ADDRESS 
 
 DfiLIVERED AT THE 
 
 U. 5. niLITARY ACADEflY, 
 
 WE5T POINT, N. Y. 
 
 AT THE EXERCISES INCIDENT TO THE 
 
 CENTENARY OF 
 MAJOR-GENERAL ROBERT ANDERSON, 
 
 U. S. ARflY. 
 
 JUNE 14TM, 1905. 
 
 BY- 
 
 COLONEL ARTILLBr/ CORPS, 
 UNITED STATES ARMY, 
 

 f\ n i- 
 
<^.c/tt. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Telegram received 10 P. W. 
 New York (Jity, June 10, li)05. 
 To Colonel Greenough, Fort Hamilton, N. Y. H. 
 General Grant requests me t'> ask you from him 
 to deliver my father, General Andersoii's, centenary 
 address at West Point on Wednesda}^, June 14Hi. * * 
 Full memorial services by order of secretary of war. * * 
 
 Blrs. jfames M. Lawton. 
 
 While on duty at the U, S. M. A. from 1868 to 1873 it 
 was my privilege to be associated with Major-General 
 Robert Anderson, and with his family in a way which 
 made me feel that I understood and appreciated the 
 inner character of the man ; consequently when after a 
 lapse of many years I received the dispatch above, it 
 seemed but fitting, in view of the occasion, to make some 
 effort to present to my audience what had impressed me 
 as prominent and beautiful in the personality of the 
 distinguished soldier, and deduce therefrom what I 
 might, rather than content myself with matters well 
 known in his public career and needing no reiteration. 
 
 The extracts used are selected with as much care as 
 the limited time permitted, from a mass of official docu- 
 ments and private papers of General Anderson ia kands 
 of his daughter. 
 
 c^i^^:^^^/ 
 
 Ft. HawiJfm^ N. Y. Colonel, Artillery Corps. 
 
 August I sty lyof,. U. S. Anny. 
 

ADDRESS ON THE 
 
 Ctntenary of HAJOR GENERAL ROBERT ANDERSON 
 
 U. S. ARHY. 
 
 Comrades and Friends : 
 
 It is difficult now to fully realize or appreciate the 
 motives which actuated the people of the United States 
 at the outbreak of the war in 1861. It suffices for our 
 purposes to know that, believing in certain doctrines or 
 impelled otherwiae, first South Carolina, then in suc- 
 cession ten other states passed ordinances of secession 
 from the Union and proceeded to orpraiiize for the bitter 
 struggle which might result, although many hoped 
 that once it became evident the Soutlu^rn States were 
 determined in the matter, a peaceable S'^paration would 
 be acquiesced in by those of the North. Ir. is not nec- 
 essary to-day to enlarge on what is familiar to all, to 
 attempt a summary of the magnificent effort of the 
 South in support of its stand, or to outline the grand 
 and successful one of the N' orthern, Western and Border 
 States to preserve intact the great Union which thereby 
 has become permanent. 
 
(2) 
 
 It suffices to call attention only to the fact that the 
 masses on each side fought nobly for what they thought 
 right, and have abided by the outcome. That since 
 Appomattox, notwi-thstanding many trials, many mis- 
 takes, the dauntless energy and patriotism of a reunited 
 people have largely healed the wounds of war and 
 developed the resources of our great country. 'Vhis 
 process is still going on. Schools, academies and other 
 Institutions of learning have sprung up for those who 
 lacked such advantages. Foundries, mills, mines and 
 other great industries have been and are being devel- 
 oped everyv^■here. 
 
 But in 1861 mf^n were wrought up to the inghest 
 tension, not knowing v/hat was before them. 'I iu,' fail- 
 fabric of their f;i!hers seemed to be tottering and ready 
 to fall. Many whose hearts were with the Union hesi- 
 tated, having been bred in the doctrines of State rights 
 or doubting the wisdom of interference with those who 
 desired separation. At this time the Army of the United 
 States was but some sixteen thousand, three hundred 
 and sixty seven strong— eighteen thousand and ninety 
 three officers and men had the ranks been full. Of the 
 one hundred and ninety eight companies of the line, 
 one hundred and eighty three were on the frontier, or 
 en route to posts west of the Mississippi. Thus but 
 fifteen held the Canadian frontier and the Atlantic 
 Coast from Maine to the Gulf. Of this scant strength 
 General Upton says that "only twenty-six enlisted men 
 are known to have joined the Bebellion", but "three 
 hundred and thirteen officers", a total "of less than 
 three percent", while no regiment, company or detach- 
 ment even for a moment forgot its duty to the fing its 
 members had sworn to protect." Of those -Southern 
 born who remained true to the flat,'- was the siorliiig 
 character whom we have met to-day to honor, Aude: son 
 of Kentucky. 
 
 Robert AnJerson^ son of Colonel Richard Cloitgh Andcr- 
 .s^w— an aid to Lafayette, also to (general Nelson at York- 
 town —and Sarah Marshall, cousin of the Chief Justice, 
 
(3) 
 
 wa^boi^n at his father's estate— "The Soldiers' Retreat"— 
 near Louisville, Ky., June 14th, 1805. He was 
 appointed a Cadet at large in 1821. On July 20th of 
 that y^ar he marched with the Corps of Cadets en route 
 to Boston, as private in the 2nd Company. His journal 
 of this trip is interestinof, and ^Yi]l tmd its place at the 
 spot he loved so well— his Alma Mater. He graduated 
 in July, 1825, and was assigned to the Artillery Corps. 
 Joined th*^ company commanded by Captain Joseph P. 
 Taylor at Fort Monroe, reporting to Colonel William K. 
 Annistead. 
 
 Shortly after joining he was detailed with his com- 
 nuind to attack and," if possible, to capture the pirate 
 Tardi, whose ship had been driven into Hampton 
 Roads by stress of weather. He proceeded with a small 
 party in rowboats to the pirate ship and attacked 
 immediately. His fearless onslaught soon made him 
 master of the vessel and 7 ardi shot himself dead on the 
 deck to escape capture. The crew were all made pris- 
 oners and conveyed to Fort Monroe, They were taken 
 to Richmond and brought to trial before Chief Justice 
 Marshall. After young Anderson had given his testi- 
 mony he was sent for by the Chief Justice and scolded 
 for not having made himself known to the cousin of 
 his mother and one of his father's dearest friends. 
 
 On October 21st, 1825, he accompanied his half brother, 
 Richard Clough Anderson^ our first Envoy Extraordin- 
 ary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Colombia, as his 
 Private Secretary. His letters from there are most 
 interesting. On his return after the death of his 
 brother, he was assigned to duty at the Artillery 
 School of Practice and later placed on (inbuince duty 
 at the St. T.ouis Arsenal. 
 
 ^V]len the lUack tlawk War began he was ai)pointed 
 Actitig inspector General on the 'AVd.^i of General 
 Alkinson, and subsequently Governor Rcjiwlds commis- 
 sioned iiim Inspector General of the Illinois Volunteers. 
 Yv'hile on this duty he first became associated with 
 Lincoln and jfeffcrsu,. Davis, whose names were after- 
 
U) 
 
 wards so closely connected with his through the stirring 
 events of 1861. After the Black Hawk War he was 
 assigned by special orders to the Ordnance Corps, in 
 recognition of his special qualifications for duty therein. 
 No officer of his day did more to promote the efficiency 
 and esprit of the Artillery, or labored more zealously or 
 successfully for his arm of the service. Especially 
 meritorioifts-wero his efforts towards the development of 
 the Field Artillery. 
 
 To his persistent efforts (beginning in 1836 and 
 crowned with success in 1851) the enlisted men of the 
 army are indebted largely for the Soldier's Home in 
 Washington. 
 
 On December 27th, 1860, he received the following 
 telegram from the War Department ;— 
 
 "Intelligence has reached here this morning that you 
 have abandoned Fort Moultrie, spiked your guns, 
 burned the carriages and gone to Fort Sumter. It is 
 not believed, because there is no order for any suoh 
 movement. Explain the meaning of this report." 
 /. B. Floyd, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 Major Anderson's reply was as follows : — 
 "The telegram is correct. I abandoned Fort Moultrie 
 because I was certain that, if attacked, my men must 
 have been sacrificed and the command of the harbor 
 lost. I spiked the guns and destroyed the carriages to 
 keep the guns from being used against ns. If attacked 
 the garrison would never have surrendered zvithout a 
 fight y 
 
 Not one member of the command except Anderson 
 himself knew of his purposf^ to evacuate Fort Mo-iltrio 
 until after that fort ha,d booii'.lis.nantied and al aiidc ned 
 and the garrison was en route to Fort Sinntcr. 'J'Ijo 
 flag was r;ii-^8tl over iSuinter wlrh |)niy*-^r. On tVnoi.'il. 
 Anderson was eoni'-rred the high distinction of liolstinii;^ 
 the flag anew over Fort Mimter, April 13, 1<S0g. 
 
 Major Anderson at tha,t time (LSijl) was a comparative 
 stranger to his command. Onh o»ne of the officers — 
 
(5) 
 
 Seymour— had previously known him. The garrison 
 consisted of less than one hundred officers and men 
 all told ; two coaipanies of the First U. S. Artillery and a 
 band of about twelve men. This is not the time to go 
 into the glorious defence of Fort Sumter and its evacua- 
 tion ; that belongs to history ; I am only giving you 
 to-day facts that are not so well known. 
 
 After Major Andersojt had returned from Fort Sumter, 
 an officer, a life long friend, went to him almost 
 broken hearted, having to choose between his state 
 and his government. He said: "I was born in the South 
 and, if my state secedes I must join her. But oh! the 
 Old Flag, Bob; it will break my heart to fire against 
 it." The Major put his arm around his friend's neck 
 and said "It is all so clear to me that I have been 
 spared all doubt. Where we were born was not a matter 
 of our own volition, but, w/ieu jjue took the oath of 
 allegiance to our govet twient it was an act of our inanhood 
 and, my friend, we are bound to keep it". 
 
 Much of the reeponsibility for the crisis at Fort 
 Sumter was placed on its commander. His orders 
 required him not to fire a gun until he was attacked 
 He was not permitted to strike the first blow and thereby 
 secure that moral advantage. But his faith never 
 faltered. 
 
 In May, 1861, tl>ough in failing health, by direction 
 of the Prseident he formed and assumed command of 
 the Department xof Kentucky. His wife (Union to the 
 core), herself very ill and convinced that his broken 
 constitution could not withstand the strain, begged 
 him not to enter upon this arduous duty. He answered, 
 with tears in his eyes, "my wife, my country first.'' 
 
 His last labor of love before he went abroad was to 
 write to all his old Army friends, asking them to join 
 in his effort to form an Association of Graduates of the 
 Military Academy. But one letter in reply has been 
 preserved— that from General Thayer^which, with the 
 original little book in which he had the autographs of 
 all the members who met at the College of the City of 
 
New York a few days before he sailed, is now in the 
 safe keeping of his Alma Mater. 
 
 A few days after this—he had just been retired— the 
 General set out for Europe to recup^^rate. He was 
 received everywhere with much honor and distinction 
 especially in Berlin and Dresden. In France he settled 
 at Tours, where he had a very pretty place called 
 "Paradis de Portillon." The officers and soldiers of 
 the garrison invariably saluted him and the guard 
 turned out when he passed the barracks. He w^as called 
 by the soldiers and the people there "le General de 
 Portillori'\ rarely was he referred to as '"General Ander^ 
 son.'"' 
 
 He was at Lyons during the Commune. One day, in 
 driving, the carriage was met by a, crowd of Commun- 
 ists with the tri-color and the cap of liberty. The car- 
 riage was stopped, and the leader told the coachman 
 to immediately put on the tri-color which was handed 
 to him. The General arose and, throwing back his old 
 military cloak (he was in undress uniform which he 
 always wore, said in French) : "My friends, this is my 
 servant for the time being and I will not allow him to 
 wear the tri-color. " He stood, calm and collected, and 
 waited. For a few moments the din was horrible. 
 Finally some one called out "It is the American Gen- 
 eral" ; then, awed by the quiet majesty of the man, the 
 crowd shouted "Vive le general americain, Laissez 
 Passer !" Every head was uncovered and, with a quiet 
 salute in recognition from the General, the carriage 
 with its occupants passed unscathed. 
 
 General Anderson died at Nice on October 27th, 1871. 
 The French authorities gave him a military funeral. 
 The "Guerriere," sent by our Government for the pur- 
 pose, brought his remains to this country, and the Navy 
 delivered his body into the hands of his comrades of 
 the Army at Fortress Monroe, where he had been in- 
 strumental in organizing the Artillery School. He was 
 given a public funeral in the city of New York, the 
 Old Guard acting as Guard of Honor, and he was at 
 
last laid to rest at the spot he loved best on earth, the 
 only home he had had during his life. 
 
 Throughout his noble life his devotion to his God, 
 his country and his family; his unvarying truth and 
 honor his hatred of gossip and scandal endeared J^oderi 
 A fide? son to all who knew him. 
 
 I will now read a few letters showing how he was re. 
 garded by men high in the alTairs of the nation ; also 
 expressing his views regarding certain matters of duty 
 and an extract from a newspaper of his day which re- 
 quires no comment. 
 
 Washington, D. C, 
 
 March 4, 1861. 
 My Dear Major: 
 
 I have Just come from the inauguration of Mr. 
 Lincoln. Let the issue be what it may, you will connect 
 with your name the fame of historical recollections 
 with which like itself can enter into no comparison. 
 One of the most grateful of my remembrances will be 
 that I was once your commanding officer. 
 
 y. A. Dix, 
 
 (Senate) 
 Washington, D. C, 
 
 February 12, 1861. 
 My Dear Anderson: 
 
 I received your letter with the greatest satisfac- 
 tion. The sentiments it contained are noble and char- 
 acteristic of you. Go on, my friend, as you have begun. 
 Act out the part that has fallen to your part to the end. 
 It is the end that gives character to human actions and 
 puts upon them the seal of truth and honor. Yo^lr 
 conduct has been the more conspicuous because of the 
 many instances of weakness or worse in other public 
 officers, who have allowed themselves to be overcome 
 by soft words and flattering fallacies. Truth and 
 honor are instincts of your nature and you have fol- 
 
(8; 
 
 lowed their directions amidst difficulties and dangers 
 I am proud to call myself your friend- 
 
 I am as always, 
 
 your frrend, 
 y, y. Crittenden. 
 
 Washington, D. C, 
 
 May 1st, 18t)l. 
 Major Robert Anderson: 
 My Dear Sir: 
 
 A few days ago I caused an official letter to be 
 written to you through the War Department, expressive 
 of the approbation and gratitude I considered due you 
 and your command from this government. I now 
 write this as a purely private and social letter to say I 
 shall be much gratified to see you here at your earliest 
 convenience, when and where I can personally testify 
 my appreciation of your services and fidelity ; and, 
 perhaps, explain some things on my part, which you 
 may not have understood. 
 
 With deep respect, 
 StQcerely yours, 
 Abraham Lincoln, 
 
 October 27th, 1841. 
 Adjutant General, 
 
 Eastern Department, 
 Sir: 
 
 I forward herewith, my oath taken this day on 
 the notification of my promotion to a captaincy in the 
 3rd Regiment of Artillery. 
 
 Desirous that the reasons, which induced the appli- 
 cation for orders to join my company, which, I now 
 respectfully make, may not be misunderstood, I beg 
 leave to state some of the most prominent. 
 
 I believe, that however good and perfect may be the 
 organization of the staff of an army, unless the char- 
 acter, pride, and esprit du corps of the company officers 
 have been elevated and maintained, that that army 
 
(9) 
 
 cannot be depended upon either in peace or war. I be- 
 lieve that one of the best means of obtaining these de- 
 sirable ends, and of securing good discipline and per- 
 fect order in the companies, is to keep the captains of 
 the line with their companies- as experience. I think, 
 has shown that no one but the captain feels that interest 
 and pride in the welfare and condition of the company 
 which are essential to make soldiers contented and effi- 
 cient. 
 
 I also think that a sound military principle which 
 asserts that an officer holding two commissions should 
 serve under the highest. My appointment as Assistant 
 Adjutant General brought with it the brevet ranK of 
 Captain. 
 
 I this day took the oath on receiving notice of my pro- 
 motion to a full captaincy in the line. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Robert Anderson. 
 Captain, 3rd Artillery. 
 Headquarters, E. L>. 
 
 Acknowledged >«ov. 18, 1861. 
 
 By John E. Wool. 
 (Erom a newspaper of Wednesday, August 29th, 1832). 
 "A scene at the Battle of Bad Axe during the Black 
 Hawk War, August 2nd, '32." 
 
 "When our troops charged the enemy in their defiles 
 near the bank of the Mississippi, men, women and 
 children were seen mixed together in such a manner 
 as to render it difficult to kill one and save the other. 
 A young squaw of about 19 years stood in the grass at 
 a short distance from our line, holding her little girl 
 about four years old in her arms. While thus standing 
 apparently unconcerned, a ball struck the right arm of 
 the child above the elbow, and shattering the bone 
 passed into the breast of its young mother, which in- 
 stantly felled her to the ground. She fell upon the child 
 and confined it to the ground also. The babe was heard 
 to groan and call for relief ; and before the battle had 
 
(10) 
 
 subsided, Lieutenant Robert Anderson of theU. S. Army 
 went to the spot, took from under the dead mother her 
 wounded daughter, brought it to the place we had 
 selected for dressing wounds, and placed it there for 
 surgical aid. It was soon ascertained that its arm must 
 come off, and the operation was performed without 
 drawing a tear or a shriek. The child was eating a 
 piece of hard biscuit during the operation. Jt was 
 brought to Prairie du Chien, and we learn that it has 
 nearly recovered. This was one among the many scenes 
 calculated to draw forth a sympathetic tear for humau 
 misery. The spurs won by the gallant young lieutenant 
 on this day were all the brighter for this act of mercy." 
 
 lA^wX^T^-eiXiX. Anderson was just 27 years of age ; he was 
 Assistant Inspector General on the Staff of General 
 Atkinson, and Inspector General of Illinois Volimteers, 
 with rank of Colonel. It was in this campaign that he 
 mustered Abraham Lincohi into the service. 
 
 In eulogizing the noble dead thoughts crowd the 
 memory, ideas follow each other too rapidly to be 
 jotted down. Would it be amiss here to address myself 
 to my younger comrades, who are to represent the 
 Citizen and the i\ational Military Academy in the 
 years to come, and to beg of them to study themselves, 
 their strong points as well as their weak ones, manfully, 
 candidly ; and so strive that when their race shall be 
 run they may be able to look back and say "I have 
 given my best to my country at all times, day by day, 
 hour by hour. For the sake of those who follow I have 
 led a temperate, pure life ; my posterity will be able to 
 speak of me with such honorable pride as can the de- 
 scendants of General Robert Anderson.'^ 
 
 Tou of the Military Academy remember always that 
 its best traditions originated with men who antedated 
 the Academy, who were not graduates but institutors 
 of it, and that it behooves you through life to recall that 
 the brilliant minds which enter the service from else- 
 where than our Alma Mater will ever struggle for the 
 prizes in life, so that success on your part in upholding 
 
(11) 
 
 those traditions and the honor of the Academy can only 
 result from continued effort and study at all times and 
 places, long after you 
 
 "Doff the Cadet to don the Brevet, 
 And change the Grey for the Blue." 
 
 It is related that during the French invasion of 
 the Tyrol, a young lad, a cripple from childhood, 
 watched the men, women and children of his hamlet 
 as they prepared obstacles along the roadways and 
 other approaches, leaving beacons ready for firing to 
 warn the neighborhood in need. That upon an occasion 
 of holiday, when, owing to a fancied security due to 
 snow and storm, even the sentinels had left their sta- 
 tions to Join in the merriment, this cripple wandered 
 out towards the beacon, and while there, painfully 
 feeling that he had been, could be of no service during 
 the attack, heard a murmur, a cautious treading of feet; 
 fiually subdued voices and a clank of equipment com- 
 ing not from the village but the reverse. He arose, 
 struck flint to steel and started the signal fire. As the 
 fiarnes spread and arose, answered by others more and 
 more distant giving increased light, by shouts and the 
 approach of rapid footsteps, he was exposed suddenly 
 to view ; a volley rang out from the enraged invaders ; 
 the lad fell wounded to death, but his sacrifice had 
 resulted in the discomfiture of the enemy and he died 
 in the arms of his friends, bright in the thought that 
 he had given his life for his country. 
 
 Longfellow says : 
 
 ''Lives of great men all remind us 
 We can make our lives sublime. 
 And, departing, leave behind us 
 Footprints on the sands of time. 
 
 Footprints that perhaps another, 
 Sailing o'er life's solemn main, 
 A forlorn and shipwrecked brother 
 Seeing, shall take heart again. 
 
(12) 
 
 Let us then be up and doing, 
 With a heart for any fate ; 
 Still achieving, still pursuing 
 Learn to labor and to wait." 
 
 Yo2i.r opportunity is in the future. All cannot be 
 equally brilliant; all cannot attain commensurate suc- 
 cess; but it is well within the power of each one 
 to contribute his best to the advancement of mankind 
 and to the defence of his country. 
 
 In every relation in life we find ourselves in contact 
 with very varying temperaments. Many have peculiar- 
 ities of form, speech, manner; fail in some way to be 
 congenial to us socially, or satisfactory in ofQoial or 
 other business relations. It adds very greatly to their 
 use in the world, and equally so to our own peace of 
 mind, to follow the Japanese rule. 
 
 "See not, hear not, speak not evil." 
 
 The greatest wrong and greatest scandal can develop 
 from inuendo. Every officer or other person in garrison 
 or camp life should carry no slighting, careless or ill 
 considered tale to the detriment of any fellow ; but 
 should seek to see, to bring out, to develop the better 
 side of, the innate good that is in, everyone ; and thus 
 crowd out so much of that darker life which will dis- 
 appear as it lacks nutrition. 
 
 While the lives of distinguished alumni constitute a 
 just cause for commendable pride, we must ever remem- 
 ber that side by side with them, vieing in patriotism 
 and mental ability, have been the thousands of other 
 citizens who gave up /?/?^/r vocations to take every risk 
 for their country. Many of these latter began by carry- 
 ing a musket, swinging a saber or pulling a lanyard ; 
 others yet with the advantage of the shoulder strap. 
 Name after name will rise to our memories and cause 
 us to thank God that with such men as Gra^tt, Sherman, 
 McClellan, Lyon, Meade, Thomas, Hunt, Upton — I cannot 
 name all— were Logan, Buney, Hayes, Garfield, McKinley ; 
 in lesser rank at that time Lawton, Egbert, Reilly so 
 
(13) 
 
 many, so mauy— besides others still living who cannot 
 therefore be named though well known and appre- 
 ciated. Nor after the lapse of these many years, when 
 honoring the memory of a noble Union soldier and 
 calling up the names of his many eminent compeers ; 
 when grateful that through their efforts our country is 
 as it is imited and, perhaps, the happiest ; would it be 
 amiss to name other American citizens who, although 
 mistaken, were stauch and true to their belief of right. 
 To name them because of their high character as men, 
 of their ability as soldiers, and because such naming 
 emphasizes what has just been stated. Such men were 
 R. E. Lee, Jackson, J. E. B. Stuart, Longstreet, the two 
 Johnstons, who were graduates ; Forrest, Colquitt, Gordon, 
 Talliaferro, many noble men who were not. 
 
 Hence the graduate of the Military Academy to-day, 
 as well as those who aspire to be such, should bear in 
 mind that duty to one's country is a sacred obligation 
 upon every citizen; that to do one's best is none too 
 much for the country to expect of each of her sons. 
 That continuous elTort is essential to all ; no less is in- 
 dispensable to win the lasting esteem of one's country- 
 men or the positions of honor and trust for which every 
 honest man should strive. 
 
 In the noble, manly character of General Robert 
 Anderson is to be found what every American should 
 aspire to have in his; pure life, ability, integrity, 
 honor, patriotism. 
 
 Senator J. J. Crittenden, in his "Farewell to the 
 Senate," said : 
 
 "Long after Fort Sumter shall have crumbled away, 
 brightly will stand forth the example of Anderson as 
 that of a soldier true to his standard, and of an Ameri- 
 can true to his country." 
 
 This and the record of his life in his country's 
 history constitute Anderson's epitaph. He has no mon- 
 ument.