The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-03
A MONUMENT TO ANDERSON
To Be Unveiled at BOnaVentuTe by
The Military Feb. q.

Citizens to Gen. Robert II. Ander-
son-How the Monument Was
Erected-A Sketch Of the Soldier and
Citizen It Commentaries.
The chief feature Of the celebration Of
Washington's birthday in Savannah will
be the unwilling of the monument to Gen.
Robert H. Anderson in Bonaventure
cemetery. The exercises will be partici-
pated in by the police, the military, and
the citizens generally.
The monument is expected to arrive in
Savannah within the next few days. 1t
is now in the hands Of the architect,
Alexander Doyle, of New York, who re-
ceived the order nearly q year
ago. Mr.. Doyle is the archi-
tect of the Jasper monument
in Madison square, which was considered
sufficient evidence of his skill to entrust
him with the order for the monument to
Gen. Anderson.
The design of the monument Is very
simple, consisting of a large granite base
surmounted by copper bust of Gen. An
derson Of heroic size. The base is suita-
bly, engraved with the name, date of
birth, and death, and principal events Of
the life of Gen. Anderson.
dlSTOH1 OF THE MONUMENT.
The. work Of securing the monument
has gone forward so quietly, that the pub
lie generally was not aware that the
committee which took charge of the
work two years ago had so nearly com
pleted its labors.
The work was undertaken by the men,
bers of the Savannah police force shortly
after the death of their beloved chief in
1888. They met with some success in
hafr OF nrfu nd ho1
$500 and 5000, when interest in the move
ment languished. Two years ago the
committee of the police which had the
movement in hand called upon Col,
w. w. Gordon and other prominent citi-
zens to assist them in the work After a
conference it was decided to call upon the
Georgia Hussars the Savannah Rifle AS
ISOLATION, the Hibernian Society and the
Knights Templar, with which organiza-
tions Gen. Anderson was prominently con-
nected during life, to aid in completing
the work which had been begun by the
police.
A JOINT WORK.
Committees were appointed from the or
CARNATIONS named TO consider the project,
| and after conference it was decided to
entrust the work TO a committee com
posed OF one representative from each of
organizations interested, and the follow
ing committee was selected: Col. w. w.
Gordon, of the Georgia Hussars; DIR.
| William Duncan, of the knights Temp
lar; Mr. G. f. Prendergast. of the Hiber-
MAN Society; Capt. John Green. of the
| Savannah police, and MIR. John M. Bryan,
of the Savannah Rife Association.
| The funds which had been collected by
the police were turned over to this
committee and placed in a savings
bank, as were the funds suisse
| quently collected the interest
accommodating adding materially to the
| sum.
THE MONUMENT ORDERED.
| A sufficient amount was secured to war
rant the ordering of the monument last
spring. The contract price with the ar
chitect was 81 500. This is a remarkably
low figure and less than half what the
monument would have cost under ordi-
nary circumstances. but special pressure
was brought to bear upon Mr.. Doyle, and
on the consideration that he was to be
allowed to do the work at his own con-
venience, he agreed to complete it at the
| figure named.
The programme of the exercises Of the
dedication of the monument has not vet
been arranged All the military of the
| city will be invited to take part and also
all the organizations with which Gen.
ANDERSEN was connected. A large turn
out will probably 0e made by the police,
as to them is largely due the credit of OBJ
tanning the monument.
NAME TO BE HoNoRED.
| Robert Houston Anderson, to whom the
monument is dedicated was born in Sa-
vannah in 1895. He was a son of Capt.
John w. Anderson, a prominent and
wealthy citizen of Savannah.
Capt. Anderson was for long time the
commander of the Republican Blues, then
! one OF the most noted volunteer organi a.
tions in this section. Robert II. Ander-
son received his early education in Sa-
vannah and was appointed a cadet at the
| West Point Military Academy in 1853
He graduated with honors In 1857, and
was for few months instructor in cav
airy tactics at West Point. He was as
| signed as second lieutenant to the Ninth
Infantry, and was ordered to Washington
Territory. He was stationed at Fort
Walla Walla, and served in sew
eral expeditions against the In
dians, and for the protection
of emigrant trains On the breaking out
of the war he resigned his commission
and returned to Georgia. He was ap-
pointed by the confederate government
adjutant general with the rank of captain,
and assigned to duty on Gen. w. II. T..
Walkers staff at Pensacola.
IN THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN.
Gen. Walkers brigade was transferred
to the army of Northern Virginia in the
summer of 1861. Gen. Walker resigned
his command in the winter of 1861, and
Capt. Anderson was opdered TO report TO
Gen. Beauregard. then commanding the
district Of South Carolina and Georgia
In 1862 the confederate congress
passed bill creating battalions OF sharp
shooters and Gen Beauregard authorized
Capt. Anderson TO organize battalion of
four companies in this district, of which
he became major. The battalion was
composed entirely Of Georgians and Mai.
Anderson soon made it famous for its
high state of efficiency and discipline.
This battalion reflected so much credit
upon Maj. Anderson's capacity for organ
ization that in 1868 the cavalry
companies scattered along the coast
of Georgia were consolidated into
the Fifth Regiment Georgia cav
airy under his command as colonel.
Col. Anderson fulfilled all that was ex-
pected Of him in his new position, and the
Fifth cavalry soon became noted organi-
Zation throughout the whole confederacy.
The regiment participated in numerous
skirmishes and expeditions on the coast
of Georgia and Carolina, and waslen route
TO Florida to take part in the campaign
there, but did not arrive until after the
battle of Chester. In the spring OF 1864
the Fifth cavalry was ordered to join the
| western army and reDort To Cen WhaaIer