ROBERT ANDERSON.

N the history of the Southern Conspiracy, General ROBERT ANDERSON must hold a distinguished place, being the first federal officer against whom the fatal thought of rebellion took voice in the throat of a cannon; and though his shattered health has constrained him to play no further part in the tragedy which he opened with such brilliancy, his loyalty to "old glory," his wise courage and Christian firmness, in that one hour of peril, will ever keep his name honored and revered among the American people.

General Anderson came from a patriotic and military family. His father, Captain Richard C. Anderson, was the man whose little band surprised an outpost of the Hessians at Trenton, on the night prior to the decisive battle of that place an attack which the Hessian commander, Colonel Rahl, then on the lookout for Washington, construed to be the whole assault against which he had been warned. General Washington met Anderson retreating with his company, and was very indignant at what they had done, fearing it would prepare the enemy for their advance in force. The result, however, proved the contrary, and Anderson was then complimented on the exploit. Captain Anderson served with Washington throughout the New Jersey campaign.

The subject of this sketch is a native of the state of Kentucky. The blood of a brave soldier ran in his veins, and displayed itself in his early desire to adopt the profession of arms. Passing over young Anderson's preliminary studies and scholastic successes, we find him, in 1832, acting inspector-general of Illinois volunteers in the Black Hawk War. He filled this situation, with credit to himself, from May until the ensuing October. In the following June, 1833, he was made first-lieutenant. From 1835 to 1837 he occupied the responsible post of assistant instructor and inspector at the United States military academy. He was assigned to the staff of General Winfield Scott as aide-decamp in 1838; and in 1839 published his "Instructions for Field Artillery, Horse and Foot, arranged for the Service of the United States"-a handbook of great practical value.

Lieutenant Anderson's services during the Indian troubles were acknowledged by a brevet captaincy, April 2d, 1838. In July of the same year, he was made assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain, which he subsequently

relinquished on being promoted to a captaincy in his own regiment, the third artillery.

In March, 1847, he was with his regiment in the army of General Scott, and took part in the siege of Vera Cruz; being one of the officers to whom was intrusted, by Colonel Bankhead, the command of the batteries. This duty he accomplished with signal skill and gallantry. He remained with the army until its triumphant entry into the Mexican capital the following September.

During the operations in the valley of Mexico, Captain Anderson was attached to the brigade of General Garland, which formed a portion of General Worth's division. In the attack on El Molino del Rey, September 8th, Anderson was severely wounded. His admirable conduct under the circumstances was the theme of praise on the part of his men and superior officers. Captain Burke, his immediate commander, in his dispatch of September 9th, says: "Captain Robert Anderson (acting field-officer) behaved with great heroism on this occasion. Even after receiving a severe and painful wound, he continued at the head of the column, regardless of pain and self-preservation, and setting a handsome example to his men of coolness, energy, and courage." General Garland speaks of him as being "with some few others the very first to enter the strong position of El Molino;" and adds that "Brevet-Major Buchanan, fourth infantry, Captain Robert Anderson, third artillery, and Lieutenant Sedgwick, second artillery, appear to have been particularly distinguished for their gallant defence of the captured works." In addition to this testimony, General Worth directed the attention of the secretary of war to the part he had taken in the action. He was made brevet-major, his commission dating from the day of the battle.

In the year 1851, he was promoted to the full rank of major, in the first artillery. It was while holding this rank, and in command of the garrison of Fort Moultrie, that the storm which has so devastated this fair land first gathered strength and broke upon us.

On the 20th day of December, 1860, the state of South Carolina declared itself out of the Union. The event was celebrated in numerous Southern towns and cities by the firing of salutes, military parades, and secession speeches. At New Orleans, a bust of Calhoun was exhibited, decorated with a cockade; and at Memphis the citizens burned Senator Andrew Johnson in effigy. The plague of disloyalty overspread the entire South. In the mean time, while the commissioners from South Carolina and the plotting members of Congress from the border states were complicating matters with a timid and vacillating President, Major Anderson found himself, with less than a hundred men, shut up in an untenable fort, his own government fearing to send him reinforcements. Cut off from aid or supplies, menaced on every side, the deep murmurs of war growing louder and more threatening, the position of Major Anderson and his handful of men became

imminent in the extreme.

At this juncture of affairs, the brave soldier gave us an illustration of his forethought and sagacity.

One sunny morning, crowds of anxious people fringed the wharves of Charleston, watching the mysterious curls of smoke that rose lazily from the ramparts of Fort Moultrie, and floated off seaward-smoke from the burning gun-carriages.

On the night previous, Major Anderson had quietly removed his men and stores to Fort Sumter, the strongest of the Charleston fortifications, and the key of its defences. The deserted guns of Moultrie were spiked, and the carriages burned to cinders. The evacuation of the fort commenced a little after sunset. The men were ordered to hold themselves in readiness, with their knapsacks packed, at a second's notice; but up to the moment of their leaving they had no idea of abandoning the post. They were reviewed on parade, and then ordered to two schooners lying in the vicinity. The garrison flag unwound itself to the morning over Sumter.

The rage of the South at this unexpected strategic manœuvre, was equalled in its intenseness only by the thrill of joy which ran through the North. Major Anderson and his command were safe, for the time being, and treason disconcerted. "Major Robert Anderson," says the Charleston Courier, bitterly, "has achieved the unenviable distinction of opening civil war between American citizens, by an act of gross breach of faith." The sequel proved his prudence. Having all the forts of the harbor under his charge, he had, necessarily, the right to occupy whatever post he deemed expedient. He did his duty, and he did it well. His course was sustained in the House of Representatives, January 7th, 1861.

Before the first burst of indignation had subsided, Fort Moultrie was taken possession of by the South Carolinians, and carefully put into a state of defence. The rebel convention ordered immense fortifications to be built in and about Charleston harbor, to resist any reinforcements that might be sent to Major Anderson. Strong redoubts were thrown up on Morris' and James' Islands, and Forts Moultrie, Johnson, and Castle Pinckney, stood ready to belch flame and iron on the devoted little garrison. Sumter was invested: no ship could ap proach the place in the teeth of those sullen batteries.

On the 8th of April, information having been given by the United States government to the authorities of Charleston, that they desired to send supplies to Fort Sumter on an unarmed transport, they were informed that the vessel would be fired upon and not allowed to enter the port. The United States government then officially advised the insurgents that supplies son, peaceably if possible, otherwise by force. the garrison of Fort Sumter, and bearer of this

would be sent to Major AnderLieutenant Talbot, attached to dispatch, was not permitted to