Collection Summary
Robert Anderson Papers
1819-1948
(bulk 1836-1870)
1819-1948
(bulk 1836-1870)
MSS10967
Anderson, Robert,
1805-1871
5,000
items
19 containers plus 1 oversize
5 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
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.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
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.
Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889--Correspondence.
Clinch, Duncan Lamont, 1787-1849--Correspondence.
Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876--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.
Duane, Richard B. (Richard Bache), 1823-1875--Correspondence.
Fish, Hamilton, 1808-1893--Correspondence.
Harllee, W. W. (William Wallace), 1812-1897--Correspondence.
Hatch, L. M. (Lewis M.), approximately 1814- --Correspondence.
Holt, Joseph, 1807-1894--Correspondence.
Jamison, D. F. (David Flavel), 1810-1864--Correspondence.
Lawton, Eba Anderson, -1919. Eba Anderson Lawton papers.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Correspondence.
Magrath, A. G. (Andrew Gordon), 1813-1893--Correspondence.
Pickens, F. W. (Francis Wilkinson), 1805-1869--Correspondence.
Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866--Correspondence.
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891--Correspondence.
Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869--Correspondence.
Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874--Correspondence.
Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875--Correspondence.
Willard, G. L. (George L.)--Correspondence.
Organizations
United States. Army--Artillery.
United States. Army--History.
United States. Army--Ordnance and ordnance stores.
United States. Army. Department of Kentucky.
United States. Army. Department of the Cumberland.
Subjects
Batteries (Ordnance)--South Carolina.
Black Hawk War, 1832.
Coast defenses--United States.
Fortification--South Carolina.
Mexican War, 1846-1848.
Places
Fort Moultrie (S.C.)
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
South Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.
Occupations
Army officers.
Provenance
The papers of Robert Anderson, United States Army officer, were given
to the Library of Congress by Maria and Sophie Anderson in 1922. Additional
material was transferred from the Library of Congress Archives in 1989.
Processing History
The collection was processed in 1954. The finding aid was revised in
2000 and again in 2009.
Additional Guides
A card index of correspondents in the Anderson Papers is available for
use in the Manuscript Division Reading Room.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Robert Anderson
is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Robert Anderson are open to research. Researchers are
advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Robert Anderson Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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
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.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in five series:
-
[
General
Correspondence, 1819-1870
](gencorr)
-
[
Miscellany,
1838-1911
](misc)
-
[
Eba Anderson
Lawton Papers, 1833-1919
](eba)
-
[
Addition,
1861-1948
](addition)
-
[
Oversize
](oversize)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-17
General
Correspondence,
1819-1870
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.
1
Includes journal for 1838-1841,
13
Dec. 1819-5 Mar. 1836, 1838-1841
13
Dec. 1819-5 Mar. 1836, 1838-1841
2
9
Mar. 1836-21 Sept. 1839
9
Mar. 1836-21 Sept. 1839
3
23
Sept. 1839-29 Mar. 1842
23
Sept. 1839-29 Mar. 1842
4
30
Mar. 1842-7 Feb. 1846
30
Mar. 1842-7 Feb. 1846
5
9
Feb. 1846-1 Apr. 1847
9
Feb. 1846-1 Apr. 1847
6
4
Apr. 1847-19 Sept. 1853
4
Apr. 1847-19 Sept. 1853
7
26
Sept. 1853-12 Nov. 1859
26
Sept. 1853-12 Nov. 1859
8
15
Nov. 1859-28 Dec. 1860
15
Nov. 1859-28 Dec. 1860
9
29
Dec. 1860-10 Jan. 1861
29
Dec. 1860-10 Jan. 1861
10
11
Jan. 1861-12 Feb. 1861
11
Jan. 1861-12 Feb. 1861
11
13
Feb.-11 Apr. 1861
13
Feb.-11 Apr. 1861
12
12
Apr.-17 May 1861
12
Apr.-17 May 1861
13
18
May-24 Aug. 1861
18
May-24 Aug. 1861
14
25
Aug. 1861-7 Jan. 1862
25
Aug. 1861-7 Jan. 1862
15
9
Jan. 1862-12 May 1864
9
Jan. 1862-12 May 1864
16
14
May 1864-29 Aug. 1870, undated
14
May 1864-29 Aug. 1870, undated
17
Letterbook of correspondence
written from Trenton, N. J.,
8
Jan. 1856-24 Oct. 1859
8
Jan. 1856-24 Oct. 1859
17
Letters
17
To Nathaniel Silsbee,
22 June 1858
22 June 1858
17
To Nathaniel Silsbee,
9 Dec. 1859
9 Dec. 1859
17
To Nathaniel Silsbee,
26 Jan. 1861
26 Jan. 1861
17
To Lloyd Tilghman,
20 Mar. 1861
20 Mar. 1861
17
To Nathaniel Silsbee,
30 May 1861
30 May 1861
17-18
Miscellany,
1838-1911
1838-1911
Presentation copies of books, clippings and other printed matter,
commissions, and miscellaneous material.
Arranged alphabetically by subject or type of material.
17
Book of clippings about Anderson,
including letters from authors who dedicated hymns and poems to Anderson,
2
Jan. 1861-Oct. 1871
2
Jan. 1861-Oct. 1871
17
Commissions and certificates
[
See Oversize
](anderson1)
17
Discharge certificate of Jean
Botzy, First Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique,
31
Dec. 1838
31
Dec. 1838
17
"Evolutions of Batteries," 1840,
published in 1860 by United States War Department,
Evolutions of Field Batteries of Artillery
,
1840; 1860
1840; 1860
17
"Instruction for Siege, Garrison,
& Sea Coast Artillery," including draft of "Evolutions of Field Batteries
of Artillery,"
1843
1843
17
Photolitho facsimile of telegram,
Anderson to Simon Cameron,
18
Apr. 1861
18
Apr. 1861
17
Presentation volumes
17
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.)
17
Major Robert Anderson and Fort Sumter 1861
, by
Eba Anderson Lawton (New York: Knickerbacker Press, 1911. 19 pp.)
17
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.)
17
Within Fort Sumter by One of the Company
(New
York: N. Tibbals & Co., 1861. 72 pp.)
18
Miscellaneous clippings and
printed matter
18
Activities of Eba Anderson
Lawton (daughter)
18
Attack on Fort Sumter, S.C.
19
Eba Anderson Lawton
Papers,
1833-1919
1833-1919
Mainly letters received by Lawton regarding Robert Anderson.
Arranged chronologically.
19
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
1833-1919
19
Addition,
1861-1948
1861-1948
Photocopies of annotated drawing by Truman Seymour of Cummings
Point near Fort Sumter, S.C.
19
Annotated drawing of Cummings
Point near Fort Sumter, S.C., by Truman Seymour, negative and positive
photocopies,
1861, 1948
1861, 1948
OV 1
Oversize
Commissions and certificates.
Described according to the series and container from which it was
removed.
OV 1
Commissions and
certificates (Container 17)