Major Robert Anderson, U. S. A.

Thiü gallant and distinguished offioer, who uow occupies the important and trying position of commauder of Fort Moultrie, is a native of Kentucky, and was born September, 1805. On the first day of July, 1821, he entered th Military Academy at West Point, whcnee he graduated July lat, 1825, taking a high position in a large claas coinposed of sueh men as Alexauder Dallas Bache, Col. Benjamin Huger, Col. Francis Taylor, Col. Charles F. Smith, and others, who have been distiuguished as well íd civil life as in the line of their profession. - Hisfirst oommission was that of Brevet Second Lieuteuant of the Second Artillery, July 1, 1825, and he was subsequeutly promotcd Second Lieutenant in the Third Kegiuient, dating from the same day. From May to Ootober, 1832, he was aeting Inspector General of the Illinois voluuteers in the Black Hawk war; and lt is here worthy of note that our President elect, Mr. Lincoln, was one of the Captains of those troops. In June, 1833, he was prornoted First Lieutenant, and bctween 1835 and 1837 was Assistant Instructor and Inspector at the United Statea Military Academy. In 1838 he beeame Aid-de-Camp to Major General Scott; and iu the followingycarpublished "Iustruction for Field Artillery, Horse and Foot, arranged for the Service of the United States." "For gallantry and succegsful condujt in the war agaiust the Floi ida Indiana," he reoeivod the brevet of Captain, bearing date April 2, 1838. July 7, 1838, he beeame Assistant Adjutant General, with the rank of Captain,, wliich he relinquislied subsequently to being promoted to a Captainoy in bis regiment, October, 1841. In March, 1847, ho was with, the Third Regiment of Arlillery, in tlie ariny of General Scott, and took part iu the siege of Vera Cruz - beitig one of the oflicers to whom was entrusted, by Goneral Bnkhead, the commaud of the batteries. Tb is duty he perfurmod with ignal skill and gullantry, and ho oontinucd with th ar my uutil its triumplial ontry iuto the city of Mexico, in September fullcwing. During the. operatious iu the val ley of Mexico he was attached to the brigade of General Garland, which formed a part of General Worth's división. In the attack on El Molino del lley, on the 8th of September, wliere he was wounded very severely, his conJuot was the thome of especial praise on the part of his superior oiÉcers. Captain Burke, his immediate commander, in his dispatch of September 9, says: "Captain llobert Anderson (aotinf field officer) bohaved with great heroism on this occasion, Even after recoiviug n severe and painful wound he coutinued at the head of the column, regard less of pain and self-presarvation, and setting a bandsome exainple to his men of coolness, energy, and courage." General Garland speaks oi him ns boing, with "soine few others, the vory first to enter the strong positiou of Ül Molino;" and adda tliat "Brei'ft Major Buchaaan, Fourth Infantry, Captain Anderson, j Third Artillery, appo.ir to have boen particularly distinguished for thoir galtatit defence of the capturad works. In addition to this testiraony to his bearing on that occasion, we hav that of Gsueral Worth, who partiularlj direotod tbo atteation of the Commander-iu-Chief to tko part he had takon in the ation. "i'or gallant and nioritorious couduct iu the battle of Molino dol Rep," ho waa promotod to the brevet rank of Major, dating from September 8, 1847 üctober 5, 1857, ho waa promoted to the position he now holds.