Robert Anderson (1805 - 1871)

Born 14 Jun 1805 in Jefferson, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 27 Oct 1871 at age 66 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

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Biography

Robert Anderson is Notable.

Spouse & Children Eliza Anderson 1828–1905 Eliza McIntosh Clinch Anderson 1845–1919 Maria Latham Anderson 1849–1925 Sophie Clinch Anderson 1852–1934 Duncan Lamont Clinch Anderson 1854–1855 Robert Anderson Jr. 1859–1879 Wm Anderson –1917

Birth

Robert was born at Soldiers Retreat at Louisville Kentucky in 1805 to Richard Clough and Sarah (Marshall) Anderson.

Early Career

A graduate of West Point, he served as a private secretary to his older brother Richard Clough Anderson, Jr. while an envoy to Columbia. In 1832 he was a Colonel in the Illinois volunteers, serving during the Blackhawk Wars and had the privilege of mustering Abraham Lincoln in and out of the Army. He returned to active duty in the US Army as a 1st Lt. and fought in the Second Seminole War as an assistant adjutant general on the staff of Winfield Scott. He was severely wounded during the Mexican-American War and received brevet promotion to major, a rank made permanent in 1857.

Fort Sumter

When South Carolina seceded from the Union in December of 1860 Major Anderson was the Commanding Officer of a small garrison pf Federal forces in Charleston. Realizing his position at Fort Moultrie was indefensible he moved the garrison to Fort Sumter in defiance of the secessionists. On April 12, 1861 the Confederate forces started bombarding the fort. Anderson held out as long as he could but surrendered on April 14. His actions at Ft Sumter made Anderson a national hero and he was promoted to Brig. Gen.

Civil War

Capitalizing on his fame, he he went on a highly successful recruiting tour in the north. He was then assigned as commander of the Department of Kentucky, a state that remained in the union but had declared neutrality in the conflict. Apparently, being reluctant to distribute arms to pro-union Kentuckians, he was relieved of command by President Lincoln, though the official reason was because of health. His last assignment was command of Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island. He retired from active duty on October 27, 1863.

Sources

• Find A Grave Memorial# 2299

• Robert Anderson on Wikipedia

• Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point N.Y., Volume 1, pg 347

• Hill, Edwin Charles. The Historical Register (Edwin C. Hill, New York, 1919) Vol.1, Page 6-9

Burial: United States Military Academy Post Cemetery West Point, Orange County, New York, USA