Major George Wayne Anderson Jr, (August 5, 1839 – August 10, 1906) was an officer in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. He commanded the Republican Blues and later

Fort McAllister Fort McAllister was a Confederate earthen-work fort used to defend Savannah, Georgia during the American Civil War. It was the southernmost of the forts defending Savannah and was involved in the most battles. It was located on the Ogeechee River ...

near

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Br ...

before its capture in 1864.

Early life and military career

Anderson attended the University of Virginia 1856–1859. He enlisted in the Georgia 2nd Infantry Company (Republican Blues) on 31 May 1861, as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

. The Blues were a military company formed in Savannah in 1806, and served during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

in Florida. Unlike most Confederate units formed during the Civil War, the Republican Blues had been an existing militia organization for over fifty years before the war started. They recruited from the most prominent families in and around Savannah. The Blues visited New York City in 1860, hosted by their counterparts in the city. There was much goodwill expressed during the visit, as reported in the New York Times. They fought in all the nation's wars after The Civil War as part of the

Georgia National Guard The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S. state of Georgia, and consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard. (The Georgia State Defense Force is the third military unit of the Georgia Depa ...

, except for the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

. Anderson was promoted to command the Blues after his uncle, John Wayne Anderson, retired in 1862. The Blues served under the U.S. flag before taking up arms against it, and after the war they continued their existence in the National Guard of the reunited nation. RepublicanBlues1860

Civil War

Anderson and the Blues were assigned to

in 1862 to bolster its defenses. This reunited him with his older brother, Colonel Robert H. Anderson, who was leading Fort McAllister's garrison before a promotion would send him to lead the 5th Georgia Cavalry in support of General

Joseph Wheeler Joseph "Fighting Joe" Wheeler (September 10, 1836 – January 25, 1906) was an American military commander and politician. He was a cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and then a general in ...

. George Wayne Anderson was placed in command of the fort following the death of Major John B. Gallie on February 1, 1863. McAllister was one of three forts protecting Savannah, the others being

Fort Pulaski A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

and

Fort James Jackson Fort James Jackson (usually shortened to Fort Jackson and informally known as Old Fort Jackson) is a restored nineteenth-century fort located one mile east of Savannah, Georgia, on the Savannah River. It hosts the Fort Jackson Maritime Museum. ...

standing in Confederate defiance of the Union naval blockade. The southeast coast of the United States was the place where both combatants tested the latest in naval artillery and coastal defenses. Fort McAllister was the key to unlocking the defenses around Savannah, one of the most important Confederate ports on the Atlantic Ocean. The battles to come would prove to be pivotal in the war, with President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

winning reelection as one result. Mcallister plan 02

Union Navy Commander

John Lorimer Worden John Lorimer Worden (March 12, 1818 – October 19, 1897) was a U.S. Navy officer in the American Civil War, who took part in the Battle of Hampton Roads, the first-ever engagement between ironclad steamships at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 9 Mar ...

, who commanded against in March, was placed in command of the new

ironclad An ironclad is a steam engine, steam-propelled warship protected by Wrought iron, iron or steel iron armor, armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships ...

and was ordered to ready an attack on

. Taking advantage of the opportunity to test the new

Dahlgren gun Dahlgren guns were muzzle-loading naval artillery designed by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren USN (November 13, 1809 – July 12, 1870), mostly used in the period of the American Civil War. Dahlgren's design philosophy evolved from an accidental ...

and the armor of the Passaic-class ironclad for the first time, on 27 January Rear Admiral

Samuel Francis Du Pont Samuel Francis Du Pont (September 27, 1803 – June 23, 1865) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, and a member of the prominent Du Pont family. In the Mexican–American War, Du Pont captured San Diego, and was made commander of the Ca ...

sent ''Montauk'', along with the gunboats ''Seneca'', ''Wissahickon'', ''Dawn'' and the mortar

schooner A schooner () is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail schoon ...

''C. P. Williams'' to bombard the Fort. USS Montauk destroys CSS Rattlesnake

The Union was hoping that the new armament and projectiles would have as much success there as they had achieved earlier at

. The new guns had reduced that fort to ruins within hours, the garrison surrendering under the incessant pounding. At Fort McAllister, after seven hours of fire from the monitors during the day, and from the mortar boats through the night, the attack resulted in only minor damage. Only three men were wounded, but all felt the loss of the fort's mascot, Tom Cat. He died during the shelling, and today there is a marker in his honor inside the fort. The design of Fort McAllister proved to be surprisingly resilient, absorbing most of the impact from the shells and was quickly repaired overnight. Neither the heavy guns nor the ironclad ships were able to destroy the fort because it was earthwork, not made of bricks and stone. Imagine how disheartening it would be to fire on the fort all day, only to see it reappear seeming undamaged overnight. After seven unsuccessful engagements over the next year, the US Navy retired to Ossabaw Sound to await the coming of General

William Tecumseh Sherman William Tecumseh Sherman ( ; February 8, 1820February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865), achieving recognition for his com ...

, now on the march and destroying Georgia.

Sherman approaches

Anderson made the decision to defend the fort after not receiving orders or telegraph communications from General William J. Hardee regarding how he should react to the threat approaching. General Sherman believed that the outcome of the entire campaign rested on capturing Fort McAllister, opening his way to the sea. To lead the attack, Sherman assigned his best, his old 2nd Division that he led at Shiloh, now commanded by General

William Babcock Hazen William Babcock Hazen (September 27, 1830 – January 16, 1887) was a career United States Army officer who served in the Indian Wars, as a Union general in the American Civil War, and as Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army. His most famous serv ...

You will have to capture that fort

General Sherman and his staff, along with the Signal Corps, observed the attack from Cheve's Rice Mill, about 3 miles from the fort. As they stood on the roof of the mill, nervously awaiting the assault to begin, a staff member remarked "George Anderson is in command, General, the flag will never be lowered. You will have to capture that fort." He knew Anderson from boyhood, and that he would not surrender, even with his forces outnumbered 25 to 1. Fort McAllister proved not only to be resilient, but its fall gave birth to some of the kindness and compassion that would ease reconciliation. After Union forces under General Hazen's 2nd Division attacked, the 47th and 70th Ohio, 90th and 111th Illinois overwhelmed the defenders. Attacking from all sides, as well as along the riverbank, the fight was over quickly. The battle ended after Confederate Captain Nicholas B. Clinch, engaged in ferocious hand-to-hand combat, was overwhelmed and subdued. Fort McAllister battle flag, GA, US

General Hazen was one of the first Union soldiers inside the fort, where he spotted both Clinch and Major Anderson in the thick of the fight. Having attended the US Military Academy at West Point with Anderson's older brother, General Robert H. Anderson, Hazen was familiar with both the Anderson and Clinch families in Savannah. Seeing the stunned and bleeding commander sitting on a wooden crate, Hazen spoke to him, "Major Anderson, my apologies for your rough treatment." Anderson looked up at him and said "It's war, General. My men gave it their best, I assure you. These men were not prepared to give you anything". Hazen could see across the marsh to the rice mill where General Sherman watched and waited, anxious for a signal that the fort was theirs. Looking back to Anderson he spoke, "Get to the rear, George, and report to me later.". Fort McAllister is where

Sherman's March to the Sea Sherman's March to the Sea (also known as the Savannah campaign or simply Sherman's March) was a military campaign of the American Civil War conducted through Georgia from November 15 until December 21, 1864, by William Tecumseh Sherman, major ...

ended, and where the war ended for Major Anderson.

Reconciliation begins

"The fort never surrendered, it was captured by overwhelming force", recalled Anderson. General Hazen agreed with Anderson's accounting of the battle, reporting that his forces fought "the garrison through the fort to their bomb-proofs, from which they still fought, and only succumbed as each man was individually overpowered." Before being confined, Anderson observed a company of Union soldiers marching out of the fort, on a course that would lead them into some buried ordinance that would have detonated under their feet. Taking their hand, Anderson led them out of harms way. This story was fondly remembered years later in a letter from the once-young lieutenant George W. Sylvis of the 47th Ohio, when he wrote to his old adversary. The old wounds were beginning to heal. With McAllister captured, General Sherman's forces were able to link up with the Union Navy delivering much-needed supplies and clearing the way to Savannah. The Confederate leadership realized the hopelessness of the situation following McAllister's capture and withdrew their remaining forces into South Carolina. In a telegram dated December 22, 1864, General Sherman presented the city of Savannah as a Christmas gift to President Lincoln. During the evening that the fort fell, Anderson was being held at the Anderson family home, Lebanon plantation the new headquarters of General Hazen. General Hazen and Lt. Col. Strong invited General Sherman to dinner, to celebrate their victory. In a kind gesture of respect, General Hazen also invited Major Anderson to attend the meal, after clearing the request with Sherman. The discussion was surely lively - during the meal Anderson engaged in a heated exchange with General Sherman about the tactics employed to defend the fort and the bravery of all who fought there. Cigars were exchanged and smoked, tributes were made to the fallen. Major Anderson was sent to Hilton Head, SC; Point Lookout, MD; then on to the Old Capitol Prison, in Washington DC. He was later transferred to

Fort Delaware Fort Delaware is a former harbor defense facility, designed by chief engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten and located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River.Dobbs, Kelli W., et al. During the American Civil War, the Union used Fort Delaware as a ...

before taking the oath of alliegance on June 4, 1865, being released under the orders of General

Ulysses Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...

. Anderson then returned to Savannah and his home, Lebanon plantation, just up the road from Fort McAllister.

Postbellum career

Anderson worked for the W W Gordon company in Savannah after the war, entertaining many with stories of both the war and that 'old rascal', General Sherman.Durham, p. 169 His older brother, Robert H. Anderson was appointed by two post-Civil War Presidents to serve on the Board of Visitors at West Point, while Police Chief of Savannah for over 20 years. George Wayne Anderson died in Savannah in 1906, and is buried near his friend Major Gallie at

Laurel Grove Cemetery Laurel Grove Cemetery is a cemetery located in midtown Savannah, Georgia. It includes the original cemetery for whites (now known as Laurel Grove North) and a companion burial ground (called Laurel Grove South) that was reserved for slaves and fr ...

State of Georgia Resolution Commending Captain Anderson in the defense of Fort McAllister

Excerpted from the resolution honoring both Anderson and the garrison under his command. Resolved, that Capt. George W Anderson, Jr., who succeeded Major Gallie in command of that post, for the cool courage and successful defense of Fort McAllister, and the noble band under the wise orders of this youthful Commander, deserve the kind remembrance and grateful feelings of the people of the state.

Gallery

File:USS Montauk 8harpers1863.jpg, USS Montauk Attacks Fort McAllister File:Columbiad cannon (1964 reproduction) at Fort McAllister, GA, US.jpg, Columbiad cannon (1964 reproduction) at Fort McAllister, GA, US File:Fort McAllister Now 01.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 02.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 03.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 04.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 05.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 06.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 07.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 08.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 09.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:Fort McAllister Now 10.JPG, Fort McAllister in 2014 File:GWAjrLaurelGrove.jpg, George Wayne Anderson Jr Gravesite at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, GA File:GWAjrLG.jpg, George Wayne Anderson Jr Gravesite at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, GA File:GWAjrLG2.jpg, George Wayne Anderson Jr Gravesite at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, GA File:LebanonPlantationHouse.jpg, Main House at Lebanon Plantation in Savannah, GA

References

Citations

Sources

*Livingston, Gary, ''Among the Best Men the South Could Boast - The Fall of Fort McAllister'', Caisson Press, 1997, Library of Congress Catalog 96-92895 *Sherman, William Tecumseh, ''Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman'', Penguin Putnam The Library of America, 1990, *Foote, Shelby, ''The Civil War, a narrative - Vol III - Red River to Appomattox'', Vintage Books - Random House, 1986, *Christman, William E., ''UNDAUNTED: The History of Fort McAllister, Georgia'', Darien Printing & Graphics, 1996, Library of Congress Catalog 96-77666 ASIN: B002DHN66S *Smith, Derek, ''Sumter - After The First Shots'', Stackpole Books, 2015, *Smith, Derek, ''Civil War Savannah'', Frederic C. Beil, 1997, *Shaara, Jeff, ''The Fateful Lightning'', Ballatine Books, 2015, *Dixon, William Daniel and Durham, Roger S, ''The Blues in Gray - The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues Daybook'', University of Tennessee Press, 2000, *Durham, Roger S., ''Guardian of Savannah - Fort McAllister, Georgia, in the Civil War and Beyond'', The University of South Carolina Press, 2008, *Trudeau, Noah Andre, ''Southern Storm - Sherman's March to the Sea'', HarperCollins, 2009, *Schiller, Herbert M., ''Fort Pulaski and the defense of Savannah - Civil War Series'', Eastern National, 1997

External links

*https://uvastudents.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/george-wayne-anderson-jr-5-aug-1839-10-aug-1906 - Retrieved 3 Mar 2016 *http://gastateparks.org/FortMcAllister/ Fort McAllister State Park - Retrieved 21 Mar 2016 *https://archive.org/stream/rulesregulations00geor#page/12/mode/2up - Retrieved 10 April 2016 {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, George Wayne Confederate States Army officers People of Georgia (U.S. state) in the American Civil War 1839 births 1906 deaths