George T. Anderson was a general in the Civil War for the Confederacy. He gained a reputation as a hard-fighting general in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. After the war, he became a railroad freight agent and police chief of Atlanta, Georgia.
Early Military Career
- George T. Anderson was born in Covington, Georgia, and attended Emory University.
- He served during the Mexican-American War in Georgia cavalry.
- He was a major general of the 11th Division of the Georgia Militia.
- He received a commission as a captain in the 1st U.S. Cavalry.
- He resigned his commission in 1858.
Civil War and Later Years
- Anderson joined the Confederate army when the Civil War erupted.
- He became colonel of the 11th Georgia infantry but was unable to participate in the First Battle of Bull Run.
- He saw action during the Peninsula Campaign at the Battle of Yorktown.
- He commanded a brigade during the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, Fox's Gap, Antietam, and Fredericksburg.
- He was given a promotion to brigadier general on November 1, 1862.
- Anderson fought around Devil's Den and the Wheatfield at Gettysburg.
- He recuperated from his wounds from Gettysburg in the Charleston area.
- He rejoined his men at the Siege of Knoxville and saw heavy action in 1865 at the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and around Richmond and Petersburg.
- He was with Robert E. Lee during the surrender at Appomattox.
Later Life and Death
- After the war, Anderson became a railroad freight agent.
- Later, he became the police chief of Atlanta, Georgia
- He moved to Anniston, Alabama, where he became the police chief and tax collector
- He lived beyond many of his peers, and he died on April 4, 1901