Robert Anderson (Civil War)

Robert Anderson
Born	(1805-06-14)June 14, 1805 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	October 26, 1871(1871-10-26) (aged 66) Nice, France
Place of burial	West Point Cemetery
Service / branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1825–1863
Rank	Brigadier general Brevet major general
Unit	3rd Regiment of Artillery 1st Regiment of Artillery
Commands	Fort Sumter Department of the Cumberland Fort Adams
Battles / wars	Black Hawk War Second Seminole War Mexican–American War Siege of Veracruz Battle of Cerro Gordo Skirmish of Amazoque Battle of Molino del Rey (WIA) American Civil War Battle of Fort Sumter
Alma mater	United States Military Academy

Robert Anderson (June 14, 1805 – October 26, 1871) was a United States Army officer during the American Civil War. He was the Union commander in the first battle of the American Civil War at Fort Sumter in April 1861 when the Confederates bombarded the fort and forced its surrender, starting the war. Anderson was celebrated as a hero in the North and promoted to brigadier general and given command of Union forces in Kentucky. He was removed late in 1861 and reassigned to Rhode Island, before retiring from military service in 1863. In 1865, he returned to Fort Sumter to again raise the American flag that he had lowered during the 1861 surrender.