Robert Anderson Papers
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm78010967
General International Standard for Archival Description
Manuscript Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Finding aid encoded by Glenn R. Gardner, 2010
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Robert Anderson Papers 1819-1948 (bulk 1836-1870)
Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871
Biographical History for: Robert Anderson Papers 1819-1948 (bulk 1836-1870)
Biographical Note Date Event 1805, June 14 Born, Louisville, Ky. 1821-1825 Cadet, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 1825 Second lieutenant, Third Artillery 1825-1826 Secretary to United States minister to Colombia 1826-1828 In garrison, Ft. Monroe, Va. 1828-1832 On ordnance duty 1832 Served in the Black Hawk War 1834 At Fort Constitution, N.H. 1835-1837 At United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 1837-1838 In the Florida War 1838 Aide-de-camp to General Winfield Scott 1838-1841 Assistant adjutant general, Eastern Department 1841-1843 On Board of Officers to examine his "Instruction for Field Artillery" 1845-1846 In garrison, Fort Moultrie, S.C. 1847 Served in Mexican War 1848-1853 In garrison, Fort Preble, Me. 1853-1854 Governor, United States Branch Military Asylum, Harrisburg, Ky. 1855-1859 Inspector of Iron Work, Trenton, N.J. 1860-1861 In command, Defences of Charleston, S.C. 1861 In command, Department of Kentucky and the Cumberland 1863 In command, Fort Adams, R.I. 1865 Raised the flag at Fort Sumter, S.C. 1871 Died, Nice, France
Scope and Content Note The papers of Robert Anderson (1805-1871) span the years 1819-1948, with the bulk of the items concentrated in the period 1836-1870. Included in the collection are correspondence and letterbooks, printed matter, drafts of writings, and official documents. Part of the material relates to Anderson's military duty in the Black Hawk War and Mexican War and to his writings on coast defense, ordnance, and artillery tactics. Chief interest centers in his prominent role at the outbreak of the Civil War, when he was commander of the Union garrison during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Also in the collection are the papers of Anderson's daughter, Eba Anderson Lawton, historian and biographer of her father. Correspondents include Larz Anderson, A. D. Bache, P. T. Barnum, G. T. Beauregard, Duncan Lamont Clinch, Samuel Wylie Crawford, John J. Crittenden, John A. Dix, Abner Doubleday, Hamilton Fish, Joseph Holt, Abraham Lincoln, F. W. Pickens, Winfield Scott, William T. Sherman, Edwin McMasters Stanton, and Charles Sumner.
series
General Correspondence, 1819-1870
Bound volumes of correspondence, including a journal of 1838-1841, followed by a letterbook and loose correspondence.
file
Includes journal for 1838-1841, 13 Dec. 1819-5 Mar. 1836, 1838-1841
9 Mar. 1836-21 Sept. 1839
23 Sept. 1839-29 Mar. 1842
30 Mar. 1842-7 Feb. 1846
9 Feb. 1846-1 Apr. 1847
4 Apr. 1847-19 Sept. 1853
26 Sept. 1853-12 Nov. 1859
13 Feb.-11 Apr. 1861
12 Apr.-17 May 1861
18 May-24 Aug. 1861
25 Aug. 1861-7 Jan. 1862
9 Jan. 1862-12 May 1864
14 May 1864-29 Aug. 1870, undated
Letterbook of correspondence written from Trenton, N. J., 8 Jan. 1856-24 Oct. 1859
Letters
To Nathaniel Silsbee, 22 June 1858
To Nathaniel Silsbee, 9 Dec. 1859
To Nathaniel Silsbee, 26 Jan. 1861
To Lloyd Tilghman, 20 Mar. 1861
To Nathaniel Silsbee, 30 May 1861
Miscellany, 1838-1911
Presentation copies of books, clippings and other printed matter, commissions, and miscellaneous material.
Book of clippings about Anderson, including letters from authors who dedicated hymns and poems to Anderson, 2 Jan. 1861-Oct. 1871
Commissions and certificates See Oversize
Discharge certificate of Jean Botzy, First Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique, 31 Dec. 1838
"Evolutions of Batteries," 1840, published in 1860 by United States War Department, Evolutions of Field Batteries of Artillery, 1840; 1860
"Instruction for Siege, Garrison, & Sea Coast Artillery," including draft of "Evolutions of Field Batteries of Artillery," 1843
Photolitho facsimile of telegram, Anderson to Simon Cameron, 18 Apr. 1861
Presentation volumes
Soldier and Pioneer: a Biographical Sketch of Lt. Col. Richard C. Anderson of the Continental Army by E. L. Anderson (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1879. 63 pp.)
Major Robert Anderson and Fort Sumter 1861, by Eba Anderson Lawton (New York: Knickerbacker Press, 1911. 19 pp.)
The Political Conspiracies Preceding the Rebellion or The True Stories of Sumter and Pickens, by Thomas M. Anderson (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1882. 100 pp.)
Within Fort Sumter by One of the Company (New York: N. Tibbals & Co., 1861. 72 pp.)
Miscellaneous clippings and printed matter
Activities of Eba Anderson Lawton (daughter)
Attack on Fort Sumter, S.C.
Eba Anderson Lawton Papers, 1833-1919
Mainly letters received by Lawton regarding Robert Anderson.
Letters received by Lawton pertaining to a memorial to Robert Anderson, the Fort Sumter, S.C., flag controversy, and the publication of "The History of the Soldier's Home," 1833-1919
Addition, 1861-1948
Photocopies of annotated drawing by Truman Seymour of Cummings Point near Fort Sumter, S.C.
Annotated drawing of Cummings Point near Fort Sumter, S.C., by Truman Seymour, negative and positive photocopies, 1861, 1948
Oversize
Commissions and certificates.
Commissions and certificates (Container 17)