Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-05-16
Major Anderson at Washington.

Col. Foney furnishes the following in
teresting sketch of Maj. Anderson: f-
Among all the lions now attracting the
attention of strangers in and residents of
Washington, and stimulating the curiosity
OF the outside world, Robert Anderson, as
he called himself in his great dispatch to the
Secretary OF War after his gallant defense of
Sumter, Major of the First Artillery of the
Army OF the United States, has unquestion-
ably awakened the most interest. / met
him yesterday, and studied his character
from an earnest survey of his appearance.
Robert Anderson is a singularly unpretcnd-
ing man, OF medium height, complexion
evidently bronzed by exposure and hard
service, iron-gray hairs and slightly bald, a
face closely sbaven, a large blue-gray eye,
deep set and overshadowed by heavy eye
brow thin, compressed lips fine forehead;
his features long and fixed, indicating self.
reliance, ccomposure Of mind, and withal,
wearing the semblance Of the greatest be-
neyolen,ce. He seemed to avoid observation
and to be somewhat oppressed with the
knowledge that he was the center of it.
When saw him he was in one of the de-
partments and strolled from room to room
with hands full of papers, quietly hum
ming an air, and evidently unconcerned and
satisfied that he had done his duty. l should
Judge his yeass< 70 30 ~ least- forty-tiYes--
Major Anderson has returned from Charles
ton more than ever impressed with the be-
lief that but for the Intervention of SUPER
intending Providence he could not have
escaped sacrifice to the savage and un-
provoked attacks of the Disunonists. -
Silent as he is and cautious in the utter
ance of his sentiments, he does not con-
ceal his opinion that under the surface
of their ostentatious courtesy those men bore
to him, as the representative of flag they
feared because they had insulted it, deep,
implacable hatred. There is one opinion he
does not hide, either from President OF
Cabinet ministers. and that is that the hand
Of God has been stretched forth to protect
our Union, and save it from its adversaries
But for the unprovoked attack upon Sumter
the Northern people would have been divid
ed into factions.
| The Administration, penetrated with {
profound sense of the einappreciable services
of Anderson and his men, are ready to con
fer upon him any honor. The Presiden
would have gladly nominated him to ons
of tho highest military appointments in his
gift, and it is believed that an offer was mad
to him to go abroad for the purpose of re
storing his health, greatly shattered by hi
long captivity behind the battlements o
pI Sumtor. l learn, however, that he has il
reserve the ful6llment of duty which h
believes he owes to his country, and that
after having settled his accounts, he will re
turn to his native State of Kentucky an
there raise the banner of the Constitutio
and the Union, and proclaim himself j
, favor Of the existing policy of the Govern
ment. How much like Garibaldi, who
putting behind him the glittering honor
extended to him by Victor Emanuel, avoit
ing displays before the populace, retires t
his little island of Caprera,
al "Whose sapphire gates
d Begule him to her fair esates,"
To his Kentucky, there to rest him from h
b tolls, and still, Ike the red-shirt General {
I Italy, ready to offer his life to his believe
y country. l0
Our dispatches state that Major Andc
v son has accepted the command of the Ke