Union commander at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina

Photograph taken on February 8, 1861

(1805-1871) Born near Louisville, Kentucky, the son of a lieutenant colonel of the Continental Line in the American Revolution, Anderson graduated in the West Point class of 1825. He participated in the Black Hawk and Florida Indian Wars, in the Mexican War, and was twice brevetted for gallantry. Promoted to rank of major in 1857, he was ordered to Charleston Harbor in November 1860 to take command of the three United States forts there; Castle Pickney, Fort Moultrie, and Fort Sumter, in the face of South Carolina's imminent secession from the Union. Major Anderson refused a formal demand for his surrender of the forts, and in the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter, where Anderson was stationed with his garrison, was bombarded by Confederate forces and the Civil War began in earnest. His small garrison withstood 36 hours under extremely heavy Rebel fire before being compelled to surrender. Accepting the terms that were offered to him by the Confederates, Major Anderson and his beleaguered garrison marched out of the fort with full military honors, their colors flying, and the Union soldiers honored their flag with a fifty gun salute. Anderson's brave conduct unified the Northern states, and sent the important message to them that this was now a shooting war! The time for words was over, and the time for fighting had begun. For his gallant actions at Fort Sumter, Major Robert Anderson was thrust into the national spotlight and he became a military hero. Upon his celebrated arrival in New York, President Abraham Lincoln promoted him to rank of brigadier general in the Regular Army effective May 15, 1861. Anderson was then sent to his home state of Kentucky where he helped maintain the state's nominal allegiance to the Union. General Anderson later fell seriously ill, and was forced to retire in October 1863. In one of those historic moments in our country's history, he personally raised the United States flag over Fort Sumter on April 14, 1865, exactly four years after he had taken it down upon the fort's surrender! He also received promotion to brevet major general. Anderson died in Nice, France, on October 26, 1871, at the age of 66, and his remains were returned to the United States for burial at the United States Military Academy, at West Point, N.Y.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Bust view wearing a double breasted uniform coat with epaulettes. Imprint on the front mount, Major Robert Anderson, U.S.A. Taken At Fort Sumter Feb'y 8, 1861. Published By E. Anthony, 501 Broadway. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by E. Anthony, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York. Very minor age toning. Overall an excellent card. This 1861 image of Major Robert Anderson, taken at Fort Sumter, is his most famous and popular pose! It would be a very nice addition to any Civil War image collection.