Biography of General Richard H. Anderson

Memoir Of Richard H. Anderson, C. S. A.

By EDWARD N. THURSTON, Charleston, S. C.

Richard Herron Anderson was born on the 7th October, 1821, near Statesburgh, in Sumter District, South Carolina, where his father, Dr. W. W. Anderson, planted and practiced medicine. His early school days were passed at Edge Hill Academy, in that District. He entered the United States Military Academy July 1st, 1838, and graduated July 1st, 1842, when he was appointed Brevet 2d Lieut. 1st Dragoons. While at West Point he was universally a favorite, having many friends and no enemies.

After graduating, he was sent first to the Cavalry School for Practice, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he remained until

1843, when he was ordered to Little Rock, Arkansas, on frontier duty, thence he was stationed at Fort Gibson and was with the command which marched to Fort Washington, Indian Territory, escorting the Indian Agent to Red River. After his return he remained until 1844, and was then ordered to Fort Jessup, Louisiana. In 1845-46 he was with the troops occupying Texas, thence he was ordered on recruiting service, but was engaged at the siege of Vera Cruz, in March, 1847, was in the skirmish at La Heya, June 20th, and with the Army of Gen. Scott, which marched on the City of Mexico, being engaged in the battle of Contreras, 19th August, and in the skirmish of San Augustine, 20th August, and in the battle of Molinodel Rey, 8th September. He was brevetted 1st Lieutenant for gallant and meritorious conduct in an affair with the enemy at San Augustine, Mexico, was engaged in the operations preceding the capture of the City of Mexico, September 12 and 14th. After the Mexican War he was on recruiting service, 1849, and then to the Cavalry School of Practice, at Carlisle, Penn. Again on recruiting service, 1850-52. He was then ordered to Fort Graham, <shv39_147> Texas, 1852-53, thence to Fort McKavett, New Mexico, 1853-54; thence to San Antonio, Texas, and back to Fort McKavett, 1855, and was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, 1856, and aided in quelling disturbances there until 1857. Thence he was again sent as Instructing Officer to the Cavalry School of Practice, and in 1858 was ordered on service, conducting recruits to Utah; was with the Utah Expedition, 1858-59, and thence was sent to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, 1859-60. His letter of resignation is dated 16th February, 1861. For most of the foregoing, I am indebted to Cullim's Register.

The State of South Carolina had passed the Ordinance of Secession, some of her sister States had followed, and it was evident that Civil War approached, Anderson deemed it his duty to follow the fortunes of his native State and to do her bidding: accordingly he tendered his services to Governor Pickens and was immediately appointed Colonel of the 1st Regular Infantry State Troops. Barnard E. Bee was Lieut. Colonel and John Dunnovant, Major. His regiment was posted on Sullivan's Island during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Shortly after the surrender of that Fort, Gen. Beauregard, who had commanded the forces C. S. A. around Charleston, was ordered to Virginia, and Col. Anderson assumed the command. He was appointed Brigadier General, 20th July, 1861, and about the 1st September following, was ordered to report to Gen. Bragg, at Pensacola; his Brigade occupied that town and the Navy Yard. On the night of the 8th October, 1861, he commanded a detail of ten men from each company of Bragg's Army, in all about 1,100 men, in an attack on the encampment on Santa Rosa Island; his command embarked at night, made a successful landing, burned the camp and many valuable stores, captured Major Vogds and some twenty prisoners and returned without material loss. In this affair Anderson's arm was broken.

In February. 1862, he received orders to report to Gen. J. E. Johnston, commanding C. S. forces in Virginia, and was assigned to a brigade composed of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th South Carolina Volunteers and Stribling's Battery; with this <shv39_148>command he accompanied the Army to Yorktown and its vicinity. When Gen. Johnston retired up the peninsular, Anderson's Brigade relieved his rear guard on the night of 4th May, and occupied the redoubts near Williamsburg. Early on the morning of 5th May, his pickets were driven in, a bloody engagement followed, during which Anderson commanded Longstreet's Division, consisting of Brigades of Wilcox, Pryor, A. P. Hill and Pickett, and his own.

This was the first battle of any consequence in which his command was engaged. The troops soon learned to admire the cool yet daring gallantry of their commander and to value his distinguished ability as a leader; the survivors of his old brigade retain to this day their admiration of him as man and soldier.

Next followed the battle of Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks); here, too, Anderson had a conspicuous part; with his brigade he forced back Casey's Division and gained possession of his camp, and received the congratulations of his commander for the admirable handling of his troops.

Soon followed the battles around Richmond. At Gaines' Mill he won new laurels; late that afternoon his Division Commander approached him and said: "My part of this work has not been accomplished, and I have nobody to do it with but you," referring to the hard duty already performed by the brigade. The reply was, "Well, General, what is it you want done;" and the answer, "The enemy must come off that hill before night," and his cheerful response, "If any one brigade in the army can do it, mine can," and it was so handsomely done that Gen. Lee, who was an eye-witness, congratulated him the next morning. So at Fraur's Farm, Anderson commanded three brigades, and again did well the part allotted to him. At Malvern Hill his brigade was in reserve and took no especial part in that bloody battle. Early in July, 1862, he was made a Major General and assigned to the command of the division formerly known as Huger's, composed of the brigades of Mahone, Armistead, Wright and Martin. The last was left at <shv39_149>Petersburg, Virginia; with the others he marched towards Manassas and occupied Warrenton Springs, making a demonstration against Pope, whilst Gen. Lee, with Longstreet's corps, pressed through Thoroughfare Gap to relieve Jackson at 2nd Manassas. Anderson reached that field on the night of 30th August, and took part in the battle of the next day.

When Gen. Lee moved into Maryland, Anderson, with McLaws, was sent to complete the investment of Harper's Ferry, After the fall of that place Anderson rejoined Gen. Lee at Sharpsburg, marching all night, and in the battle near that village, was severely wounded in the thigh, but retained his command until the emergency had passed and then fell fainting from loss of blood. His wound healed in time for him to command his Division at Fredericksburg, now composed of the brigades of Mahone. Wilcox, Wright, Featherston and Perry; it was posted on the left of the Plank Road, supporting McLaws, whose left rested on Marye's Hill. Here his infantry was not materially engaged, but his artillery did good service.

During the winter he remained near Fredericksburg, where two of his brigades were encamped, one holding Bank's Ford, and the remaining two were posted at United States Ford. With these two, supported by one of the brigades (Wright's) from Fredericksburg, he met Hooker's advance on Chancellorsville, and retiring slowly, disputed every inch of ground until the arrival of Jackson's troops: then Hooker was forced back on Chancellorsville, and while Jackson's brilliant flank movement was being executed, Anderson held Lee's centre, his right resting on the Plank Road; he joined Jackson's attack on Chancellorsville and aided in driving the enemy thence. Then he was ordered to Salem Church, to meet Sedgwick, who was advancing on Lee's rear from Fredericksburg. Sedgwick was driven across the Rappahannock and Anderson returned to the neighborhood of Chancellorsville.

About the 30th May, 1863, his division was transferred to A. P. Hill's corps: with it he crossed the Potomac and fought at Gettysburg on the 2d of July. His splendid division was <shv39_150>ordered to charge the Cemetery Hill in conjunction with Longstreet's advance. His troops did well their part, but against such a deluge of shot and shell, no troops could long hold the position which he carried and about dark he withdrew his command to the line it occupied before the assault. On the 3d only one of his brigades was engaged.

With the Army of Northern Virginia, he recrossed the Potomac and was engaged at Bristow Station. In December of that year he was ordered to the neighborhood of Mine Run, to meet General Meade's advance, but Meade retired without an engagement.

When Gen. Grant advanced to the Wilderness, Anderson's division did not move to meet him with the rest of the corps. It was left to guard the Fords, on the Rapidan, until the Confederate calvary had reached Stevensburg; thus he had no part in the action of May 5th, but on the morning of the 6th his command arrived at a most opportune moment and took an active part in the bloody events of that day. Longstreet was severely wounded and Anderson was transferred to the command of that corps, leaving his division under the command of Mahone; and a few days after, he received a Lieutenant General's commission. With this corps he marched to Spotsylvania to check Grant's movement in that directions. He succeeded perfectly and received in an autograph letter Gen. Lee's thanks for the masterly handling of his troops. With characteristic modesty this noble soldier published to his corps, the clause relating to its gallant conduct and refrained from referring to that portion which named his own distinguished services.

He commanded Longstreet's corps in the numerous and bloody battles of the summer and autumn of 1864, attending Grant's advance on Petersburg. Early in the winter of 1864, Longstreet returned to duty and Anderson relieved Gen. Beauregard in command of his corps, consisting of Hoke's and B. R. Johnson's divisions. Pickett's was afterwards added, and occupied the lines immediately in front of Petersburg, until February, 1865, when he was relieved by Gordon and moved to Gen. Lee's <shv39_151>-right flank, near Hatcher's Run, where Gen. Grant pierced the lines at Petersburg. Anderson's left rested on the Run. He struck Grant's advance at Gravelly Run and gained some success, but was eventually forced to retire. At Church Crossings a part of his corps under Pickett was badly cut up.

The retreat from Petersburg had now commenced. On the 6th of April, 1865, Anderson fought for the last time; the surrender of Lee's Army at Appomattox followed on the 9th.

From early in 1862 to the end of the war Anderson's career was so large a part of that of the Army of Northern Virginia that to tell of it in detail would involve the necessity of writing a history of that grand army. He had a place in all of the important events of those memorable campaigns and the responsible and arduous duties devolving on him were always so discharged as to add lustre to his fame and glory to his country's banner.

After Gen. Johnston's surrender Anderson returned to his old home and began life as a planter, he did not succeed, and eventually was made Agent for the South Carolina Railroad at Camden in that State. This was distasteful to him and in fact he was not suited to the position, still his needs were pressing; his resources exhausted and his family dependent; he was thankful for even this.

A few months before his death he was appointed State Inspector of Phosphates. This was more congenial to his taste and habits and promised to yield him some comfort in his declining years. At least the people of his native State appeared to realize that they owed to one who had sacrificed so much for them some recognition of his great worth and valuable services and better provision for his old age was contemplated and doubtless would have been made, but the wires flashed the news that on the 26th of June, 1870, R. H. Anderson had departed this life suddenly in the town of Beaufort, S. C. He had fallen in all his vigor, instantly without notice: yet those who knew him best know that for him the messenger, Death, had no terrors and that he rests from his labors. He was in the <shv39_152>58th year of his age. His body is buried in the yard of the Episcopal Church at Beaufort, South Carolina.

Anderson was twice married, first to Miss Gibson, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, whose son and daughter still survive, and within a few years to Miss Milette, of Sumter County, South Carolina, who has outlived him. By the second marriage there were no children.