Biography of General Joseph Reid Anderson

Best known not for commanding a Light Division brigade but rather for his role in command of the iron works in Richmond, nevertheless, Brig. Gen. Joseph R. Anderson was, for a time, senior brigade commander of the Division behind A.P. Hill.

He was born in "Walnut Hill" at Botetourt County, Virginia on February 16, 1813. Anderson graduated from West Point in 1836. An extremely intelligent man, he became the superintendent of the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond.

Despite his value as the head of the iron works, however, Anderson was given a field command in the newly formed Confederate army. He briefly commanded at brigade at Wilmington. He was then transferred to the eastern theater of operations and assumed command of a Georgia brigade which was attached to what became known as A.P. Hill's Light Division.

Anderson did not serve long with the Division, although he was its senior brigade commander. Wounded during the Seven Days battles, the Confederacy thought his talents better were suited to running Tredegar than a field command. Indeed, Anderson performed yeoman service at Tredegar.

"The Krupp of the Confederacy" resumed his position after a time post-war as president at Tredgar.

He died on September 7, 1892 and, like many of Virginia's Confederate heroes, was laid to rest in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond Virginia.