Robert Anderson

Robert N Anderson (December 25, 1843 – June 20, 1900) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Biography A native of Ireland, Robert Anderson was born December 25, 1843, joined the Navy from New Hampshire and served as a quartermaster on the and the short-lived . During the First Battle of Charleston Harbor on April 7, 1863, Robert Anderson was at the wheel of the Keokuk as it took heavy fire from the Confederates. When a shell hit the wheelhouse, Bobby used his body to shield his commanding officer from flying debris. For his service aboard the Crusader and Keokuk, and specifically his actions at Charleston Harbor, Bobby was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 10, 1863.