Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Peninsula War Diary relating to Lieutenant-Colonel James Armstrong, 50th Foot, comprising a small notebook, of which 21 leaves are written, the first entry dated 27 January 1810, ending 22 May 1811, relating to his mission at Cadiz; together with other correspondence, including a letter from Henry Wellesley [Ambassador to Spain 1809-22] to Armstrong, dated Cadiz June 21st 1812, and a portrait miniature on ivory identified as ‘Mr Charles Armstrong’, good condition £200-300

The following obituary appeared in The Gentleman’s Magazine in August 1812:

‘Aug. 15. In North Audley-Street Lieut.-Col. James Armstrong, aide-de-camp to the Duke of York [Commander in Chief]. He had been employed in situations of great improtance in India; and acted under Lord Wellesley as military secretary during the whole of the Mahratta War. After the Marquis of Wellesley’s departure from India, Lieut.-Col. Armstrong was employed by Lord Lake, as quarter-master-general to the King’s Forces in India. He also acted in Spain, in 1809, as a military agent, for some time, and was treated in a most confidential manner, both by Lords Wellesley and Wellington. He returned to England with Lord Wellesley in 1809, and in 1811 was sent on a mission of importance to Cadiz. Soon after Col. Armstrong was appointed aide-de-camp to the Duke of York, and promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.’