Who was Civil War officer Robert Anderson?
When the Civil War began, Robert Anderson was a major in the United States Army commanding the federal garrison at Fort Sumter. When Southern forces commanded by P.G.T. Beauregard demanded that Anderson surrender the fort, Anderson refused.
At 4:30 a.m., April 12, 1861, the South Carolina Artillery fired a mortar shot over Fort Sumter, signaling the commencement of the bombardment of Fort Sumter. The American Civil War had begun. Two days later, Anderson surrendered his garrison.
In recognition of Anderson’s service to his country, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Anderson to the rank of brigadier general in the regular army, effective May 15, 1861.
On May 28, the War Department ordered Anderson to take command of the newly created Department of Kentucky. Soon after, Anderson became ill, and the War Department ordered William T. Sherman to relieve him.
With his health shattered, Anderson spent the next two years in New York awaiting orders, and on October 27, 1863, he retired from active service.
On February 3, 1865, the army brevetted him to major general “for gallant and meritorious service in the harbor of Charleston, S.C., in the defense of Fort Sumter.”
Two months later, on April 14, 1865, Anderson returned to Fort Sumter to raise the Stars and Stripes over the stronghold that Confederates had forced to surrender earlier (four years to the day).
In 1870, Anderson traveled to southern France, hoping the mild climate might restore his broken health. The change provided no relief, however, and Anderson died in Nice, France, on October 26, 1871. His remains were returned to the United States, and Anderson was buried with full military honors at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, New York.
Robert Anderson Facts — APUSH Review and Notes
Full Name
- Robert Anderson
Birth Date
- June 14, 1805
Birth Location
- Family plantation, “Soldier’s Retreat,” near Louisville, Kentucky
Parents
- Richard and Sarah (Marshall) Anderson
Education
- United States Military Academy (1825)
Occupation
- Military officer
Career Summary
- Brigadier General (USA)
- Brevet Major General (USA)
Spouse
- Elizabeth Bayard “Ezra” Clinch (1842)
Place of Death
- Nice, France
Date of Death
- October 26, 1871
Place of Burial
- United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, New York
Robert Anderson — Summary of His Life and Accomplishments for APUSH
- Robert Anderson’s father was a slaveholder who served as an officer in the American Revolution and was a charter member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
- Robert Anderson’s mother was a first cousin of Chief Justice John Marshall.
- Robert Anderson’s brother, Charles Anderson, served as Governor of Ohio from 1865 to 1866.
- Robert Anderson graduated from the United States Military Academy on July 1, 1825, 15th in his class of 37 cadets.
- Following his graduation from the United States Military Academy Robert Anderson was brevetted as a second lieutenant with the 2nd U.S. Artillery on July 1, 1825, and then promoted to the full rank of second lieutenant with the 3rd U.S. Artillery on the same day.
- Robert Anderson left the army from October 1825 to July 1826 to assist his brother Richard who was commissioned as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Panama Congress of Nations.
- Robert Anderson campaigned as a colonel of Illinois volunteers against the Sac Indians during the Black Hawk War (May–August 1832).
- Robert Anderson was promoted to first lieutenant with the 3rd Artillery on June 30, 1833.
- Robert Anderson served as an assistant instructor and instructor of artillery at the United States Military Academy from September 10, 1835, until November 6, 1837.
- Robert Anderson campaigned against the Seminole Indians for two years during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842).
- Robert Anderson was brevetted to captain on April 2, 1838 “for Gallantry and Successful Conduct in the War against the Florida Indians.”
- During his time in Florida, Robert Anderson contracted fevers from which he would suffer recurrently for the rest of his life.
- From May 9 to July 7, 1838, Robert Anderson served as Major-General Winfield Scott’s aide-de-camp.
- On October 23, 1841, Robert Anderson was promoted to the rank of captain with the 3rd Artillery and returned to garrison duty.
- On March 26, 1842, Anderson married Elizabeth Bayard “Ezra” Clinch. Their marriage produced five children.
- Through his wife’s inheritance, Robert Anderson briefly owned slaves when his father-in-law passed away in 1849.
- Robert Anderson served with General Winfield Scott’s invasion force during the Siege of (March 9–29, 1847), and was engaged at the Battle of Cerro Gordo (April 17–18, 1847) during the Mexican-American War (1846–48).
- On September 8, 1847, Robert Anderson was severely wounded during the Battle of Molino del Rey, one of the bloodier engagements of the Mexican-American War (1846 – 48).
- Robert Anderson was brevetted to major “for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Battle of Molino del Rey,” effective September 8, 1847.
- On October 5, 1857, the army promoted Robert Anderson to the rank of major with the 1st U.S. Artillery.
- On November 15, 1860, Secretary of War (and future Confederate general) John B. Floyd ordered Robert Anderson to relieve John Gardner as commander of the federal garrison at Fort Moultrie in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
- On April 14, 1861, Robert Anderson evacuated Fort Sumter.
- Although Anderson considered his inability to hold Fort Sumter as a failure, he was soon surprised to learn that he had become a national hero.
- In recognition of Anderson’s service to his country at Fort Sumter, President Lincoln promoted Robert Anderson to the rank of Brigadier General in the regular army effective May 15, 1861.
- On May 28, the War Department ordered Robert Anderson to take command of the newly created Department of Kentucky, which included as much of the state of Kentucky that lay within one hundred miles of the Ohio River.
- On August 15, 1861, the War Department issued General Orders No. 57, which effectively replaced the Department of Kentucky with the Department of the Cumberland commanded by Robert Anderson.
- On October 7, the War Department issued General Orders No. 6, directing Major General William T. Sherman to relieve Robert Anderson as commander of the Department of the Cumberland due to illness.
- On October 27, 1863, Robert Anderson was retired from active service “for Disability resulting from Long and Faithful Service, and Wounds and Disease contracted in the Line of Duty.”
- On February 3, 1865, Robert Anderson was brevetted to major general “for gallant and meritorious service in the harbor of Charleston, S. C., in the defense of Fort Sumter.”
- On April 14, 1865, Robert Anderson returned to Fort Sumter to ceremoniously raise the Stars and Stripes over the stronghold that he had been forced to evacuate earlier (four years to the day).
- Robert Anderson was buried with full military honors at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, New York.
