Major Robert Anderson, Early Civil War-Date ALS
Major Robert Anderson, Early Civil War-Date ALS from Cincinnati, OH, May 1861, Plus CDV
Anderson, Robert (1806-1871). ALS, 4pp, Cincinnati, OH. May 30, 1861. Addressed to Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas (1804-1875) regarding the progress of mustering volunteers and also asking to be relieved from duty for health reasons. Accompanied by uncredited CDV of Anderson standing next to a decorative plinth with his hat on top, identified as “Major Anderson” below image, suggesting the likeness was captured prior to his promotion in May 1861.
Robert Anderson came from a distinguished military family, his father having served as aide-de-camp to the Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1825 and served in both the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Mexican-American War where he was grievously wounded at the Battle of Molino del Rey on September 8, 1847. He was in command of United States forces in Charleston, South Carolina, in December 1860 when South Carolina seceded. Six days later under cover of night, Anderson and his men occupied Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor where they stayed until the battle in April, commencing the Civil War. He was immediately lauded as a hero of the Union. In the wake of the battle, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers and Anderson became involved in recruitment. This letter is written only weeks after the events at Fort Sumter and in the midst of his successful mustering of troops in Ohio. He writes to General Thomas, “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May 15th directing me to perform the duty of mustering into service nine regiments, to be presented by the Governor of Ohio, and to report that, in obedience thereto, & mustered on the 28th.” Much of the letter goes on to discuss Order No. 15 and the appointment of officers in the companies.
A native of Kentucky, Anderson was appointed as the commander of Military Department of Kentucky (quickly renamed the Department of the Cumberland) and he does touch on the border state in his letter. He notes that he has “instructed Major Burbank, as advised by telegram dated May 25th, to muster the Kentucky troops in for three years, directing him to be governed by Order No. 15.” He also notes that he has, “not yet gone into the State of Kentucky, because I have not been advised to do so since the date of my last letters to Washington. The advice I received from that state are that the Union Party is gaining ground in every part of the state, except in the Southern tier of counties where there is a movement to connect themselves with Tennessee.”
Anderson suffered ill health for much of his life as a result of the wounds he received at the Battle of Molino del Rey. His health was likely worsened in the rough conditions he endured during the winter spent at Fort Sumter. He does not go into details of his maladies, but writes that he is “compelled to report that the advice of Sergeant Wright of Asst. Surgeon Stone and also of several Citizen physicians who have seen me, is that I shall refrain from attempting to perform any duty...I must, there fore, in accordance with this advice, which I feel to be well founded, ask that the duty of mustering troops be assigned to some one else, and that, for the present, until my health is sufficiently restored for me to attend to them, my other duties be suspended or, if need be, transferred to others.” Anderson would relinquish his command to William T. Sherman in only October of 1861, causing much debate among historians. A letter from Joshua Fry Speed suggests this was a tactical move. It also suggested, however, that the replacement was due to Anderson’s poor health and this correspondence seems to give further credence to this assertion.
Condition Report: Light toning to page edges and creases, small tear in lower crease and center fold mostly separated. CDV slightly soiled with foxing to verso, edges and corners worn.
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Major Robert Anderson, Early Civil War-Date ALS from Cincinnati, OH, May 1861, Plus CDV
Anderson, Robert (1806-1871). ALS, 4pp, Cincinnati, OH. May 30, 1861. Addressed to Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas (1804-1875) regarding the progress of mustering volunteers and also asking to be relieved from duty for health reasons. Accompanied by uncredited CDV of Anderson standing next to a decorative plinth with his hat on top, identified as “Major Anderson” below image, suggesting the likeness was captured prior to his promotion in May 1861.
Robert Anderson came from a distinguished military family, his father having served as aide-de-camp to the Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1825 and served in both the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Mexican-American War where he was grievously wounded at the Battle of Molino del Rey on September 8, 1847. He was in command of United States forces in Charleston, South Carolina, in December 1860 when South Carolina seceded. Six days later under cover of night, Anderson and his men occupied Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor where they stayed until the battle in April, commencing the Civil War. He was immediately lauded as a hero of the Union. In the wake of the battle, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers and Anderson became involved in recruitment. This letter is written only weeks after the events at Fort Sumter and in the midst of his successful mustering of troops in Ohio. He writes to General Thomas, “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May 15th directing me to perform the duty of mustering into service nine regiments, to be presented by the Governor of Ohio, and to report that, in obedience thereto, & mustered on the 28th.” Much of the letter goes on to discuss Order No. 15 and the appointment of officers in the companies.
A native of Kentucky, Anderson was appointed as the commander of Military Department of Kentucky (quickly renamed the Department of the Cumberland) and he does touch on the border state in his letter. He notes that he has “instructed Major Burbank, as advised by telegram dated May 25th, to muster the Kentucky troops in for three years, directing him to be governed by Order No. 15.” He also notes that he has, “not yet gone into the State of Kentucky, because I have not been advised to do so since the date of my last letters to Washington. The advice I received from that state are that the Union Party is gaining ground in every part of the state, except in the Southern tier of counties where there is a movement to connect themselves with Tennessee.”
Anderson suffered ill health for much of his life as a result of the wounds he received at the Battle of Molino del Rey. His health was likely worsened in the rough conditions he endured during the winter spent at Fort Sumter. He does not go into details of his maladies, but writes that he is “compelled to report that the advice of Sergeant Wright of Asst. Surgeon Stone and also of several Citizen physicians who have seen me, is that I shall refrain from attempting to perform any duty...I must, there fore, in accordance with this advice, which I feel to be well founded, ask that the duty of mustering troops be assigned to some one else, and that, for the present, until my health is sufficiently restored for me to attend to them, my other duties be suspended or, if need be, transferred to others.” Anderson would relinquish his command to William T. Sherman in only October of 1861, causing much debate among historians. A letter from Joshua Fry Speed suggests this was a tactical move. It also suggested, however, that the replacement was due to Anderson’s poor health and this correspondence seems to give further credence to this assertion.
Condition Report: Light toning to page edges and creases, small tear in lower crease and center fold mostly separated. CDV slightly soiled with foxing to verso, edges and corners worn.
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