Thomas M. Anderson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas McArthur Anderson (January 21, 1836 – May 8, 1917) was a career officer in the United States Army who served as a general in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War.
Anderson was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. He attended the Cincinnati School of Law and was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati.
When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the volunteer army. Under the influences of his uncle, Robert Anderson of Fort Sumter fame, he received a commission in the Regular Army and served in the cavalry throughout the war.
He stayed in the army after the war's end and eventually rose to the rank of colonel.
He was given a temporary rank of brigadier general and took command of the first "Philippine Expeditionary Force" during the Spanish-American War. His troops were the first to land in the Philippines. When Major General Wesley Merritt arrived in the Philippines, he reorganized the U.S. forces into the VIII Corps. Anderson was appointed to command the 2nd Division, VIII Corps and led it into action at the 1898 Battle of Manila.
When the Spanish-American War ended, Anderson stayed in Manila where he was placed in command of the 1st Division, VIII Corps and saw action in the 1899 Battle of Manila during the Philippine-American War. After the U.S. forces broke the Filipino siege, Anderson led his division in minor engagements at Santana, San Pedro and Guadalupe. In March 1899, he was given the permanent rank of brigadier general in the Regular Army.
He retired in 1900 and died 17 years later in Portland, Oregon. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
