Robert Anderson, Fort Sumter Commander

Major Robert Anderson

Full Name

Robert Anderson

Biographical Notes

Born: 14 June, 1805, Near Louisville, Kentucky (Soldier’s Retreat)

Died: 26 October, 1871, Nice, France

• A native of Kentucky, most ancestors were Southern as was his wife (she was from Georgia).
• Owned slaves and sympathized with the South.

Military Notes

Education

United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1825

• Sent by Washington to take over command of three forts in the Charleston, South Carolina area. These included: Sumter, Castle Pinckney and Moultrie.
• Did his duty in defense of Fort Sumter

Wars Fought

Black Hawk War
Second Seminole War
Mexican American War
American Civil War

Ranks Held

• Brevet 2nd Lieutenant
• 1st Lieutenant
• Assistant Adjunct General
• Brevet Major
• Major, Union
• Brigadier General, Union
• Brevet Major General

Noteworthy Battles Fought

Battle of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, Charleston, South Carolina. His opponent was J. T.

Connections

• His father, Major Richard Anderson, defended Fort Moultrie (then Fort Sullivan) during the American Revolution.
• In the Black Hawk War, Anderson mustered in and out of the military then Captain Abraham Lincoln.