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Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: George Burgwyn Anderson State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Brig-Gen Birth Date: 1831 Death Date: 1862 Birth Place: Hillsboro, NC, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full Colonel (4th NC Inf) Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Biography: Brigadier-General George Burgwyn Anderson, the oldest son of William E. Anderson and his wife, Eliza Burgwyn, was born near Hillsboro, Orange county, N. C., April, 1831. At an early age he entered the State university at Chapel Hill, and on graduation divided first honors with three others of his class. He was appointed to the United States military academy when seventeen years old, and was graduated tenth in a class of forty-three in 1852, with a commission in the Second dragoons. After a few months at the cavalry school at Carlisle he was detailed to assist in the survey of a railroad route in California, after that duty rejoining his regiment at Fort Chadbourne, Tex. Having been promoted first lieutenant in 1855, he commanded his troop in the march from Texas across the plains to Fort Riley, Kan.; accompanied his regiment as adjutant in the Utah expedition of 1858, and remained in that territory until 1859, when he was ordered on recruiting service at Louisville, Ky. There he was married in November following to Mildred Ewing, of that city. When the crisis of 1861 arrived he promptly resigned, being, it is said, the first North Carolinian in the old army to take this step, and offered for the defense of his State the sword which he had worn with honor, and which descended to him from his uncle, Capt. John H. K. Burgwyn, U. S. A., who was killed at Puebla de Taos during the Mexican war. Anderson was at this time a magnificent specimen of manhood, full six feet, erect, broad-shouldered, round-limbed, with a deep, musical voice, and a smile wonderfully gentle and winning. Being commissioned colonel of the Fourth regiment by Governor Ellis, he rapidly completed its organization, and soon after the battle of July 21st, reached Manassas Junction, where he was appointed post commandant and charged with the construction of the defensive works. He remained in command here until March, 1862, and meanwhile was strongly recommended for promotion to brigadier-general by Gens. D. H. Hill and J. E. Johnston, but this was for some reason withheld until forced by the unsurpassed gallantry of his regiment at the battle of Williamsburg. It is sufficient evidence of the magnificent training and discipline of his men to record that out of 520 rank and file which the regiment carried into action, 462 were killed or wounded, and out of 27 commissioned officers, all but one were killed or wounded. This was not a foredoomed forlorn hope or a charge of a "Light Brigade," but surpassed any such recorded in history, both in loss and achievement, for they went in to win and did win. During this fight Colonel Anderson seized the colors of the Twenty-seventh Georgia and dashed forward leading the charge, and though his men, cheering wildly as they followed, lost scores at every step, their courage was irresistible, and Anderson planted the colors on the stubbornly-defended breastworks. This was witnessed by President Davis, who at once promoted Anderson to brigadier-general. His brigade included the Second, Fourth, Fourteenth and Thirtieth North Carolina regiments. During the bloody Seven Days' fighting which followed, he was conspicuous for skill in detecting the weak points of the enemy and boldness and persistence in attack. While leading a desperate charge at Malvern Hill he was severely wounded. His next serious engagement was at South Mountain, Md., where his brigade, with the others of D. H. Hill's division, held back half of McClellan's army till nightfall. Three days later at Sharpsburg, on September 17, 1862, he was for the last time distinguished in battle. During an assault of the enemy, in which a large part of Hill's division fell back through a mistake in conveying orders, General Anderson and his men nobly held their line, until he was struck by a ball in his foot near the ankle, which brought him to the ground. It was a most painful injury, and he suffered great agony in being carried to Richmond and thence to Raleigh, where finally an amputation was made. He sank under the operation, and died on the morning of October 16, 1862. He was a man of spotless purity of life, integrity and honor, as well as dauntless courage. His ennobling influence upon the North Carolina soldiery can hardly be overestimated. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p289 |