He attended Lieutenant Braden's school in Highland Falls, New York before entering the United States Military Academy.

Anderson was wounded during the action at San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, and awarded a Silver Star citation.

[3] From September 1898 to June 1899, he was an instructor of chemistry, geology, and mineralogy at the United States Military Academy.

This Cavalry was in the Philippines from 1903–1905 and once back in the United States Anderson became regimental quartermaster.

He was then chairman of the equipment committee of the General staff and then served as Chief of the operations branch until August 1921.