Civil War in Highland County,” with researching the next book he is planning to write, “The Civil War in Alleghany County.”
He remarked, “I am currently researching Alleghany County’s role in the Civil War.”
Richard revealed that he is looking for photographs from the time period, especially soldiers in uniform who lived in Alleghany County.
Having already delved into the subject, he noted, “There were over 200 Irishmen from Alleghany County who enlisted in the Confederate Army.”
Richard recalled, “I was born at the hospital in Clifton Forge two months early, and I was told that I could have slept in a shoebox; that’s what I was always told.”
He remembered his days in the military, “I was at the Lackland U.S. Air Force Base for basic training, and my specialty was security police.”
He served four years in the military where his first assignment was as a member of the Honor Guard Ceremonial Unit in Washington D.C.
“I was in the 1976 Fourth of July Parade and sometimes served as the Presidential Honor Guard for Jimmy Carter,” he mentioned.
He also served with his unit during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Richard reminisced, “We came as far as Staunton for a burial ceremony.”
Following his service in the military, Richard returned to Bath County where he was hired by the Bath County Sheriff’s Department.
During the 33 years he served as a lawman, he worked at whatever position he was needed for the sheriff who held office at the time.
Richard said, “Well, I started out as a road deputy, and in 1996, I was moved into the position of chief jailor.”
The Bath County Jail closed in 2001, and Richard became the community security officer and served as special assistant to the sheriff.
His job consisted of communicating with the media, serving as bailiff and as a corrections officer.
As the years turned into decades, Richard’s accomplishments as an author grew. His first book, “Ambush at Williamsville,” was completed in 1986.
Richard conveyed, “One of the books I wrote was a biography of William Rufus Terrill who was born in Covington and grew up in Warm Springs.”
He continued, “He was a Union Brigadier General, and his brother, James Barbour Terrill who was born in Warm Springs, was a Confederate Brigadier General.”
Richard explained that Rufus was killed in the Battle of Perryville in Ky. on Oct. 8, 1862, and that his brother was killed in the battle of Bethesda in Va. on May 30, 1864.
Richard has written “God Alone Knows Which One Was Right,” “The 11th Virginia Calvary,” “25th Virginia Infantry” and “The 9th Battalion Virginia Infantry.”
Other books to his credit are “The Battle of McDowell,” “The 19th and 20th Virginia Calvary,” “The 26th Virginia Calvary” and “The 7th Virginia Calvary.”
Each book he has written about the American Civil War deals with the involvement of forces formed, the way they were formed and the role each played.
He has also written a 40-page pamphlet about Bath County in the Civil War that he is in the process of expanding and revising.
In looking back at his days in the U.S. Air Force, Richard remarked, “I was married to Debra Ann Taylor of Covington in 1974 and Debra was with me in Texas and Washington D.C.”
The couple did not have any children and divorced, and Richard is conducting research in his ex-wife’s hometown.
Richard concluded, “I appreciate everybody’s support and generosity for helping me in my research.”
He is looking for people who are willing to share stories about the Civil War in Alleghany County, and he urges anyone with information to contact him at (540) 839-3314 or via the internet at cav@tds.net.
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