Take Two: CSA Lt. Gen. Richard H. Anderson

[Battleline]

Lt. Gen. Richard H. Anderson (b. 1821, d. 1879) Having been sent home the day before the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, Richard Heron Anderson missed the capitulation at Appomattox. “Fighting Dick” Anderson was the final commander of the 3rd Corps, holding temporary rank of lieutenant general to rank from May 31, 1864, after Lt. Gen. James Longstreet was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness. After Longstreet’s return, Anderson commanded part of the Richmond defenses. He was considered one of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s most trusted generals. After one successful defense, Lee shook his hand and exclaimed, “My noble soldier, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!” Anderson was born Oct. 7, 1821, at “Hill Crest” in Sumter County, South Carolina, grandson of Revolutionary War hero Richard Anderson. He was a member of the vaunted U.S. Military Academy Class of 1842, graduating 40th. Of the 37 graduates alive in 1861, 22 became general officers during the Civil War. He attended cavalry school and served in the west with the dragoons. Fighting in the Mexican War, Anderson earned a brevet promotion to first lieutenant. He later served in the Utah expedition of Col. A.S. Johnston in 1858-59 and was stationed in Nebraska Territory at the time of his resignation from the U.S. Army. Anderson left his rank of captain in the 2nd Dragoons March 3, 1861. Joining Confederate service, Anderson received the rank of major in the Regular Confederate Army to rank from March 16, 1861. Soon after, he was made colonel of the 1st South Carolina Infantry. He was present at the siege of Fort Sumter April 12-13, 1861. When Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard was called to Virginia, Anderson was promoted to brigadier general in command of Charleston to rank from July 18, 1861. In the first part of 1862, Anderson also was called to Virginia and assigned to command a brigade in Longstreet’s division on the Virginia peninsula. His forces met the Federal army under Maj. Gen. McClellan first at Yorktown and then at Williamsburg. During the Peninsular Campaign and Seven Days, Anderson drew praise from his superiors. At the Battle of Seven Pines (May 31-June 1, 1862), Anderson led two brigades into a key attack. “The attack of the two brigades under Gen. R.H. Anderson was made with such spirit and regularity as to have driven back the most determined foe. This decided the day in our favor,” reported Gen. Longstreet. Anderson was promoted to major general to rank from July 14, 1862. He assumed divisional command, first in the 1st Corps and later in the 3rd Corps after the army was split into three corps. Among the battles he commanded forces in were Second Manassas, Sharpsburg (where he was wounded early in the fight), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (where he held the right wing in a blocking action and was complimented by Gen. Lee) and Gettysburg. When Longstreet was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. He led that command into battle at Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor. After Longstreet returned, Anderson was shifted to command part of Richmond’s defenses. His command was broken up at the catastrophic defeat at Sayler’s Creek, April 6, 1865. Anderson was able to escape and rejoin the army, but without a command, he was allowed to go home. After the war, Anderson struggled just to make a living. He died June 26, 1879, in Beaufort, South Carolina. At the time, he was a state phosphate agent. He was buried in Beaufort.

[Gil R.]

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