Thomas McArthur Anderson was born in 1836 in Chillocothe, Ohio, and attended the Cincinnati School of Law. However, when the U.S. Civil War broke out, he enlisted, which proved the start of a life-long career in the military. In 1886, he became colonel of the 14th U.S. Infantry, which was stationed at Fort Vancouver, Washington. In the Spanish-American War, he served in the Philippines. Anderson retired in 1900 at the rank of brigadier general, but was subsequently promoted to major general in retirement. He died in 1917 in Portland, Oregon.
Sources: Marquis Who's Who, "Who Was Who in American History, the Military," 1975; obituary in the Oregonian, May 9, 1917.
The collection consists of letters from C. C. Augur and William C. McKay to Thomas M. Anderson, who at the time commanded the 14th U.S. Infantry at Fort Vancouver, Washington. The letters discuss matters relating to the history of the Pacific Northwest. Augur's letter, dated October 14, 1890, describes events in the Rogue River War, including an attack by Indigenous fighters on Captain Andrew J. Smith's troops at Big Bend. One of McKay's letters, dated July 17, 1891, discusses the activities of Anglican missionary Herbert Beaver in the Pacific Northwest in the 1830s, as well as several Catholic missionaries in the region. McKay's other letter, which is undated, consists of his answers to a number of questions that Anderson had asked concerning the region's history. This letter discusses John McLoughlin; McKay's father's work as a fur trapper; the missionary Marcus Whitman; and the war between Euro-Americans and the Yakama people, known as the Yakima War.
In addition to the originals of all three letters, the collection contains two photostatic reproductions of Augur's letter.
Collection is open for research.
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Thomas M. Anderson letters, Mss 495, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Most likely acquired in the early 20th century (RL2022-071-RETRO).
Collection was titled "Thomas McArthur Anderson letters" prior to 2022.