Pre-War Profession Doctor, Mexican War, politician, US Marshal

War Service 1861 Col. of 1st Florida, Pensacola, Brig. Gen. February 1862, commanded Anderson's Bde/ Bragg's Divn at Shiloh, commanded a division in the Kentucky campaign, Perryville, commanded Walthall's Bde at Murfreesboro, commanded Hindman's Divn at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Maj. Gen. February 1864, commanded Dist. of Florida, commanded Hindman's Divn at Atlanta, Jonesboro (w), commanded Taliaferro's Divn in Carolinas campaign, Greensboro.

Post War Career Newspaper editor

Born in Franklin County, Tennessee, on February 16, 1822, Anderson grew up in Mississippi. Although he attended college briefly in southwest Pennsylvania, a family financial crisis forced him to withdraw before graduation. Called "Patton" by his associates, he began studying and practicing medicine. Later, he fought in the Mexican War, served in the Mississippi legislature, as a U.S. marshal for Washington Territory, and was elected to the U.S. Congress. After two years, he moved to Florida, set up a plantation near Monticello, and participated in the Florida state secession convention. When war broke out, Anderson was appointed a colonel, reaching the rank of brigadier general on February 10, 1862. Anderson led his brigade at the Battle of Shiloh, then took command of the Army of Tennessee for the Kentucky Campaign and the Battle of Perryville, without a promotion. At the Battle of Stone's River, Anderson led Col. Edward Walthall's brigade in a successful charge on Federal artillery. During the fighting around Chickamauga and Chattanooga, he held divisional command, and was officially promoted to major general on February 17, 1864. After being transferred from the Western theater, he was given command of the small Confederate District of Florida. He was recalled to the Army of Tennessee in July 1964, and served in Georgia, at the Battles of Ezra Church, in small combat at Utoy Creek, and the Battle of Jonesborough. At Jonesborough, he was injured in the chest, and removed from command. Anderson went against doctors' order and joined his troops because of his army's reverses. After fighting in their last battles in the Carolinas, he was surrendered and paroled with his troops at Greensborough, North Carolina, in the spring of 1865. After the war, Anderson lived in Memphis, Tennessee, unable to work actively because of his war wound. He edited a small agricultural newspaper and died in dignified poverty on September 20, 1872.

Units which served under Gen. Anderson

At Shiloh:

1st Florida (McDonell's) Infantry Battalion
9th Texas (Maxey's) Infantry Regiment
17th Louisiana Infantry Regiment
20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment
Confederate (Louisiana) Guards Response Battalion
5th Company, Washington (Louisiana) Artillery

Bibliography:

Hoffmann, John The Confederate collapse at the Battle of Missionary Ridge : the reports of James Patton Anderson and his brigade commanders. Dayton OH, Morningside 1985