Battle of Anderson

The Battle of Anderson was a minor skirmish during the American Civil War, fought in Anderson County, South Carolina, on May 1, 1865.[1][2] The battle was one of the final conflicts of the war, taking place three weeks after Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.[2][3] The exact location of the battle is unknown, but it definitely took place in Anderson county. Some historians believe the battle took place near the now I-85 and the Shiloh Methodist Church in the Piedmont area.[2] The battle is reenacted every April. By 2020, it has been re-enacted 17 times.[4]

Not to be confused with the Battle of Fort Anderson (1863).
Battle of Anderson
Part of the American Civil War
DateMay 1, 1865
Location
Anderson, South Carolina
34.40516°N 82.45207°W / 34.40516; -82.45207
Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Simeon B. Brown Unknown
Units involved
Three brigades South Carolina Battalion of State Cadets
Strength
3,700 soldiers unknown
Casualties and losses
2 0

Battle

Prelude
Brevet Brigadier General Simeon B. Brown

On April 27, Union General George Stoneman ordered three brigades, totaling 3,700 men, to march from Asheville down the Saluda River to Belton or Anderson, and finally to head to Augusta in search of Confederate president Jefferson Davis.[5][3] After Stoneman gave those orders, he left to return to his headquarters in Knoxville.[5] He left behind some units under the command of Simeon B. Brown.[5]

Fighting
William McKenzie

On May 1, the Union forces arrived in Anderson County. After the Union army arrived, they looted homes and businesses from Pendleton to Anderson.[5] They even looted and disposed of 300 bottles of wine.[5][6] While in Anderson, Union soldiers killed a teenager named William McKenzie Parker after he pointed his gun at the soldiers.[5] The Union army also hung two men: Henry Winthrop and A.P Carter.[5]

Later that day, a group of Confederate cadets from the South Carolina Military Academy attacked the Union forces.[5] The Confederates repulsed a small group of Union soldiers who were intending to burn down a railroad bridge on the Saluda River.[5] Meanwhile, some Union cavalry were attacked by a group of Confederate soldiers from Pendleton.[5] Due to the Confederate victory, a man named Daniel Brown, who was being executed by the Union army, was rescued.[5]

Aftermath

On May 2, the Union army publicly tortured three men, hoping that they could reveal the location of rumored Confederate gold.[5] Also on May 2, another group of 2,050 Union soldiers arrived. However, the Union Army in Anderson was unable to capture Jefferson Davis. Davis had surrendered earlier, and was captured in Georgia on May 10.[5]

References
  1. Smith-Miles, Charmaine (29 March 2007). "Civil War brought to life on Anderson County field". The Anderson Independent-Mail. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  2. Journal. "Battle of Anderson reenactment April 15–17 | The Journal Online". Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  3. Klein, Christopher. "6 Civil War Battles After Appomattox". HISTORY. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  4. "HOME". Battleofandersonsc. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  5. "Anderson's Main Street was violent spot 150 years ago". www.independentmail.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  6. "Major General George Stoneman Led the Last American Civil War Cavalry Raid". HistoryNet. 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
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