Charles DeWitt Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles DeWitt Anderson
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| Born | July 7, 1828 South Carolina |
| Died | November 21, 1901 (aged 73) Galveston, Texas |
| Place of burial |
Old Cahill Cemetery in Galveston
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| Allegiance |  United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1856–61 (USA) 1861–65 (CSA) |
| Rank |  First Lieutenant (USA) Colonel (CSA) |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Charles DeWitt Anderson (born July 7, 1828 – died November 21, 1901) was a fascinating American who did many different jobs! He was a soldier, helped build railroads, designed structures as a civil engineer, and even worked as a lighthouse keeper. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army and later as a Confederate officer during the American Civil War. Anderson is especially remembered for his decision to surrender Fort Gaines during the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864.
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Early Life and Education
Charles DeWitt Anderson was born on July 7, 1828, in South Carolina. In 1839, when he was about 11 years old, his family traveled by sea to Texas. At that time, Texas was an independent country, not yet a U.S. state. Sadly, both of his parents died during the long sea journey.
After arriving in the port city of Galveston, Charles and his brother were adopted. An Episcopal minister took them in and raised them.
Becoming a Soldier
In 1846, Anderson became the very first Texan to be appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was recommended by Sam Houston, who founded Texas. Charles started his studies there on September 1.
He found some subjects at West Point quite challenging. He struggled with French and mathematics. Because of this, he decided to leave the academy on November 13, 1848.
Even though he left West Point early, Anderson was directly commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1856. He became a second lieutenant on June 27. He joined the 4th U.S. Artillery unit. He was promoted to first lieutenant on July 6, 1859. Anderson served with his unit in Florida and later in the Utah Territory. He was in Utah when the Civil War began in 1861. He took a break from duty and traveled home. After a long journey, he decided to resign from the U.S. Army. His resignation was accepted on April 1, 1861.
Service During the Civil War
When the American Civil War started in 1861, Charles DeWitt Anderson chose to support his home state and the Confederate side. On March 16, he was made a first lieutenant in the Confederate Artillery.
His first job was at Fort Morgan. This fort guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay in Alabama. He was in charge of a small group of regular soldiers. These soldiers were separate from the volunteer forces. He was also responsible for the fort's weapons and ammunition. His small group had only two officers and nine enlisted men. On November 9, Anderson officially joined the volunteer service. He became a major in the 20th Alabama Infantry. Another officer took over his command of the regular soldiers.
In late 1861, Anderson and the 20th Alabama unit were stationed in Knoxville, Tennessee. On February 15, 1862, he left this unit. He joined the staff of Brigadier General Adley H. Gladden in Mobile, Alabama. In April, during the Battle of Shiloh, Anderson worked as General Gladden's assistant. After General Gladden died in the battle, his staff was broken up. The next month, Anderson took command of the 21st Alabama Infantry. He was elected its colonel on May 8. This regiment became part of Mobile's defenses. Anderson commanded it through 1862, 1863, and into 1864.
The Surrender of Fort Gaines
By May 1864, Anderson was acting as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. That fall, Union forces began attacking Mobile Bay. Anderson was given command of Fort Gaines. This fort was located on Dauphin Island, right across from Fort Morgan.
On August 5, the Union Navy ships sailed past both forts. Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed nearby. Both the Union ships and soldiers began firing cannons at Fort Gaines. The heavy naval shells easily went through the fort's walls.
Even though the fort only had moderate damage, Anderson's men became very scared. They demanded that he surrender. At first, Anderson refused. But he realized his soldiers were about to refuse to fight. So, he agreed to surrender on August 8, after three days of shelling.
Anderson handed over between 818 and 864 men and 26 cannons. His superior officer, Brigadier General Richard L. Page, strongly criticized Anderson's surrender. He called it a "deed of dishonor and disgrace." Page also criticized Anderson for allowing his second-in-command to abandon nearby Fort Powell earlier. However, Page himself surrendered Fort Morgan two weeks later after only one day of attack. Military historian David J. Eicher thought Anderson's efforts to defend the fort were "halfhearted."
Anderson spent the rest of the war in a military prison in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was released in 1865. Interestingly, David Farragut, the Union admiral who commanded the ships at Mobile Bay, had a special wish before he died. He asked that the sword he received when Anderson surrendered be returned to Anderson. He wanted this "in recognition of his gallantry," meaning his bravery. Farragut even said in his official report that Anderson had fought better than Page.
Life After the War
After the Civil War ended in 1865, Anderson returned to Texas. He found work building railroads. He was then elected to serve two terms as the chief engineer for the city of Austin.
Next, Anderson went back to Galveston, Texas. There, he helped build the Galveston Island Lighthouse. From 1895 until his death six years later, Anderson was the keeper of that lighthouse. He died in November 1901, reportedly from the "grippe" (which is like the flu). He was buried in the Old Cahill Cemetery in Galveston.
