“Soldier of the South: Fighting Dick Anderson” Lessons in History

Lessons in History: “Soldier of the South: Fighting Dick Anderson”

Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Education Gallery, First Floor
Admission is Free ~ Book signing to follow

Join The National Civil War Museum for a Lessons in History presentation on Soldier of the South: Fighting Dick Anderson, the first scholarly cradle-to-grave treatment of Confederate General Richard “Dick” Anderson’s life.

Based on the January 2026 release, this program will explore Anderson’s formative years, his Civil War service, and his role as an important division and corps commander in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Often overshadowed by more famous contemporaries, Anderson was regarded by Robert E. Lee as a steady and dependable officer—“My brave old general.”

This presentation offers a fresh look at Anderson’s successes, failures, and legacy, bringing renewed attention to a soldier whose service and significance have often been overlooked.

Admission: This program is free to attend. Regular admission applies for access to the Museum galleries.

About the author: Dr. Edward J. Hagerty studied with eminent military historian Russell F. Weigley at Temple University and received the Ph.D. in History in 1993.  He was appointed soon after as the first director of the Civil War Studies Program at American Military University, where he served in various capacities until retiring in 2025.  He currently teaches part-time for the USAF Air University’s Air Command & Staff College Online MA Program where he specializes in leadership courses.  A retired USAF Reserve colonel and special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Dr. Hagerty spent several years after the attacks of 9/11 on extended active duty tours and deployments.  Soldier of the South is his third book.