George Thomas "Tige" Anderson
George Thomas “Tige” Anderson was born in Covington, Georgia on February 3rd, 1824. As a young man, Anderson attended Emory University in Oxford, Georgia. In 1848, Anderson joined the United States Army and fought in the Mexican American War as a lieutenant of the Georgia Cavalry militia. In 1855, Anderson was appointed into regular service. Shortly after in 1858, Anderson resigned as a captain and returned to Georgia.
In 1861, Anderson was elected colonel of the 11th Georgia Infantry Regiment. Anderson distinguished himself at the battles of Seven Days’ Battles, Second Manassas, and Antietam, earning him the rank of brigadier general on November 1, 1862.
Anderson fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg, fighting at the Slaughter Pen Farm on the third day of battle. After Fredericksburg, Anderson closely served alongside Lieutenant General James Longstreet in campaigns in southeastern Virginia. Anderson fought at the Battle of Gettysburg around Devil’s Den and the Wheatfield where he was injured. An 11th Georgia Lieutenant Colonel William Luffman took command of Anderson’s brigade while Anderson recovered from his injuries.
After recuperating from his injuries, Anderson joined the 11th Georgia for the Siege of Knoxville and the Battle of Chickamauga. Anderson saw heavy combat at the battles of The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg. On April 9, 1865, Anderson was a witness of Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House.
After the war, Anderson returned to Georgia and was a freight agent in Atlanta, Georgia for the Georgia Railroad. Anderson also served as one of Atlanta’s police chiefs. Anderson later moved to Anniston, Alabama where he lived out the rest of his days. He was a police chief and county tax collector in Anniston until his death on April 4, 1901 at age 77. He is interred in Edgemont Cemetery in Anniston, Alabama.
