The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-08
GENL ANDERSON DEAD.
81, DIsTTNGUISHED CABEER.
.,,. Connection with the Tredeesr Works.
nj, Great Ability ne Man of Bust
nes.-Iutcrest in Political Affairs.

q.
ceacral Joseph II. Anderson. who had
a. several days been at the point of
,,s,h. had passed away at $50 in the
corning nc the Isle of Shoals. on the
.,,I Of Maine. 90 which place he had
como with his wife and his son. Colonel
,-.hcr Anderson. in the hope that the
..s air would restore his health, which
Dad been seriously impaired for several
months Previous to going to the Isle
Of shoals he had spent several weeks Mt
re White Sulphur Springs. and on his
r.mrn 10 the city it was hoped that his
condition, which had improved very
~ De would be stil further improved by
o. ..-ourn at the North. His strength was
lent 10 allow him to bc removed,
Dr.. from the time Of his arrival at the
Isl. NJ Shoals il gradually declined, until
.afh Supcrvcncd. In his last hours he
,.s surrounded by all OF his surviving
..f~en Previous to his last illness
e.-rral Anderson had during the course
long life enjoyed exceptionally fine
t.ffh being man of a naturally strong
..r>-ifution. which he had preserved un-
...s.-cd hv % life Of perfect habits. Up
o.. Irne. when his decline began, he was
t. picture of "A hale and vigorous old
'.. which often excited remark. His
interest I'm passing events was as lively
o.. j. was twenty years ago, ana there
mas not the slightest torewarnlng oil the
..-v termination of his career lie died
v,.tour having suffered from any or
e,r.o disease. but simply from the gen
s- breaking down of his system.
cALErR OF GENERAL ANDERSON.
ro.s,b r. Anderson was born on the
eb ~ February. 1913, nc Walnut Hell,
,.,.. scat Of his father. William Anderson,
,,sr Fircasle. in Botetourt county. He
ms one NJ SIX children, his brothers be-
,,. the late Or William Anderson, the
Ian, fr5re Frank Anderson. of the court
- snooals.and the late John L. Anderson.
.n r,an of the highest standing for char
Ter and usefulness The mother az
General Anderson was Miss Thomas.
member Of the family to which the late
t-uiant Governor Francis Thomas. Of
MARYLAND. belonged The early lite ~
tho General was passed in BOtetourt
county. where be received his education
n-eri6us 10 bis appointment as cadet
~ West Point His career as student
io tho Military Academy was one of the
highest distinction. He graduated rs
second In a class Of sixty eight. he was at
once aupoirted 10 the engineer corps, and
was stationed for a short time at Fortress
Monroe From this point, he was sent
10 Charleston, but returned In the same
year. 1887. 10 Fortress Monroe. While
stationed there before. he had met Miss
Sallio Archer. daughter of Or. Robert
Archer. surgeon of the Post, and one OF
the most distinguished members of his
profession in the United States Army.
Miss Archer was as lovely in character
rs She was beautiful III person. In 1851,
Lieutenant Anderson and herself were
married. In the succeeding year he was
detailed TO assist Colonel Crozet in inl-
portant internal Improvements, IN which
ih0t well-kDown engineer was en-
c.cei by the direction Of the State OF
Virginia. 1t was at this time that Cen
erl Anderson surveyed and superin-
tended the general construction of the
great turnpike. which was long the only
highway between stanton and the lower
valley. and which remains to-day m0nu-
raut of engineering skill. About 1883,
Boz resigned from the army, ind took up
n, re sidence In this city. For short
tine he was engaged in the commission
lsiness. and il was while in this bust
ness that he first formed the connecuon'
Witch vas 20 open up to him his dlStIl-
guishpd career in the branches OF iron
manufacture which he followed.
TRKDIoAR WORKS.
At this time. the Tredegar Works was
owned by the firm of Dean Il Cunning
ham. and were run on a small scale, there
being only one bar mill, a guide mill,
foundry and a puddle mill General An
dersOn became the commercial agent OF
this firm. Recognizing the great posi-
bilities which lay in the business he
leased the works for five years, begin
ming in 1S43. In this step he was asso-
ciated with several members OF his Wlies
family. His next step was TO buy OUT the
whole interest Of the old irIn the COIN
many then formed oelng known as An
1erson Morris & Co. This was subsc-
ouentlv changed to J. Il. Anderson ~
Co. which ircludCd the General himself
Or Robert s. Archer, Major Robert :.
Archer. aud the father of Colonel WI
liam T.. Tanner This firm entered INTO
the manufacture of general 1oun-
inv products and various forms
of rolled iron A large proportion OF the
machinery for the sugar mills OF LOulsl-
ana was manufactured by the nrn, ana
@ vast quantity Of Government ordnance,
rroiectiles and cable iron for Government
slirs. The Tredegar Works had now
grown TO be one Of the most important or
lbs Kind i'm the United States, and under
tie direction of General Anderson was
constantly assuming larger proportions,
The Armory Iron Company, which had
been started by Or. Robert $ Archer,
was consolidated with the Tredegar be
for, the war came on. enlarging Its ca
Vacty and increasing the variety of Its
work When the war began General An
ler,On was commissioned a brlgadler-
general by the Confederate authorities,
lt with the distinct understanding on
Tire part of Congress that he should be
recalled from the field whenever the IN
ttgests Of the Confederacy required that
Do should give a personal supervision TO
tho Government material In the process
o' manufacture at the TredeSar Under
ths commission ne took part N the terri
Die battle at Gaines Mill.
GENERAL ANDERsoN's CALAMITY.
About a year ago there appeared II
these columns letter from valued cor
respondent Of The Times, who now ie-
sides u Essex county giving a graphic
ac0unt If the impressions which tie
writer had formed Of the splendid gal
laarrr of General Anderson III one OIL the
mo.t bloody episodes Of that awful cou-
tiot The Governments dependence
upon the Tredegar Works for supplies
O. ordnance becoming greater as the war
went ou. General Anderson. in OPPOSE
Ton r0 his own wishes, was ordered 10
takr personal charge of the works again
As lbs executive head his services to the
tolfoleracy were Of the very highest
value, and no man in the South contrib
rfel more in the sphere iii which he
operated 10 the success of the Confed-
crate arms Duriug the great contest he