Ambrose Burnside

Ambrose Burnside was a prominent American Civil War general, known for his distinctive sideburns, which were later named after him. He played a significant role in the war, serving under notable generals such as George McClellan and Joseph Hooker. Burnside's military career was marked by both successes and failures, including the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Fredericksburg. He was also a close friend and colleague of George McClellan, Joseph Hooker, and Fitz John Porter.

● Early Life and Education

Burnside was born in Liberty, Indiana, to Edghill Burnside and Pamela Brown Burnside. He grew up in a family of modest means and was mostly self-educated, although he did attend Liberty Seminary and later United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. At West Point, he was classmates with future generals Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan, and Joseph Hooker. After graduating from West Point in 1847, Burnside was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant in the United States Army and served in the Mexican-American War under Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott.

● Military Career

Burnside's early military career was marked by service in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Army Ordnance Department. He was stationed at Fort Monroe in Virginia and later at Fort Adams in Rhode Island. In 1852, he resigned his commission and began working as a gun manufacturer in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he developed the Burnside carbine, which was used by the Union Army during the American Civil War. Burnside also worked with notable figures such as Cyrus Field and Peter Cooper.

● American Civil War

During the American Civil War, Burnside played a significant role in several key battles, including the First Battle of Bull Run, where he served under Irvin McDowell. He later commanded the Coast Division during the Burnside's North Carolina Expedition and the Battle of Roanoke Island. Burnside's most notable command was the Army of the Potomac, which he led during the Battle of Fredericksburg. He also served under George McClellan during the Maryland Campaign and the Battle of Antietam. Other notable generals he worked with during the war included Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and George Meade.

● Post-War Career

After the war, Burnside returned to Rhode Island and became involved in politics, serving as the Governor of Rhode Island from 1866 to 1869. He was also a United States Senator from Rhode Island from 1875 until his death in 1881. Burnside was a member of the Republican Party and supported notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. He also worked with other notable politicians, including Benjamin Butler and Charles Sumner.

● Personal Life

Burnside was married to Mary Richmond Bishop Burnside and had no children. He was a close friend of George McClellan and Joseph Hooker, and the two often socialized together. Burnside was also a member of the Loyal Legion and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He died on September 13, 1881, in Bristol, Rhode Island, and was buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island. Burnside's legacy is still remembered today, and he is often mentioned alongside other notable generals such as Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman. Category:American Civil War