Contents


Collection Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement of the Papers

Selected Search Terms

Container List

General Correspondence, 1819-1870

Miscellany, 1838-1911

Eba Anderson Lawton Papers, 1833-1919

Addition, 1861-1948

Oversize

Robert Anderson Papers

A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress

Prepared by Manuscript Division Staff

2009

Collection Summary

Creator Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871
Title Robert Anderson Papers
Span Dates 1819-1948(bulk 1836-1870)
Abstract: United States Army officer. Correspondence, letterbooks, printed material, writings, and official documents relating to Anderson’s military duty in the Black Hawk War, Mexican War, and Civil War, and to his writings on coast defense, ordnance, and artillery tactics. Includes papers of his daughter, Eba Anderson Lawton, historian and biographer of her father.
Extent: 5,000 items19 containers plus 1 oversize5 linear feet
Language: Collection material in English
Identification: MSS10967

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

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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.

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Selected Search Terms

People

  • Anderson, Larz, 1866-1937--Correspondence.
  • Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871.
  • Bache, A. D. (Alexander Dallas), 1806-1867--Correspondence.
  • Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891--Correspondence.
  • Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893--Correspondence.
  • Clinch, Duncan Lamont, 1787-1849--Correspondence.
  • Crawford, Samuel Wylie, 1829-1892--Correspondence.
  • Crittenden, John J. (John Jordan), 1787-1863--Correspondence.
  • Dix, John A. (John Adams), 1798-1879--Correspondence.
  • Doubleday, Abner, 1819-1893--Correspondence.
  • Fish, Hamilton, 1808-1893--Correspondence.
  • Holt, Joseph, 1807-1894--Correspondence.
  • Lawton, Eba Anderson, -1919. Eba Anderson Lawton papers.
  • Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Correspondence.
  • Pickens, F. W. (Francis Wilkinson), 1805-1869--Correspondence.
  • Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866--Correspondence.
  • Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891--Correspondence.
  • Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814-1869--Correspondence.
  • Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874--Correspondence.

Organizations

  • United States. Army--Artillery.
  • United States. Army--History.
  • United States. Army--Ordnance and ordnance stores.

Subjects

  • Black Hawk War, 1832.
  • Coast defenses--United States.
  • Mexican War, 1846-1848.

Places

  • Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
  • South Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
  • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.

Occupations

  • Army officers.

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Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged in five series:

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Container List

General Correspondence, 1819-1870

Bound volumes of correspondence, including a journal of 1838-1841, followed by a letterbook and loose correspondence.

Bound volumes of correspondence are arranged chronologically.

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

15 Nov. 1859-28 Dec. 1860

29 Dec. 1860-10 Jan. 1861

11 Jan. 1861-12 Feb. 1861

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.

Arranged alphabetically by subject or type of 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.

Arranged chronologically.

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.

Described according to the series and container from which it was removed.

Commissions and certificates (Container 17)

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