Major Robert Anderson

On June 14, 1805 in Louisville, Kentucky, Major Robert Anderson was born. In 1825 Anderson graduated from the United States Military Academy and in the second U.S. Artillery received a commission as a second lieutenant. Robert Anderson also served as colonel of the Illinois volunteers in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Anderson later on went to serve in the Seminole War, the Mexican War, and was later given the promotion to major of the first U.S. Artillery in the Regular Army. From here, Anderson would lead his garrison in the battle at Fort Sumter during the Civil War.

Before the Civil War started, Major Robert Anderson was located at the indefensible Fort Moultrie. When demands in turning over the fort increased after the secession declaration, Anderson decided to move his garrison on the night of Christmas to Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter was yet complete and was missing nearly have the cannon that should have been supplied there due to the military downsizing of James Buchanan.

Right before Fort Sumter was attacked, Abraham Lincoln was elected president which caused South Carolina and six other states to secede and form the Confederate States of America in 1861. The Confederate forces started to take control of many federal forts and houses, leaving only a few forts left, one of which was Fort Sumter.

Over the next few months, the Confederates contacted Anderson to surrender the fort, and any chance of supplying the fort was hopeless. Anderson knew things were not looking good.

The confederates informed Anderson at 3:20 a.m., that they would open fire in one hour. At 4:30 a.m. the confederates started to open up on the fort. Anderson knew there was only little he could do with only sixty guns. Anderson would only use some of his guns at a time due to the possibility of them being shot at by confederate fire. After thirty- six hours of being shot at, Anderson surrendered