Richard Clough Anderson was born on January 12, 175 in Goldmine Plantation, Virginia, United States, the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Clough) Anderson, was of Scottish and Welsh ancestry. When he was sixteen, much against his father's will, he accepted the patronage of a rich merchant, Patrick Coots, and tried his fortune in the lines of trade. At various times he shipped as supercargo on merchant vessels and was in Boston when the tea was thrown overboard into the harbor.
In Hanover County Anderson received little schooling other than that of the great outdoors.
Soon after the outbreak of the Revolution Anderson entered the service as captain of a Hanover County company and three months later was transferred to the same rank in the 5th Virginia Continentals. On the night before the battle of Trenton he crossed the river and alarmed the Hessians, killing a sentry, and has sometimes been held as having come near causing Washington's plans to miscarry. But his reconnaissance was made under orders of a superior and seems in reality to have deceived the British into thinking that the Americans consisted of only a few scouts. Anderson took part also in the battles of Germantown, Brandywine, and Monmouth.
In 1778 he was made a major, and the next year he aided in the misdirected attempt to capture Savannah. In an assault, he received a sword-wound through the shoulder, but was not so badly injured as to prevent him from administering to the last wants of Pulaski, who was mortally wounded there. For this kindness the grateful Pole presented him with his sword.
After the withdrawal from Savannah, Anderson was stationed at Charleston and was captured when that city fell into the hands of the British. He remained a prisoner for nine months. Upon his release he joined Gen. Morgan and remained with him until Washington ordered him to report to Lafayette in Virginia.
Anderson acted as a messenger to bring "Mad Anthony" Wayne to the rescue of Lafayette, who was now being hard-pressed by Cornwallis. When the latter retreated into the Yorktown peninsula and the trap was set for him, Anderson was detailed to the Governor to organize the Virginia militia, and so was not present at the battle of Yorktown. Before the end of the war he was made a lieutenant colonel.
With the war over, in 1783 Anderson was selected to act as surveyor-general to divide the lands reserved by Virginia in the West for her Continental troops. He now crossed the mountains to Kentucky and settled near Louisville.
Although without political ambitions, he served in the Kentucky constitutional convention of 1788, was an elector for state officials in 1792, and was a presidential elector the next year.
His home became famous for its hospitality; President Monroe, Andrew Jackson, and Simon Kenton were visitors there in 1817.
Anderson didn't have any political ambitions. Still, he held several posts after the war.
He was married to Elizabeth Clark, a sister of George Rogers Clark, and built a home which he called "Soldier's Retreat. "
His first wife having died in 1795, two years later he married Sarah Marshall, a daughter of William Marshall. He was the head of a remarkable family; he was the father to fifteen children.
She died at the age of three.
She died at the age of three.
He died in infancy.
He died in infancy.
