http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms010047 Robert Anderson Papers A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress Prepared by Manuscript Division Staff Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2009

Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm78010967

Finding aid encoded by Glenn R. Gardner, 2010 Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Robert Anderson Papers 1819-1948 (bulk 1836-1870) MSS10967 Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871 5,000 items 19 containers plus 1 oversize 5 linear feet 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 Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

 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. Administrative Information 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 Miscellany, 1838-1911 Eba Anderson Lawton Papers, 1833-1919 Addition, 1861-1948 Oversize http://lccn.loc.gov/mm78010967 Container List Container Contents 1-17 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.

1 Includes journal for 1838-1841, 13 Dec. 1819-5 Mar. 1836, 1838-1841 2 9 Mar. 1836-21 Sept. 1839 3 23 Sept. 1839-29 Mar. 1842 4 30 Mar. 1842-7 Feb. 1846 5 9 Feb. 1846-1 Apr. 1847 6 4 Apr. 1847-19 Sept. 1853 7 26 Sept. 1853-12 Nov. 1859 8 15 Nov. 1859-28 Dec. 1860 9 29 Dec. 1860-10 Jan. 1861 10 11 Jan. 1861-12 Feb. 1861 11 13 Feb.-11 Apr. 1861 12 12 Apr.-17 May 1861 13 18 May-24 Aug. 1861 14 25 Aug. 1861-7 Jan. 1862 15 9 Jan. 1862-12 May 1864 16 14 May 1864-29 Aug. 1870, undated 17 Letterbook of correspondence written from Trenton, N. J., 8 Jan. 1856-24 Oct. 1859 17 Letters 17 To Nathaniel Silsbee, 22 June 1858 17 To Nathaniel Silsbee, 9 Dec. 1859 17 To Nathaniel Silsbee, 26 Jan. 1861 17 To Lloyd Tilghman, 20 Mar. 1861 17 To Nathaniel Silsbee, 30 May 1861 17-18 Miscellany, 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 17 Commissions and certificates See Oversize 17 Discharge certificate of Jean Botzy, First Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique, 31 Dec. 1838 17 "Evolutions of Batteries," 1840, published in 1860 by United States War Department, Evolutions of Field Batteries of Artillery, 1840; 1860 17 "Instruction for Siege, Garrison, & Sea Coast Artillery," including draft of "Evolutions of Field Batteries of Artillery," 1843 17 Photolitho facsimile of telegram, Anderson to Simon Cameron, 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

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 19 Addition, 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 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)