Officer, Artillerist · Union
Robert Anderson
1805 – 1871
The Federal major who moved his garrison to Fort Sumter, surrendered it in April 1861, and came back four years to the day to raise the same flag.
Charleston
Anderson moved his small garrison from Fort Moultrie across the harbor to Fort Sumter under cover of darkness the night after Christmas 1860 — a decision he made on his own authority, and one that turned an unfinished brick fort into the most closely watched place in America. The bombardment opened at half-past four on the morning of 12 April 1861; after some thirty-four hours he agreed to terms, and on 14 April marched his men out with their colors flying and their drums beating, taking the fort's flag with him.
The evacuation was meant to close with a hundred-gun salute. A premature discharge killed Private Daniel Hough and mortally wounded Private Edward Galloway, and the salute was stopped at fifty. Hough is generally reckoned the first man to die in the Civil War, and he died after the shooting had stopped, in a ceremony marking a bloodless surrender.
On 14 April 1865, four years to the day, Anderson came back to the ruin of Fort Sumter and raised the same flag he had hauled down. Several of the photographs in this collection were made at that ceremony. That night, in Washington, Lincoln was shot.
Life
A Kentuckian and a former slaveholder. He reached New York on 18 April 1861 to crowds along the shore, ringing bells and firing cannon; Lincoln made him a brigadier general within the month and sent him to his native Kentucky, where ill health forced his relief in October 1861 and William T. Sherman took over from him. He retired from the army in 1863.
Service
- Majorcommissioned1st U.S. Artillery, artillery · Union armyuntil 26 December 1860Fort MoultrieDavis & Melton 2020
- Majorcommissioned1st U.S. Artillery, artillery · Union army26 December 1860 to 14 April 1861Fort SumterDavis & Melton 2020
- Brigadier GeneralcommissionedUnion armyuntil October 1861Davis & Melton 2020
Each rank is the rank held at the time described. A later promotion is shown only in its own dated entry.
Places
Commanded from Fort Moultrie
until 26 December 1860 · confirmed
Commanded from Fort Sumter
26 December 1860 to 14 April 1861 · confirmed
Burial
Not yet documented.
Photographs
What is established, and on whose authority
- verifiedBorn 14 June 1805; died 26 October 1871.Davis & Melton 2020
- verifiedMoved the Fort Moultrie garrison to Fort Sumter on the night after Christmas 1860, on his own authority.Davis & Melton 2020
- verifiedSurrendered Fort Sumter on 14 April 1861 after some thirty-four hours of bombardment, marching out with colors flying.Davis & Melton 2020
- verifiedPrivate Daniel Hough was killed by a premature discharge during the evacuation salute, and is generally reckoned the first man to die in the Civil War.Davis & Melton 2020
- verifiedReturned to Fort Sumter on 14 April 1865 and raised the flag he had hauled down.Davis & Melton 2020
- not establishedBurial place.no source
- verifiedThe portrait plate catalogued here as “Robert Anderson” shows this person.National Archives
Identity: verified. Last checked 31 August 2026.
Corrections to this record are welcome through the publisher.