From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Vol. A, 1991, Navy 
Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History 
Division, Washington, D.C.

ANDERSON

Edwin Alexander Anderson, Jr.,-born in Wilmington, N.C., on 16 July 
1860-was appointed a cadet midshipman, from the 3rd Congressional 
District of North Carolina, on 28 June 1878, and graduated with the 
Class of 1882, receiving his ensign's stripe on 1 July 1884 after the 
customary two year's sea duty.

Anderson advanced slowly up the promotion ladder, such advancements in 
those times being received on basis of seniority; he remained an ensign 
for ten years before becoming a lieutenant (jg.). Detached from COLUMBIA 
(Cruiser No. 12), Anderson reported on board MARBLEHEAD (Cruiser No. 11) 
on 28 January 1897, and was serving in that ship at the time of the 
outbreak of war with Spain in the spring of 1898.

At that time, the United States Navy threw a blockade around Cuba-by 
early May 1898, MARBLEHEAD was operating off the south coast of the 
Island, off the port of Cienfuegos-a cable terminus important to Spanish 
communications-in company with the converted yacht EAGLE, NASHVILLE 
(Gunboat No. 7), the revenue cutter WINDOM and the collier SATURN.

To sever this vital link, Captain Bowman H. McCalla, senior officer in 
the group, planned an operation to cut the cable at Cienfuegos, 
designating Lt. Cameron McRae Winslow as the commanding officer, with 
Lt. (jg.) Anderson as his second-in-command. Winslow accordingly gave 
Anderson command of the sailing launches from MARBLEHEAD.

After the guns of the two warships smashed Spanish positions ashore, the 
boats moved in to carry out the operation. Anderson's boat quickly 
snatched up the first cable and, assisted by Nashville's boat, cut it. 
They soon grapneled a second cable and were in the process of cutting 
it, too, when the Spaniards opened a slow fire that soon grew to volley 
proportions, from rifles, automatic weapons and 1-pounders. After a 
Spanish bullet felled the coxswain of Anderson's boat, the latter took 
the helm himself and began steering the boat seaward, directing his men 
to keep down between the thwarts. The Spanish fire, however wounded 
three more men and holed the boat in many places. After the action, 
Anderson had nothing but praise for his sailors and marines, commending 
their intelligent and cheerful work in the exhausting labor of picking 
up and cutting the heavy cables, working even under heavy fire until 
ordered to stop. The operation proved successful in another aspect. The 
ships gunfire decimated a large Spanish force sent to the area to 
contest the operation.

Subsequently, Anderson delivered the prize steamer ADULA to Savannah, 
Georgia, in July 1898, and was given command of another Spanish prize, 
the gunboat ALVARADO. Recommended for advancement in grade for his 
heroism at Cienfuegos in August 1898, this advancement (five numbers in 
grade) came finally on 11 February 1901.

Over the first decade of the 20th century, Anderson advanced to 
commander; among his tours of duty included a stint at the Navy 
Recruiting Station, Cincinnati, Ohio and at the Mare Island Navy Yard as 
ordnance officer before being given command of YORKTOWN (Gunboat No. 1) 
in the autumn of 1910. He briefly commanded IOWA (Battleship No. 4) 
during the assemblage the fleet in New York City before being detached 
for duty Captain of the Yard at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Late in 1913, Anderson was given command of NEW HAMPSHIRE (Battleship 
No. 25) and while in command of that ship, took part in the American 
intervention at Veracruz, Mexico, in April of 1914. Given command of the 
Second Seaman Regiment, Anderson led that bluejacket landing force 
ashore and so distinguished himself in the fighting that followed that 
he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Subsequently attending the Naval War College, Anderson served as 
Supervisor of Naval Auxiliary Reserves, Norfolk, and later as Commander, 
Squadron 3, Patrol Force, assigned defense duties out of Key West, Fla., 
during World War I, with DOLPHIN as his flagship. Appointed a rear 
admiral to rank from 31 August 1917, Anderson commanded Squadron 1, 
Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet, for the duration of the First World War.

Over the next few years, Anderson flew his flag as Commander Division 1, 
Cruiser Squadrons, Atlantic Fleet, and as Commandant, 6th Naval 
District, headquartered at Charleston, S.C. before assuming command of 
United States Naval Forces in European Waters, with the rank of vice 
admiral. He was soon redesignated as Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet, 
however from 28 August 1922.

Continued turmoil in China had occasioned the presence of substantial 
numbers of foreign warships in Chinese waters including the Asiatic 
Fleet. Anderson's ships carried out the usual kinds of peacetime 
operations ever ready to perform protective service for American 
nationals. During his tour, however the Fleet distinguished itself in 
quite an unexpected fashion.

A severe earthquake rocked Japan, causing heavy damage to such cities as 
Tokyo and Yokohama. As Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby reported in 
1923, "One of the brightest pages in the history of the Navy has 
recently been written by the Asiatic Fleet in its mission of mercy to 
the stricken people of Japan . . . Admiral Anderson promptly placed his 
fleet at the disposal of the Japanese, immediately dispatched a division 
of destroyer from Chinese waters to Yokohama with medical supplies to 
render assistance. The ships of Destroyer Division 38, led by STEWART 
(DD-224), were in fact the first ships to render assistance to the city 
of Yokohama. All available naval vessels were laden with clothing, food, 
medicines, and supplies, and rushed to Japanese waters. Admiral Anderson 
himself arrived at Yokohama in hi flagship the armored cruiser HURON 
(CA-9) on the afternoon of September 1923.

Within two weeks' time, the United States Ambassador in Japan, Cyrus E. 
Woods, could cable: "I have been informed by the Foreign Office that 
food emergency has been met. Only problem remaining is question of 
distribution. This the Japanese with their organizing ability and their 
ability to recover from shock desire to handle themselves. It will 
gratify the American people to know that the prompt action of Admiral 
Anderson has had much to do with this. American Navy's assistance 
thoroughly appreciated by the men in the street as well as the Japanese 
government. I wish to emphasize that in this critical emergency the 
first assistance from the outside world since the catastrophe was 
brought by our Asiatic Fleet." Subsequently, the Japanese Ambassador to 
the United States, M. Hanihara, expressed gratitude for Admiral 
Anderson's "unflagging zeal and efficiency" that led to the "prompt and 
gallant assistance" that enabled the situation to be brought "well under 
control in a short time."

Relieved by Admiral Thomas Washington on 11 October 1923, Anderson 
returned to the United States, and was placed on the retired list with 
the permanent rank of rear admiral on 23 March 1924. Anderson died on 23 
September 1933, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
