A Kentuckian who gallantly defended the Union garrison of Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Civil War!
(1805-1871) Graduated in the West Point class of 1825. He participated in the Black Hawk, Florida Seminole, and Mexican Wars, and was twice brevetted for gallantry. In November 1860, he was ordered to Charleston Harbor to command the three United States forts there; Castle Pickney, Fort Moultrie, and Fort Sumter, in the face of South Carolina's imminent secession. Anderson refused a formal demand for his surrender and in the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter was bombarded, and the Civil War began. His small garrison withstood 36 hours under fire before being compelled to surrender. Anderson became a national hero for his heroic actions. He personally raised the United States flag over Fort Sumter on April 14, 1865, exactly four years after he had hauled it down.
Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Standing view in uniform with rank of brigadier general, his kepi with hat wreath insignia sits on the fringed table at his side. 1861 C.D. Fredricks & Co., New York imprint on the front mount. Backmark: Charles D. Fredricks & Co., 587 Broadway, New York. Period ink signature on the reverse, From S.H. Moseley, with a period ink ID written below, "Maj. Gen. Robert Anderson." Light corner, and edge wear, with a couple of tiny pin pricks near the top edge, and a thin vertical scratch at the top of the card which does touch the side of his head, but it is not deep enough to go through the card mount. Very sharp image. Priced inexpensively to compensate for the surface scratch. Very desirable, and uncommon 1861 pose of the Union hero of Fort Sumter, whose well known name instantly conjures up visions of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and start of the War Between the States. |