Edward Clifford Anderson Sr. (November 8, 1815 – January 6, 1883) was a naval officer in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, mayor of

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and 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 Brita ...

and a Colonel in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the Military forces of the Confederate States, military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) duri ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He commanded

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 is currently operated by the Coastal Heri ...

near Savannah before its capture in 1864. He was elected mayor of Savannah eight times, before and after the war, and on December 6, 1865, he became the first mayor after the civil war.

Early life and the US Navy

Anderson was the ninth child of George Anderson and Eliza Clifford Wayne. One of his brothers was John Wayne Anderson, who commanded the Republican Blues for over thirty years. His grandfather, Captain George Anderson served in the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

and died aboard his ship, ''Georgia Paquet'' on a trip to Great Britain in 1775. Growing up around the docks of Savannah, he dreamed of being a famous naval officer much against his father's wishes. He attended the

Round Hill School The Round Hill School for Boys was a short-lived experimental school in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was founded by George Bancroft and Joseph Cogswell in 1823. Though it failed as a viable venture — it closed in 1834 — it was an early effor ...

in Massachusetts from 1824 to 1830 before returning to Savannah, Georgia. Fulfilling his dream, he was appointed acting midshipman by Secretary of the Navy Levi Woodbury on October 20, 1833, he served on for a year. On November 24, 1834, was commissioned midshipman and was assigned to 'Old Iron-sides', . He began keeping a diary during his tenure aboard ''Constitution'', and added to it over the years, documenting his life and those of his shipmates. He later served on the frigate , and on the sloops-of-war Warren, Vandalia, and Falmouth. During the years he cruised from Newfoundland to South America, Europe, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. On May 16, 1840, he was promoted to passed midshipman, and became acting master of . He married Sarah McQueen Williamson of Savannah on February 10, 1841. Their first child, Mary, called Nina, was born on April 6, 1842, followed by a son, Edward Maffitt, born August 6, 1843. That year Anderson was assigned acting master for before she departed for a cruise of the Western Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Later he served as sailing master on the coastal steamer USS ''General Taylor'', recording his thoughts and adventures in his diary that was later published as a book, 'Florida Territory in 1844, the Diary of Master Edward Clifford Anderson, USN'.

Mexican–American War

In 1846, he was assigned to USS ''Mississippi'', flagship of the West Indian Squadron Serving under Commodore

Matthew C. Perry Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was a United States Navy officer who commanded ships in several wars, including the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He led the Perry Expedition that Bakumatsu, ended Japan' ...

. During the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

, he took part in expeditions against Alvarado,

Tampico Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is located on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state of Veracruz. Tampico is the fif ...

, Pánuco, and

Laguna de Términos Laguna de Términos is the largest tidal lagoon by volume located entirely on the Gulf of Mexico, as well as one of the most biodiverse. Exchanging water with several rivers and lagoons, the Laguna is part of the most important hydrographic rive ...

, all successful in tightening American control of the Mexican coastline and interrupting coastwise commerce and military supply operations. The ship returned to Norfolk for repairs on 1 January 1847, where Anderson was promoted to lieutenant. Mississippi then returned to battle, arriving at

Veracruz Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entit ...

on 21 March 1847, carrying Perry to take command of the American fleet. At once she and her men plunged into amphibious operations against Veracruz, supplying guns and their crews to be taken ashore for the battery which fought the city to surrender in four days. Through the remainder of the war, ''Mississippi'' contributed guns, men, and boats to a series of coastal raids on Mexico's east coast, taking part in the capture of

Tabasco Tabasco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tabasco, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Tabasco, 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa. It i ...

in June 1847. After the war, Anderson was assigned to the

United States Coast Survey United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

. He resigned from the Navy on October 25, 1849, after 15 years of service and returned to Savannah. He became one of Georgia's most distinguished citizens, involved in agriculture, finance, politics and civic affairs. He was elected Mayor of Savannah for the first time in 1854, and won re-election in 1855.

Civil War

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Anderson was sent to Richmond by Governor Joseph E. Brown, to purchase ordinance from the

Tredegar Iron Works The Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia, was the biggest ironworks in the Confederacy during the American Civil War, and a significant factor in the decision to make Richmond the Confederate capital. Tredegar supplied about half the art ...

for the State of Georgia. Soon after, Anderson was personally summoned to Montgomery, Alabama, by the president of the Confederacy,

Jefferson Davis Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the only President of the Confederate States of America, president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the Unite ...

, who commissioned him a Major in the Corps of Artillery. He was ordered at once to set sail for Europe, as a confidential agent to buy war material for the Confederacy, arranging for its transfer to the

Confederate States The Confederate States of America (CSA), also known as the Confederate States (C.S.), the Confederacy, or Dixieland, was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States from 1861 to 1865. It comprised eleven U.S. states th ...

, through the

Union blockade The Union blockade in the American Civil War was a naval strategy by the United States to prevent the Confederate States of America, Confederacy from trading. The blockade was proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in April 1861, and required ...

by way of

blockade runners A blockade runner is a merchant vessel used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait. It is usually light and fast, using stealth and speed rather than confronting the blockaders in order to break the blockade. Blockade runners usual ...

. In England, he was stalked continually by spies hired by the United States Consul General, Charles Francis Adams. Anderson described his position as the Secretary of War in England. He and fellow Georgian

James D. Bulloch James Dunwoody Bulloch (June 25, 1823 – January 7, 1901) was the Confederate States of America, Confederacy's chief foreign agent in Great Britain during the American Civil War. Based in Liverpool, he operated Blockade runners of the American ...

negotiated with the British for the sale of warships and blockade runners to the South. Upon learning of the Southern victory at the

First Battle of Bull Run The First Battle of Bull Run, called the Battle of First Manassas
. by Confederate States ...

, Anderson raised a Confederate Flag upon the rooftop of a friend's house in Liverpool. Their success in both exporting arms, and running the blockage prompted other British firms to begin blockade-running efforts. Returning home in November 1861, aboard the newly purchased Merchant Steamship Fingal with Bulloch, they delivered much needed arms and ammunition. Anderson was promoted, and served as "Commander of the River Batteries" as a part of General

Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a general officers in the Confederate States Army, Confederate general during the American Civil War, who was appointed the General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate ...

's staff. He was a member of the Confederate high command at Savannah until the end of the war. At this time, Anderson was placed in command of

, becoming the Confederate headquarters for river defenses, including the Confederate Navy. The construction of Fort James Jackson (also called Old Fort Jackson) was authorized by President Thomas Jefferson between 1808 and 1812. The fort, on the Savannah River a mile east of the city, was built on top of an old earthen battery dating from the Revolutionary War. At the time, war with Great Britain or France seemed likely, and Fort Jackson was the best site from which to protect Savannah from attack by sea. In the

, it was one of three forts protecting Savannah, the others being

Fort Pulaski Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia. It preserves Fort Pulaski, the place where the Union Army successfully tested rifled cannons in 1862, the success of which rendered brick ...

and

Fort McAllister Fort McAllister was a Confederate States of America, 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 ...

standing in Confederate defiance of the Union naval blockade. Fort McAllister was commanded at different times by two of his nephews, General Robert H. Anderson and Major

George Wayne Anderson Major George Wayne Anderson Jr, (August 5, 1839 – August 10, 1906) was an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the Republican Blues and later Fort McAllister near Savannah, Georgia before its captu ...

, who commanded the fort when it was overrun by Sherman's forces in December 1864. The loss of Fort McAllister opened the way to the sea for General Sherman, allowing him to link up with the Union Navy, resupply his forces, and bring the City of Savannah to its knees. Glowna brama

Supervising the forts under his command, he was constantly sought out for his artillery expertise. During General Sherman's March to the Sea, Anderson led the City of Savannah's evacuation after its surrender and was subsequently placed in charge of the City of Charleston in December 1864. He was involved in the planning and execution of that city's evacuation before his transfer to

Augusta, Georgia Augusta is a city on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Augusta, the third mos ...

. Within a month, a state convention of elected delegates was called to the state capitol in Milledgeville by the provisional governor of Georgia, James Johnson. Edward Clifford Anderson was one of the Chatham County representatives at the convention, where a unique resolution was passed calling for a special election for a mayor and a board of aldermen for the City of Savannah. On December 6, 1865, in the only balloting which had been allowed in the city since its surrender, Anderson was elected the first postwar mayor of Savannah.

Politics and government service

Anderson's third term of mayor began on October 15, 1865. The city was enduring many tribulations during the

Reconstruction Era The Reconstruction era was a period in History of the United States, US history that followed the American Civil War (1861-65) and was dominated by the legal, social, and political challenges of the Abolitionism in the United States, abol ...

, including an outbreak of cholera. Mayor Anderson personally responded to many pleas for help and assistance, with the city council eventually reimbursing him for money he paid out personally to charity. Anderson levied taxes on sales, freight, and the banks to enlarge and reorganize the police force, under the command of his now famous nephew, General Robert H. Anderson. The city market and jail were made usable once more, with streets, sidewalks and sewers restored. In March, 1866, the Savannah Board of Education was inaugurated to educate the children of Savannah, under the direction of the mayor. Business and commerce were among the top priorities for the new mayor, along with removing obstructions from the river, expanding the docks, and finishing the Georgia Central Railroad. To improve the lives of ordinary citizens, Anderson held a "Mayor's Court" each day, to hear and decide cases related to drunkenness, theft, wife-beating, murder, rioting and other public disturbances. This good governance served the city well, as it recovered from the damages of the war. At the end of his third term in office, Anderson did not offer himself up for re-election. On the afternoon of October 20, 1869, the police force, in full dress uniform marched to Anderson's home to salute their former commander. He served on the board of directors of the Southern Bank, was director of the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, and on the board of directors of the Central Railroad and Banking Company. The Savannah City Council sent Anderson in secret to Washington, D.C., to protest Governor Rufus Bullock and his efforts to have Georgia remanded back to military control. During that time, he met with both President

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...

and 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 officer, general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865), earning recognit ...

in an attempt to have the Governor removed, to no avail. Anderson was convinced to run for mayor once again, winning his seventh election to the office. On January 28, 1873, the Savannah News published a story detailing Anderson's political career, stating that "He is justly regarded as one of Savannah's most useful and honored citizens, and his election... at this crisis in our public affairs is hailed as a good omen of the future." During this term in office, he succeeded in passing bonds to cover the city's debt, and working with the United States Government to dredge the Savannah River channel, and expanded telegraph lines to locations like Tybee Island. His focus on business and commerce secured re-election for a second two-year term in 1875. In 1877, Anderson did not offer himself for reelection, now being 62 years of age. His health slowly began to deteriorate, but he continued his civic interests, serving as president of both the Savannah Board of Education and the Chatham Academy Board of Trustees. He was also a member of the governing board of the

Georgia Historical Society The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is a statewide historical society in Georgia, United States. Headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, GHS is one of the oldest historical organizations in the United States. Since 1839, the society has collected, ex ...

, the hospital for Negroes, the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. His name was submitted twice for appointment as Secretary of the Navy. In 1881 his nomination was recommended to President Garfield by the commanding general of the U.S. Army,

, and several AdmiralsAnderson, p. 74 suggesting the high esteem in which Anderson was held, even by former enemies. In November 1882 he became ill and was confined to home. He died on January 6, 1883, at the age of 67. The ''Savannah Morning News'' printed a long obituary emphasizing Anderson's career as an officer in the United States Navy and the Confederate States Army. The article stated that "This community has lost one of its most highly respected and useful citizens". A week later, the Savannah Board of Education published a separate eulogy to his memory, extolling their former president's unselfish devotion to the encouragement of learning. His funeral was attended by the mayor and aldermen of the city, the board of education, the United States Navy, the police and fire departments and many others. He is buried in Savannah's Laurel Grove Cemetery, near the Anderson family vault in lot 540.

Gallery

File:USS Constitution Salutes III.jpg, USS ''Constitution'' salutes File:Edward Clifford Anderson Jr.jpg, Colonel Edward Clifford Anderson File:Fort James Jackson Ext.jpg, Fort James Jackson exterior File:Fort James Jackson firing.jpg, Firing signal cannon at Fort James Jackson File:Fort James Jackson interior.jpg, Fort James Jackson interior cannon File:Fort James Jackson Cannon.jpg, Cannon suspended at Fort James Jackson File:Fort James Jackson on the Savannah River.jpg, Fort James Jackson on the Savannah River File:Georgia Flag at Fort James Jackson.jpg, Civil War–era flag of the State of Georgia at Fort James Jackson File:Civil War Telegraph at Fort James Jackson.jpg, Civil War telegraph at Fort James Jackson File:AndersonFamilyMarkers.jpg, Edward Clifford Anderson and John Wayne Anderson grave site at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia File:AndersonfamilyVault.jpg, Anderson family vault at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah File:EdwardCliffordAndersonGravesite.jpg, Edward Clifford Anderson grave marker

Citations

References

*Anderson, Edward Clifford, ''Florida Territory in 1844: The Diary of Master Edward Clifford Anderson'', University of Alabama Press, 1977, *Anderson, Edward Clifford, ''Afloat and Ashore: The Confederate Diary of Colonel Edward Clifford Anderson'', University of Alabama Press, 1977 *Smith, Derek, ''Civil War Savannah'', Frederic C. Beil, 1997, *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,

External links

* http://www.georgiahistory.com * http://www.todayingeorgiahistory.org * Hathi Trust
Georgia Historical Quarterly
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Edward Clifford 1815 births 1883 deaths Burials at Laurel Grove Cemetery Confederate States Army officers Mayors of Savannah, Georgia