Major Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson (June 14, 1805 – October 26, 1871) was a Union Army officer in the American Civil War, known for his command of Fort Sumter at the start of the war. He is often referred to using his rank of that time, Major Robert Anderson.

Related Topics:
June 14 - 1805 - October 26 - 1871 - Union - American Civil War - Fort Sumter

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Anderson was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1825 and received a commision as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Artillery. He served in the Black Hawk War of 1832 as a colonel of Illinois volunteers, where he had the unusual distinction of twice mustering Captain Abraham Lincoln out and in of army service. Returning to the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant in 1833, he served in the second Seminole War, as an assistant adjutant general on General Winfield Scott's staff, and in the Mexican War, where he was severely wounded at Molino del Rey, and for which he received a brevet promotion to major. He eventually received a permanent promotion to major of the 1st U.S. Artillery in the Regular Army on October 5, 1857. He was the author of Instruction for Field Artillery, Horse and Foot in 1839.

Related Topics:
Louisville, Kentucky - U.S. Military Academy - 1825 - Second lieutenant - Black Hawk War - 1832 - Colonel - Illinois - Captain - Abraham Lincoln - U.S. Army - First lieutenant - 1833 - Seminole War - Adjutant general - Winfield Scott - Mexican War - Molino del Rey - Brevet - Major - Regular Army - October 5 - 1857 - 1839

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As Southern states began to secede, Major Anderson remained loyal to the Union. He was the commanding officer of Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, at the time it was bombarded by forces of the Confederate States of America. The artillery attack was commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard, who had been Anderson's student at West Point. The attack began April 12, 1861, and continued until Anderson, badly outnumbered and outgunned, surrendered the fort on April 14, 1861. The battle began the American Civil War. He was promoted to brigadier general a month later and brevetted to major general for his actions at the fort, as of February 3, 1865.

Related Topics:
Southern - Secede - Fort Sumter - Charleston - South Carolina - Confederate States of America - Artillery - P.G.T. Beauregard - West Point - April 12 - 1861 - April 14 - American Civil War - Brigadier general - Major general - February 3 - 1865

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Anderson took the fort's 33-star flag with him to New York City, where he participated in a Union Square patriotic rally that is thought to have been the largest public gathering in North America up to then. Anderson then went on a highly successful recruiting tour of the North before taking a leave of absence due to ill health.

Related Topics:
New York City - Union Square - North America - North

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Days after Robert E. Lee's surrender and the effective conclusion of the war, Anderson returned to Charleston and, four years to the day after lowering the 33-star flag in surrender, raised it in triumph over the recaptured but badly battered Fort Sumter during ceremonies there. Ironically, that same evening, April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Related Topics:
Robert E. Lee - Fort Sumter - April 14 - 1865 - President - Abraham Lincoln - Assassinated

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Anderson died in Nice, France, and is buried at the West Point National Cemetery.

Related Topics:
Nice, France - West Point

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Anderson's brother, Charles Anderson, served as Governor of Ohio from 1865 to 1866. His nephew, Thomas M. Anderson, was a brigadier general who fought in the Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War.

Related Topics:
Charles Anderson - Governor of Ohio - 1865 - 1866 - Thomas M. Anderson - Brigadier general - Spanish-American War - Philippine-American War

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