A graduate of the West Point class of 1847, General Ambrose Burnside commanded the Union Army of the Potomac during the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. During the course of the Civil War, Burnside twice refused command of the army but finally accepted, although he considered himself ill equipped for such a high level of responsibility. Burnside was a likable individual, and his distinctive facial hair resulted in the word “sideburns” entering American lexicon. Burnside commanded Union troops at Antietam, during campaigns in East Tennessee, at the Battle of the Crater during the siege of Petersburg, and elsewhere. After the war, Burnside was elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Rhode Island. He died in 1881 at the age of 57.
•May 22, 2017 • Read Comments (7)
During the American Civil War, there were nearly 900 officers in non-militia service who were appointed to become generals. Here, William Welsh shares his list of the worst Civil War generals and commanders. More »
•March 29, 2017 • Be the First to Comment
The 51st Pennsylvania Volunteers rush Burnside’s Bridge at Antietam. More »
•March 13, 2017 • Be the First to Comment
America’s bloodiest day began with heavy fighting that ravaged a previously innocuous cornfield in western Maryland. More »
•March 13, 2017 • Be the First to Comment
For three weeks Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan’s Confederate cavalry raided across Indiana and Ohio, destroying railroads, bridges and private property. More »
•March 7, 2017 • 1 Comment
Following the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Union Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside squared off against Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet. More »
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Starting with the first Battle of Bull Run, the United States Marine Corps took part in several significant battles on land and at sea during the Civil War. More »
•February 23, 2017 • Be the First to Comment
The Union Army of the Potomac’s artillery reserve used massed cannons to provide concentrated and sustained firepower. More »
•February 21, 2017 • Be the First to Comment
Although the craft of photography was still in its infancy, battlefield photographers managed to make lasting record of the conflict. More »
•February 9, 2017 • Be the First to Comment
After a breathtaking forced march, A.P. Hill’s Light Division still had more than enough fight left in it to turn the tide of battle at Antietam. More »
•December 14, 2016 • Be the First to Comment
After crossing the North Anna River, Ulysses S. Grant’s Union forces headed toward Cold Harbor. More »
