Robert Anderson

General Anderson

(1805-1871)

A loyalist to the Union and a staunch Kentuckian, Robert Anderson rose to the lofty rank of general with his military experience and cunning intellect. His greatest achievement was his appointment as commander of Charleston Harbor.

Although he received little assistance from President Buchanan, Anderson made a decision that would end up being the ignition switch for The Civil War. Seeing that his present assignment, Fort Moultrie, lacked adequate defensive qualities, he took it upon himself to relocate the fort. Anderson chose Ft. Sumter as his relocation command post.

At Ft. Sumter, he had a prime location in which he could easily withstand a ground as well as sea assault. The two battles that were fought here would be forever remembered for their importance.

Born near Louisville, Kentucky, Anderson was graduated from West Point with full honors. His family lineage was full of war heroes and high-ranking politicians. It was from these associations that Anderson got his military bloodlines.

Anderson rose to the rank of major in a very short time and by the time he was in his fifties he was a commander. His deep south associations and political ties, especially in South Carolina, warranted his rise.

During his first year at Ft. Sumter, the little fort on the sandbar would make history, and forever list Anderson as the commander who lit the fuse. Carolinian gunners without provocation fired upon a Federal relief ship “Star of the West”. Anderson, not willing to start a war, refused to allow his forces to fire back.

A few months later on April 15, 1861, Anderson refused to sign a condition of surrender from the Confederates. This angered the rebel leaders and the attack on Ft. Sumter was commenced. Anderson fired back this time but ultimately the Ft. was forced to surrender due to the overwhelming military superiority brought to the fort by the Confederates. Robert Anderson then signed the surrender order and went back to the North a disgruntled failure. Anderson accepted full blame for the loss and suffered greatly in his own mind for his failure to defer a national war.

His military experience ended with Ft. Sumter and for the rest of his career he commanded small out of the way post. Never being able to demonstrate his vast military expertise again, Anderson retired from active duty on October27, 1863. Eight years after his resignation, Anderson died.

Before his death Anderson received an honor from the Federal army. When Ft. Sumter was reclaimed by the yanks in the middle of The Civil War, Anderson was appointed to raise the same flag that was lowered when he surrendered to the Confederates.

A fitting ending to a career undefined except for the commanders’ inability to start a fight. This inability to fight certainly cost Anderson any opportunity to showcase his talents earned in West Point. He will go down in the annals of history as the man who started The Civil War without even firing a shot.

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