Civil War Confederate Lieutenant General. Nicknamed "Fighting Dick", he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1842, a class that produced 22 Civil War generals from the 37 graduated that were alive when the war began. He began his career as a brevet second lieutenant with the 1st United States Dragoons. He was cited "for gallant and meritorious conduct in combat" while he fought with them during the Mexican war where he took part in the siege of Vera Cruz and the capture of Mexico City. For this service he was promoted to first lieutenant of the 2nd Dragoons in 1848, and Captain in 1855. Late in 1860, South Carolina voted to secede from the Union and Anderson resigned his commission and in early 1861 he was a colonel in the 1st Carolina Infantry. He fought at the siege of Fort Sumter, succeeded General P G T Beauregard in Charleston and was promoted to brigadier general and transferred to Pensacola. While there he was wounded in the arm at the Battle of Santa Rosa. . In the Pennsylvania campaign of 1862, he fought in the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, and Malvern Hill and was promoted to major general. Over the next two years he performed heroically at the Second Battle of Bull Run when his attack broke the lines of the Union and they were forced to retreat back to Washington. At Antietam, he was wounded in the thigh and his departure from the battlefield allowed the Union forces to route his men from their position. He continued on with distinguished performances at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor and was made lieutenant general in 1864. His command was so scattered at the Battle of Sayler's Creek that he barely eluded being captured. He returned to Richmond, but there was no command equal to his rank, so he was relieved of duty and the next day General Lee surrendered. There is no record of his parole, but it is believed he was pardoned in September of 1865.After the war, he returned to South Carolina and became a state phosphate agent and living a life of meager means.
Civil War Confederate Lieutenant General. Nicknamed "Fighting Dick", he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1842, a class that produced 22 Civil War generals from the 37 graduated that were alive when the war began. He began his career as a brevet second lieutenant with the 1st United States Dragoons. He was cited "for gallant and meritorious conduct in combat" while he fought with them during the Mexican war where he took part in the siege of Vera Cruz and the capture of Mexico City. For this service he was promoted to first lieutenant of the 2nd Dragoons in 1848, and Captain in 1855. Late in 1860, South Carolina voted to secede from the Union and Anderson resigned his commission and in early 1861 he was a colonel in the 1st Carolina Infantry. He fought at the siege of Fort Sumter, succeeded General P G T Beauregard in Charleston and was promoted to brigadier general and transferred to Pensacola. While there he was wounded in the arm at the Battle of Santa Rosa. . In the Pennsylvania campaign of 1862, he fought in the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, and Malvern Hill and was promoted to major general. Over the next two years he performed heroically at the Second Battle of Bull Run when his attack broke the lines of the Union and they were forced to retreat back to Washington. At Antietam, he was wounded in the thigh and his departure from the battlefield allowed the Union forces to route his men from their position. He continued on with distinguished performances at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor and was made lieutenant general in 1864. His command was so scattered at the Battle of Sayler's Creek that he barely eluded being captured. He returned to Richmond, but there was no command equal to his rank, so he was relieved of duty and the next day General Lee surrendered. There is no record of his parole, but it is believed he was pardoned in September of 1865.After the war, he returned to South Carolina and became a state phosphate agent and living a life of meager means.
Bio by: Tom Todd
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