Joseph Anderson
(February 16 1813, Botetourt Cty VA - September 7 1892, Isles of Shoals NH)
Who Was Who in the Confederacy
p.6
A Confederate brigadier early in the war, Joseph Reid Anderson was more important in
his civilian capacity as head of the Tredegar Works in Richmond, where he became the
Krupp of the Confederacy."
In August 1861, the West Point graduate (1836) was made a major of artillery, after resigning
from a year's service as lieutenant of engineers and artillery. For two decades he had
been the superintendent of the iron works; as a major he was assigned to continue his work there.
However on September 3, 1861, he was appointed brigadier general, CSA, and assigned to field
duty in North Carolina. His commands included: District of the Cape Fear,
Department of North Carolina (October 5, 1861 - March 19, 1862); the department (March 19-24, 1862); brigade,
A.P. Hill's Division, Army of Northern Virginia (July 13-19, 1862).
After service in North Carolina, Anderson brought a birgade of Georgians to Virginia and
took command of the force facing McDowell's command at Fredericksburg during April and May 1862.
During the Seven Days he led his brigade at Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill and Frayser's Farm where
he was wounded. Returning in July he took over command of A.P. Hill's Division while
that officer was under arrest but resigned effective July 19, 1862, to return to the iron works.
For almost three years, until the fall of Richmond, he provided arms for the men in the field.
The federal government returned the confiscated plant to him in 1867 and he ran it until his death.
[Dew, Charles B., Ironmaker to the Confederacy: Joseph R. Anderson and the Tredegar Iron Works)]
A pro-slavery Kentuckian but absolutely loyal to the Union,
Royal
Copyright © 1997, Mary S. Van Deusen