As one of the earliest organizers of troops, Col. Anderson was named Col. of the 1st Regiment of Artillery in January of 1861, with Bernard E. Bee as his second in command. When troops were organized later in the year, Col. W. DeSaussure was named to head the 15th SC Volunteer Regiment and Col. Anderson was named second in command. Upon his death, Jos. N. Gist was appointed Lt. Colonel. The brigade was still referred to as R. H. Anderson's brigade as late as July of '62 according to a reference in the biographical sketch of Brig. Gen. Micah Jenkins
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The obituary of Col. Anderson is given below:
Richard Anderson, Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate service, Desaussure's Regiment, died suddenly from disease of the heart, in his tent at Lightwood Knot Springs, near Columbia So. Ca, on the night of the 18th Oct'r 1861. He was a man of strict probity and very fair fame; was popular among his fellow citizens, having been continuously for years, elected as an alderman of the city, and perhaps, there is no man, among all the citizens of Columbia, whose decease, would have caused the same regret. He no doubt will be buried, with all human honor and regard, by his fellow citizens, civil, masonic and Military; but after all this outside pageant, and demonstration; like all who have preceeded him, he will soon be forgotten, amid the clods of the valley and the silence of the grace. Oct. 19, 1861.
Robert served in the 1st Infantry Regiment (Gregg's) - Company F. He enlisted at Conwayboro, August 7, 1861; died of disease, July 6, 1862. The unofficial compilation says at Danville, Va., July 6, 1862; Rivers's "Roll of Honor" says at Richmond, July 6, 1861.
William C. Anderson, son of R. C. Anderson formerly a clothier merchant in Col'a So. Ca. died in that City Oct'r 11th 1873. The writer had no acquaintance with him though remembers him as being one of the youth of Columbia... An editorial notice from the Columbia Phoenix is hereunto attached.... [clipping] "... His age was about thirty-one yeras. He was in Confederate service from the beginning to the close of the war. He leaves a father, mother, sisters and brothers, who reside in a distant State.... The funeral will take place from the Wheeler House...."
Anderson, Robert C. (?? - 06 JUL 1862)
Salley - South Carolina Troops in Confederate Service
Kirkland - Broken Fortunes
Confederate Deaths in Danville, VA Hospitals
Anderson, William C. (?? - 11 OCT 1873)