Elizabeth Armstrong

Elizabeth Armstrong (née Boyd; October 21, 1798 – 13 November 1857) was an American settler who found temporary shelter at Apple River Fort with her husband, John, and two children during the 1832 Black Hawk War. She was praised for her bravery during the Battle of Apple River Fort.

Early life Elizabeth Armstrong was born Elizabeth Boyd on October 21, 1798, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Shortly after her birth, her family immigrated to Spanish Missouri. Her father became a Spanish citizen and was awarded a land grant in present-day Lincoln County, Missouri. In 1817, Elizabeth, 19, was married to John Armstrong.

As Black Hawk's 200-strong war-party closed in on the Fort, the locals ran for shelter inside the fort while the 28–30 men and boys took up positions at the portholes that had been cut between the fort's pickets. A vicious firefight erupted, involving about 150 of Black Hawk's war-party. The fighting raged for about an hour with heavy gunfire from both sides.

Legacy Elizabeth Armstrong was praised as a heroine for her actions during the battle, displaying the kind of courage under fire the Illinois militia had so badly lacked during the first month of the Black Hawk War. Her actions, in part, helped give Black Hawk the impression that Apple River Fort was too heavily defended. It was some time before the settlers learned that Black Hawk, himself had led the attack. A newspaper report in Galena, Illinois described Armstrong's actions at the Battle of Apple River Fort. "Elizabeth Armstrong took charge of the women's activities and set a coolheaded, courageous example." Since the 1930s it was mistakenly suggested that Armstrong was the namesake for the village of Elizabeth, IL. That honor went to another "Elizabeth" at Apple River Fort: Elizabeth Winters.

Armstrong died in 1857 in Hanover, Illinois. She and her husband are buried in Lost Mound Cemetery in Hanover Township.