Richard Heron “Fighting Dick” Anderson
Born: October 7, 1821
Birthplace: Sumter County, South Carolina
Father: Dr. William Wallace Anderson 1789 – 1864
(Holy Cross Episcopal Church Statesburg, South Carolina)
Mother: Mary Jane MacKensie 1788 – 1832
(Buried: Church of the Holy Cross Cemetery, Stateburg, South Carolina)
1st Wife: Sallie Gibson 1830 – 1872
(Buried: Saint Lawrence Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina)
Married: Estimated... Pre-1852
2nd Wife: Martha Ellen Mellett 1855 – 1928
(Buried: High Hills Baptist Church Cemetery, Stateburg, South Carolina)
Married: December 24, 1874
Children:
Richard Gibson Anderson 1852 – 1898
(Buried: Mount Moriah Cemetery, Deadwood, South Dakota)
Sarah Gibson “Sallie” Anderson Blanding 1857 – 1949
(Buried: Sumter Cemetery, Sumter, South Carolina)
Education:
1842: Graduated from West Point Military Academy (40th out of 56)
Occupation before War:
1842 – 1844: Brevet 2nd Lt. in United States Army, 1st Dragoons
1842: Attended Cavalry School of Practice, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
1843: Frontier Duty at Little Rock, Arkansas
1843: Frontier Duty at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory
1843: Participated in the March to Fort Washita, Indian Territory
1843: Escorting Indian Agent to the Red River
1843 – 1844: Frontier Duty at Fort Washita, Indian Territory
1844 – 1848: 2nd Lt. in United States Army, 2nd Dragoons
1844 – 1845: Frontier Duty at Fort Jesup, Louisiana
1845 – 1846: Served in the Mexican American War
1847: Served in the Siege of Vera Cruz, Mexico
1847: Participated in the Battle of Contreras, Mexico
1847: Participated in the Battle of Molino del Rey, Mexico
1847: Served in the Capture of Mexico City, Mexico
1848 – 1855: 1st Lt. In United States Army, 2nd Dragoons
1849 – 1850: Recruiter at Cavalry School of Practice, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
1850 – 1852: Recruiting Service for United States Army
1852 – 1853: Frontier Duty at Fort Graham, Texas
1853 – 1854: Frontier Duty at Fort McKavett, Texas
1854: Frontier Duty at San Antonio, Texas
1855 – 1861: Captain in United States Army, 2nd Dragoons
1855 – 1856: Frontier Duty at Fort Riley, Kansas Territory
1856 – 1857: Served in the Bleeding Kansas Affair
1858: At Cavalry School of Practice, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
1858 – 1859: Served in the Utah Expedition
1859 – 1861: Frontier Duty Fort Kearney, Nebraska
1861: Resigned from United States Army on March 3rd
Civil War Career:
1861: Colonel of 1st South Carolina Infantry Regiment
1861 – 1862: Brigadier General in the Confederate Army, Infantry
1861: Wounded in left elbow during Battle of Santa Rosa Island, Florida
1862: Participated in the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia
1862: Participated in the Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia
1862: Participated in the Battle of Seven Pines
1862: Participated in the Seven Days Campaign in Virginia
1862 – 1864: Major General of Confederate Army, Infantry
1862: Participated in the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia
1862: Participated in the Battle of Antietam, Maryland, wounded in thigh
1862: Not heavily engaged during the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia
1863: Participated in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia
1863: Heavily Participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1864: Commander of the First Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
1864: Participated in the Overland Campaign
1864: Heavily Participated in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
1864: Participated in the Battle of Cold Habor
1864: Promoted to the rank of Temporary Lt. General of Infantry
1864: Reverted back to rank of Major General after Longstreet returned
1864 – 1865: Commander of Fourth Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
1865: Heavily Participated in the Battle of Saylor's Creek, Virginia
1865: Pardoned by the United States Government, but no sign of a Parole
Occupation after War:
1866 – 1868: Planter in Stateburg, South Carolina
1868 – 1878: Railroad Agent for South Carolina Railroad
1879: South Carolina State Phosphate Inspector & Agent
Died: June 26, 1879
Place of Death: Beaufort, South Carolina
Cause of Death: Sudden death
Age at time of Death: 57 years old
Burial Place: Saint Helena's Episcopal Church, Beaufort, South Carolina
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