Adna Anderson Letters
This collection consists of a Civil War letter and document written to B.D. Parkinson from Adna Anderson. The letter appointed Parkinson as Engineer of Repairs, United States Military Railroads, Military Division of the Mississippi. The document, titled Special Order No. 9., officially recognizes the appointment. Anderson assisted the North during the Civil War as chief superintendent and engineer of all the military railroads.
Dates
- 1864 November 1-2
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of a Civil War letter and document written to B.D. Parkinson from Adna Anderson. The letter appointed Parkinson as Engineer of Repairs, United States Military Railroads, Military Division of the Mississippi. The document, titled Special Order No. 9., officially recognizes the appointment. Anderson assisted the North during the Civil War as chief superintendent and engineer of all the military railroads.
Biographical/Historical Note
Adna Anderson was born on July 25, 1827 in Ridgeway, New York. Anderson started his career in the railway in 1847 as a chairman on the New York and New Haven Railroad. He also worked as an assistant engineer for the Connecticut River Railroad, locating engineer for the Mobil and Ohio Railroads, and chief engineer on the Tennessee and Alabama.
When the American Civil War started, Anderson offered his services to the United States government, and was made assistant engineer and chief of the Construction Corps of the Army of the Potomac in Virginia. The following year he was appointed general superintendent of Government Railroads of the Military Division of the Mississippi. From November 1864 to July 1866, he was chief superintendent and engineer of all the military railroads.
After the war, he continued to work for the railroads, and in 1886, he was elected second vice-president of the Northern Pacific. He held that position until 1888. In 1889, he was engaged in organizing the Gordon Fire Alarm Company and the Steel Car Company.
General Anderson married Juliet C. Van Wyck,and in 1856, and the couple had six children. He died on May 14, 1889.
Acquisition Note
This collection was purchased by Special Collections in 2013.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository