The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-12-07
DEATH OF GEN, ANDERSON.

The hero of Fort Sumter, died at
Nice, France, on the 26th of Octo-
Der. He has been in Europe nearly
two years, endeavoring to recruit his
health, but in vain. .....
We find a condensed biography of
Gen. Anderson in the Cincinnati
Chronicle, from which we take the
following extract: ..
Robert Anderson was q native of
Kentucky, his birthplace being near
Louisville. He was only twenty
years old when he graduated at West
Point and entered into active service
AS Lieutenant in the army In the
Florida war he gained promotion to
Captaincy, and subsequently distin-
guished himself in Mexico, whittier
he went with Gen. Scott in ls47, TAX
ing part in the capture of Vera Cruz,
and serving with great creditthrough-
out the rest of the campaign. which
terminated in the occupation Ct the
Mexican capital. In the severe and
destructive battle of Moline def Rey,
he received, early in the engagement,
a bullet wound in the shoulder, in
spite of which he gallantly led the
detachment which first entered that
stronghold, and maintained his posi-.
ton until victory was assured. II
was found impossible to extract the
bullet, and the wound was q source
Of much suffering during the remain.
der of his life, no doubt laying the
foundation of the disease which has
disabled him in years past for active
service.
In 1853 he took charge of the mil.
itary asylum of Harrodsburg, KY,
which was founded under his aus
pices. After serving on q commits.
sion to investigate the condition of
West Point, In 1860, be was assign.
ed, In November of that year, to the
command of the defenses of Charles
ton Harbor. His headquarters were
in Fort MOult,ie, a work of little
strength from the shore side, having
been constructed to resist attack
from the sea and not from the land,
from which it was easily command.
ed. ......
On the goth of December, 1850,
the South Carolina ordinance of &c.
cession was passed, and the purpose
OF taking possession Of the United
Slater property in the harbor of
Charleston was Immediately mani
tested. With a little force of less
than seventy men, in the works Of
Fort Moultrie, Major Anderson could
not hold out against the batteries
erected on shore, and an easy victory
was expected in this first overt Of
treason. Fort Sumter was work of
very different character, and capable
of sustaining prolonged siege. An
derson's quiet removal to that s,reng.
hold on the night of December Goth,
with out awaiting orders from Wash
ington, surprised the rebels and cleo.
trifed the whole country. Here he
maintained himself, without rein
forcements and with only feeble and
unsuccessful attempt on the part of
Buchanan's Administration to send
him supplies, until on the l4th Of
April, after sustaining a prolonged
canonading, he was compelled to
surrender, as detailed in the follow
ing official notification to the Secrets.
~ of War;:
STEAMSHIP BALTIC, OFF SANDY Hook,
April Is. '61-10:30 A. NJ, via New York.
Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty
tour hours, until the quarters were entire
ly burnt, the main gates destroyed by fire,
the gorge walls seriously injured, the mag.
azine surrounded by flames, and its door
closed from the effects of heat four bar
rels and three cartridges of powder only
being available, and no provisions remain
ing but pork, / accepted terms of evacua-
tion offered by Gen. Beauregard-being
the same offered by him on the 14th inst,
prior TO the commencement of host ilities-
and marched out of the fort on Sunday af.
ternoon, the 18th instant, with colorslfly.
ing and drums beating, bringing away my
company and private property, and salut.
ing my flag with fifty guns.
RoBERr, Anderson.
Major First Artillery Commanding.
Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Sec'y Of War.
Gen. Anderson was everywhere
received by Union citizens with the
greatest enthusiasm, and his name
had a warm place in all patriotic
hearts. The long siege just gone
through, unhappily, had lett his ner.
vous system 80 seriously impaired as
to unfit him for the leading part he
would otherwise have played in the
subsequent events of the time. Aside
from command, expected to be
rather nominal than active, assigned
him in Kentucky, where his influence
was strongly felt on the side of his
country, the General was unable to
render important service during the
war. Subsequently he was placed
on the retired list, on good pay,
which, with his other incomes, placed
him above want. He lived chiefly
in New York, until 1859, when he