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Ambrose Everett Burnside (May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881) was an American railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor (1866-1869) and a U.S. Senator (1875-1881). As a United States Army general in the American Civil War, he conducted successful campaigns in North Carolina and East Tennessee, but was defeated in the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Later he was in charge of planning the unsuccessful and publicly embarrassing Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, the latter battle effectively forcing the end of his command career.
He lent his name to the word "sideburns," originally applied to his own distinctive style of facial hair ("burnsides," later reversed), now applied more widely to any facial hair extending down from the hairline past the ears and stopping short of forming a full beard.
Ambrose Burnside in The Guns of the South[]
Ambrose Burnside was one of several Union generals who were used as imaginary targets when the Rivington Men demonstrated the AK-47 to Robert E. Lee and his staff.[1]
Burnside later took part in the Army of the Potomac's crushing defeat in the Wilderness.[2] A few days later, the Federals were forced to react to a Confederate feint march towards Washington City and established a defensive line at Bealeton where the Army of Northern Virginia made a bold frontal assault. While the bulk of the army held them back, Burnside's IX Corps was sent to flank and break the attack. Instead, A.P. Hill's III Corps not only broke the attack but counter-attacked, sending Burnside's troops into a retreat.
Burnside's IX Corps at the time of both battles included several regiments of United States Colored Troops, most of which were decimated in the second battle.
Ambrose Burnside in Southern Victory[]
Ambrose Burnside commanded the IX Corps of the Union Army of the Potomac during the War of Secession. He advised his commanding general, George McClellan, against offering Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia battle at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania in 1862. His advice was ignored, and the Army of the Potomac was destroyed.[3]
See also[]
- Whiskery Ambrose, a Detinan general in The War Between the Provinces who is closely based on Burnside.
References[]
- ↑ The Guns of the South, pgs. 6-7, MPB.
- ↑ Ibid., pg. 103.
- ↑ How Few Remain, pg. 4-6, mmp.
| Political offices (OTL) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Y. Smith |
Governor of Rhode Island 1866-1869 |
Succeeded by Seth Padelford |
| Preceded by William Sprague |
United States Senator from Rhode Island 1875-1881 |
Succeeded by Nelson W. Aldrich |
| Military offices (OTL) | ||
| Preceded by George McClellan |
Commander of the Army of the Potomac 1862-1863 |
Succeeded by Joseph Hooker |
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