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MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE 
 
PERSONAL NARRATIVES 
 
 OF EVENTS IN THE 
 
 War of the Rebellion, 
 
 BEING PAPERS READ BEFORE THE 
 
 RHODE ISLAND SOLDIERS AND SAILORS 
 HISTORICAL SOCIETY,. 
 
 Seventh Series.- No. 8. 
 
 providrnck: 
 publishbd by the society. 
 
 1914. 
 
8NOW A ?AKNHAM CO., PRINTERS. 
 
LIEUTENANT DANIEL R. BALLOU 
 
The Military Services 
 
 OF 
 
 Maj. -Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside 
 
 IN THE CIVIL WAR, 
 
 And their Value as an Asset of his Country 
 and its History. 
 
 BY 
 
 DANIEL R. BALLOU, 
 
 [Late Second Lieutenant Twelfth Regiment Rhode IsUnd Volunteer 
 Infantry.] 
 
 PROVIDENCE ; 
 
 PUBLI3H80 BY THB SOCIBTY. 
 1914. 
 
[Edition limited to two hundred and fifty copies.] 
 
THE MILITARY SERVICES 
 
 OF 
 
 MAJ.-GEN. AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE 
 
 IN THE CIVIL WAR, 
 
 And their Value as an Asset of his Country and its History 
 
 By DANIEL R. BALLOU, 
 
 [Late Second Lieutenant Twelfth Regiment Rhode Island 
 Volunteer Infantry.] 
 
 It is a universally acknowledged fact that some 
 of the leaders of the Civil War have not been, even 
 at this late day, accorded the meed of credit to which 
 they are justly entitled for the services they rendered 
 their country in the days of its great peril ; and it 
 is also true that there were other leaders w^hose 
 sei* vices have either been ignored or belittled amid a 
 blare of unfair criticism, of ridicule and puerile de- 
 traction, largely incited by sensational muck-rakers, 
 the most despicable of the entire brood of literary 
 
6 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 scavengers that infest the intellectual life of the 
 American people, who neither love man nor fear 
 God. 
 
 General Burnside is one of those Avho has suffered 
 greatly in reputation as a soldier, both during his 
 lifetime and since his death, from these sources, and 
 by no means less through biographies and other pub- 
 lications emanating from the pens of military officers 
 who served in the Civil War, either under or 
 over him. Experience has proved beyond reasonable 
 doubt, that narratives of battles or military cam- 
 paigns of which militaiy officers are the authors, 
 and who figure in the stories, should be accej>ted, 
 regarding criticisms of either their superior or asso- 
 ciate officers, as authoritative, only after the most 
 impartial and careful scrutiny, that serious injury 
 may not be done to others through prejudice, per- 
 sonal grievances, jealousy or other evil passions. 
 
 It is with a sense of sincere pride, together with a 
 profound personal respect and admiration, that the 
 name of Major-General Ambrose Everett Burnside is 
 referred to as one of those leaders whose military 
 services have not received that degree of fair and 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROfc^E EVERETT BURNSIDE. 
 
 just recognition to which their value to Iiis country 
 entitles them. 
 
 His is a name — and contradiction is confidently 
 challenged to the contrai y — that stands for all that 
 is best in American manhood. His nobly generous 
 character was the embodiment of all that is su- 
 perbly manful and chivalrous, and which survives, 
 together with the memory of his military achieve- 
 ments, — a living rebuke to minds rendered incapable 
 through superficial judgment, prejudice and traffick- 
 ing in sensationalism, of penetrating the mass of 
 idle gossip, of derisive criticism, of irresponsible 
 charges and malicious detraction, of probing for and 
 bringing to the surface the truth as it actually exists. 
 
 The fighters of battles fought, the self-appointed 
 critics, the perverters of history and the sensation- 
 mongers, have been too preoccupied in their efforts 
 to expose weak places in his military armor, or to 
 spy out grounds, no matter how superficial, that 
 might be made to belittle his services or subject his 
 personality to derision or ridicule, to discover the 
 high value of his military services in the Civil War 
 as an asset of the country and its history. 
 
8 
 
 THE AIILITAUY SERVICES OF 
 
 It is not the purpose of the writer to exalt General 
 Burnside as a genius in the art of war. He made 
 no such claim for himself ; neither do his friends for 
 liim. Neither shall I attempt to apologize for any 
 mistakes or failures for which he may have been 
 responsible. Mistakes and failures have been the 
 lot, during all time, of the greatest military captains 
 in the world's history, as it was of the most exalted 
 of his compatriots in arms. 
 
 It w^as the irony of fate that Napoleon failed at 
 Moscow, at Leipsic, and tinally at Waterloo, where 
 his star of destiny was forever extinguished; but 
 these defeats did not diminish the splendors of his 
 genius nor detract from his military greatnass. 
 
 The assault on Marye's Heights failed; yet Lee 
 made as great a failure when he hurled Pickett's 
 fifteen thousand Virginians against the steel-girt 
 slopes of Cemetery Ridge; and Grant committed no 
 less an one when he gave the order that sent the 
 Army of the Potomac into the jaws of hell at Cold 
 Harbor. But now, no one thinks of detracting from 
 or depreciating either the services, character or rep- 
 utation of Generals Grant or Lee. 
 
MAJOIl-GEXiiiKAL AMBLiOS^K E'/ERETT D'uIiNSIDE. 9 
 
 It is not intended, either, to shrink from defending 
 the memory of General Burnside regarding mistakes 
 or failures for Avhieh he assumed responsibility, not 
 altogether his own, under stress of an intensely pa- 
 triotic sense of duty, that moved him to self-sacrifice 
 rather than imperil the cause of his country by add- 
 ing to the then existing dissensions in the army 
 through any attempt of his own to seek redress for 
 wrongs from which he had suffered. There is the 
 true ring of a great soul, as well as a pathos, in 
 General Burnside's reply to the importunities of his 
 closest friends in the army, who were familiar with 
 his wrongs, to personally defend himself after he 
 had been viciously arraigned regarding the Fred- 
 ericksburg Campaign. 
 
 ^'Time and history,'' he declared, ^Svill vindicate 
 me: and if they fail to do so, it is better that 
 I should remain under a cloud, than that a word 
 should be added to the dissensions already too prev- 
 alent in the army." 
 
 So persistent have been and are now his detrac- 
 tors in their arraignments regarding both his mili- 
 tary services and his personality, that a very con- 
 
10 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 sideiahle number of the general public have become 
 greatly prejudiced, having been insidiously led to 
 believe that he Avas not only in a large measure in- 
 competent as a military leader, but that his military 
 career was a failure; and thus the valuable services 
 be rendeied his country during the period of its 
 great ])eril are being ignored or belittled amid un- 
 reasonable criticisms and scandalous detractions. 
 
 Obviously the time lias arrived when the country- 
 men of General l>urnside who knew him best, and 
 are familiar with the value of his services, can no 
 longer keep silent. 
 
 For these reasons the writer is moved to take upon 
 himself tlie task, as a work of love as well as of 
 duty, of presenting the claims of General Burnside's 
 military services for a fair and just recognition, al- 
 though it is candidly confessed that there are many 
 among the liosts of his surviving friends and ad- 
 mi] ers who are far better qualified for the work than 
 himself, if they could be prevailed upon to assume it. 
 The most that it is expected to accomplish by this 
 ])oor endeavor is to blaze the w^ay for others to fol- 
 low, and clear up the perplexing tangle of truth 
 and falsehood. 
 
MAJOK-GKNERAL AMBROSE EVERETT lUIRNSIDE. H 
 
 No a 1 tempt will be made to amilyze the military 
 caiupaijjjns or movements in which General Burnside 
 took a subordinate part, or which were executed 
 under his immediate direction during the Civil War; 
 but only in a general way to refer to them and point 
 out the value of his services, taking into account 
 the entire field of his military career; the sole end 
 and purpose being that the truth may be made to 
 appear, so that the true value of (xeneral Burn- 
 side's military services during the period of the 
 Civil War as an asset of his country and of its 
 history may be fairly and justly estimated and 
 shown. 
 
 The statement is made, without fear of challenge 
 from fair-minded, truth-loving men, that General 
 Burnside rendered inestimable military services in 
 the field during the Civil War, manifesting on many 
 occasions a versatilit}^ of initiative in both suggest- 
 ing and framing plans for military campaigns, 
 original, brilliant and practical in conception, some 
 of which w^ere later adopted and carried into execu- 
 tion either by himself, or by others of his compa- 
 triots in arms, to the honor and glory of the armies 
 
12 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OP 
 
 of the Union, but for which clue credit has not been 
 awarded him. 
 
 On Monday, April 15, 1861, Ambrose Everett 
 Burnside received in the New York office of the 
 Illinois Central Railroad the following telegram 
 from War Governor William Sprague: 
 
 "A regiment of Rhode Island trooi)s will go to 
 Washington this week. How soon can you come on 
 and take command?" 
 
 He x)romptly answered, "At once." 
 
 Colonel Burnside reached Washington but a few 
 days after Fort Sumter was fired on, in command of 
 the First Regiment Rhode Island Detached Militia, 
 a battalion of which reached Washington shortly 
 before the main body, being the first fully uniformed, 
 armed and equipped troops to report to the Com- 
 mander-in-Chief, w^hich was accomplished through 
 the personal efforts of both Governor Sprague and 
 himself. 
 
 He hastened, on reaching Washington, to call on 
 General McDowell, advising delay in making the 
 proposed advance on the forces of Secession, then 
 concentrating in Virginia, urging that the Union 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 13 
 
 troops which were hurrying to Washington but par- 
 tially uniformed, undisciplined and indifferently 
 armed and equipped, were not in fit condition for 
 the contemplated movement against the enemy. He 
 was looked upon with suspicion of his loyalty by the 
 politicians who were present. It was then the poli- 
 ticians' campaign, whose slogan was, "On to Rich- 
 mond." 
 
 Had Burnside's advice, and that of others of like 
 experience and military judgment, been heeded, the 
 country would doubtless have escaped the defeat at 
 Bull Run and the demoralization that followed, and 
 possibly the war might have been sooner ended. 
 
 His conduct at Bull Run was conspicuously cool, 
 gallant and brave, handling the troops under his 
 command w^th a skill which attracted the favorable 
 notice of the country, and commanded the confidence 
 of President Lincoln and his oiticial advisers, all of 
 which resulted in his promotion on August 6, 1861, 
 to the rank of Brigadier-General of Volunteers. 
 
 He was ordered to report to General McClellan, 
 who had practically succeeded General Scott as 
 Commanding General, and who placed him in charge 
 
14 
 
 THE MILITARY SI5RV1CE.S OF 
 
 of the iiew troops as they arrived in Washington, 
 with orders to attend to their drill and discipline, 
 preparatory to their merger into the brigades and 
 divisions then being organized in Washington under 
 the name of the Army of the Potomac. 
 
 This duty was an interesting service, but soon be- 
 came irksome to General Burnside, as his mind 
 grappled with the i)roblems in the larger field of 
 military activities, stimulated, doubtless, by a de- 
 sire to do something to dispel the gloomy forebod- 
 ings that prevailed in the eastern section of the 
 country, w^here only defeats had thus far met the 
 efforts of our armies, and which were giving en- 
 couragement to copperheads and other unfriendly 
 critics of the Government's endeavors to suppress 
 what in those days was called treason and rebellion. 
 
 Early in October of 1861, while chatting with 
 General McClellan, a turn in the conversation af- 
 forded General Burnside an opportunity to suggest 
 a plan for raising a coast division to which he had 
 been giving considerable thought. 
 
 After giving a somewhat detailed statement of 
 his plan, General McClellan asked him to put it in 
 
MAJOIl-GENEKAL AMBROSE EVERETT LiURNSlDE. 15 
 
 writing as soon as possible, which he did, presenting 
 it the next day. McClellan indorsed it with his 
 approval, and forwarded it at once to the Secretary 
 of War, by whom it was speedily approved. The 
 general details of the plan, to use the words of 
 Burnside, were: 
 
 "To organize a division of from twelve to fifteen 
 thousand men, and to fit out a fieet of light draft 
 steamers, sailing vessels and barges, large enough to 
 transport the division, its armament and supplies, 
 so that it could be rapidly thrown from point to 
 point on the coast witli a view to establishing lodg- 
 ments on the Soutliern coast, landing troops and 
 penetrating into the interior, thereby threatening 
 the lines of the enemy's transportation in the rear 
 of the main army of the enemy then concentrating 
 in Virginia, and holding possession of the inland 
 waters on the Atlantic coast." 
 
 Upon the approval of his plan Burnside was or- 
 dered to proceed at once to New York and fit out a 
 fleet for the expedition as planned. On the 23d of 
 October, 1861, his headquarters were established at 
 Annapolis, Maryland, for the concentration of the 
 division and for its drill and discipline. It was very 
 
16 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 difficult to secure the uecessaiy vessels of suitable 
 light draft for the expedition, the supply having 
 been nearly exhausted by requisitions of the Gov- 
 ernment for other purposes, so that it was not until 
 December 12 that General Burnside telegraphed 
 General McOlellan that a sufficient amount of trans- 
 portation and armament had been secured for the 
 expedition. 
 
 It was a nondescript aggregation of crafts im- 
 provised for this service, and had it not been for 
 its martial mission it might have served as a spec- 
 tacular burlesque at sea. 
 
 Forty-six transports were employed, eleven of 
 which were steamers. There were also nine armed 
 propellers to act as gunboats, and five North River 
 barges armed as floating batteries, carrying alto- 
 gether forty-seven guns, mostly of small calibre. 
 Those formed the army division and were under the 
 command of Commander Samuel F. Hazard. A 
 naval squadron composed of twent}^ vessels, carrying 
 fifty-five heavy guns, was commanded by Commodore 
 Goldsborough. The land forces were divided into 
 three brigades under the command of Brigadier- 
 
DANIEL R. BALLOU 
 Taken about the time of the war 
 
major-genp:kal Ambrose everett burn side. 17 
 
 Generals Foster^ Reno and I'arke, personal friends 
 of Biirnside. 
 
 On the night of the 11th of January, 1862, the 
 fleet set sail from Fortress Monroe under sealed 
 orders, to be opened six miles out at sea. 
 
 Notwithstanding the public clamor of distrust and 
 severe criticisms touching the seaworthiness of the 
 vessels composing the fleet, together with predictions 
 of disaster and failure, General Burnside, although 
 knowing the weakness of the vessels, deemed it 
 necessary for the cause of his country to prosecute 
 the enterprise even if some lives should be lost by 
 wrecks. In order that the public might be assured 
 of his own faith in the capacity of the vessels for 
 the required service, which were the best that could 
 be procured at this time, and that he himself might 
 not enjoy any superior protection over that of any 
 of his men, he selected the smallest vessel of the 
 fleet, a little propeller called the "Picket," for his 
 headquarters, — a boat which would be less able to 
 cope with a storm at sea than any of the other and 
 larger crafts, — thus exhibiting that unselfish, self- 
 sacrificing spirit that characterized his entire mili- 
 
18 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 tary career. The weather was somewhat threatening 
 as the fleet put to sea, yet not sufficiently so as to 
 cause alarm; but on the 12th of January a terrific 
 storm burst upon the devoted fleet, lashing the 
 waters into a fury of raging billows that pounded 
 and broke over the vessels, which vainly endeavored 
 to breast their overwhelming blows as they staggered 
 and reeled amid the frightful warring of the ele- 
 ments. 
 
 On board the little headquarters boat, "Picket," 
 tossed about as a cockle-shell, now engulfed by the 
 tempestuous sea, strained and quivering to the 
 uttermost as it rose on the crests of the furious 
 waves, was seen the stalwart and knightly form of 
 General Burnside, grasping the rigging of the little 
 propeller and peering anxiously through the mists 
 and drenching spray, watching the vessels of his 
 fleet struggling in the teeth of the frightful gale. 
 He stood like a Viking on the deck of his little 
 steamer, hailing each passing vessel, inquiring after 
 the welfare of the men, and speaking words of en- 
 couragement and cheer. 
 
 Arriving oil Hatteras, the vessels sought entrance 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 19 
 
 to Pamlico Sound, those of light draft working their 
 way over the bar into the inlet or into the calmer 
 waters beyond, while those that turned out to be of 
 too great draft headed off shore or sought the lee 
 of the cape for greater safety. 
 
 For two weeks the storm raged, imperiling the 
 vessels that were drifting storm-tossed outside the 
 bar, together with their precious freights of human 
 life and of horses, munitions and supplies. 
 
 On the 25th of January the storm broke, and the 
 vessels held so long outside the bar had found their 
 way into the inlet, with the exception of three, which 
 succumbed to the storm and went down, but without 
 loss of human life. 
 
 On the 26th an attempt was made to bring the 
 vessels remaining in the inlet into the sound, but 
 very many of them were unable, by reason of their 
 eight feet draft, to pass over the "swash," so-called, 
 that separates the inlet from the sound, and upon 
 which there was but six feet of water. A breach, 
 therefore, had to be made for their passage, which 
 consumed several days, so that it was not until 
 February 4 that the entire fleet came to anchor in 
 
20 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 the sound, and orders were given for the movement 
 on Roanoke Island. 
 
 General Burnside had scarcely slept night or day 
 during the fearful experiences of that two weeks of 
 threatened disaster, devoting his undivided attention 
 and energy to the management of the great fleet. 
 When a signal of distress was sounded or displayed 
 during the night or day, he was the first man olf to 
 render assistance, performing the duties of life- 
 saver, of navigator, pilot and harbor-master, besides 
 acting both as general and admiral, being loyally as- 
 sisted by his subordinates and the officers of the 
 navy. Happilj^, owing to his skilful management 
 and untiring vigilance, but two lives were lost. 
 
 No attempt will be made to describe the move- 
 ments of the army and naval forces which resulted 
 in the brilliant victories of Roanoke Island of Feb- 
 ruary 8, Newbern of March 14, and of Fort Macon 
 of April 26, 1802, won under the immediate direction 
 of General Burnside, personally present in the field. 
 
 The A'alue of these victories was inestimable. The 
 defeat of Big Bethel, the disaster at Bull Run, and 
 the tragedy of Ball's Blutf, together with an absence 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 21 
 
 of military success iu the eastern section of the 
 country, had caused gloomy forebodings and dis- 
 couragement among the friends of the Union, and 
 on the other hand, had excited disloyal criticism 
 among the copperhead element; but now confidence 
 was restored, and there was great rejoicing and re- 
 newal of courage among the loyal element of the 
 North. The story of the expedition, together with 
 the results of the campaign, have been presented 
 somewhat in detail because they afford a true in- 
 sight into the high character of Burnside as a soldier 
 and man, exhibiting, as he did, eminent ability as 
 a strategist, conscientious, prudent and successful 
 leadership, conspicuous courage under fire, together 
 with a modest and unassuming demeanor in the 
 midst of the plaudits of his countrymen. 
 
 In appreciation of the victories of Roanoke Island 
 and Newbern, President Lincoln nominated him a 
 Major-General of Volunteers, and the Senate 
 promptly, on March 18, 1862, confirmed the appoint- 
 ment. Upon the recei})t of the news at Washington 
 of the victory at Newbern, Secretary Stanton, in 
 a dispatch, conveyed, in behalf of the President, the 
 
22 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 Department and the whole nation, a tender of 
 thanks for distinguished services rendered by Gen- 
 eral Burnside and the officers and men under his 
 command. 
 
 The General Assembly of Rhode Island voted 
 General Burnside a sword, together with its thanks. 
 The Legislatures of Massachusetts and Ohio, then 
 in session, also passed congratulatory resolutions. 
 
 During the latter part of June, 1802, Burnside 
 was summoned to a conference with General Mc- 
 Clellan at Fortress Monroe, and promptly answered 
 the call with his presence. Returning to Newbern, 
 he held himself in readiness to respond to further 
 orders. The retreat of McClellan to Harrison's 
 Landing in July suspended, for the time being, 
 further contemplated military operations in North 
 Carolina, namely, in the neighborhood of Raleigh in 
 case of McClellan's success on the Peninsula, a part 
 of Burnside's original plan, with the purpose of 
 cutting off Lee's retreat into the Gulf States, his 
 chief source of supplies. 
 
 Burnside, early in July, after McClellan retreated 
 to Harrison's Landing, was recalled from North 
 
MA.7 0R-(?ENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 23 
 
 Carolina with two of his division s, primarily to re- 
 inforce the Army of the Potomac. He embarked 
 his divisions, which, on reaching Fortress Monroe, 
 were there detained under special orders from 
 Washington until about the 2d of August, when 
 they were ordered to proceed to Acquia Creek, where 
 they arrived on the 4th and 5th. General Burnside, 
 on arriving with his command at Fortress Monroe, 
 met President Lincoln, with whom he had a con- 
 ference. In the meanwhile he visited Washington, 
 where, at the conclusion of a long intervieAv with 
 President Lincoln, General Halleck and Secretary 
 of War Stanton, the President offered him the com- 
 mand of the Army of the Potomac, which he 
 courteously and peremptorily declined. In the mean- 
 time, after his command had reached Acquia Creek, 
 it was reorganized as the Ninth Corps, with which, 
 reinforced by General Isaac Stevens' division, he 
 was ordered to proceed to the Rappahannock to co- 
 operate with the Army of Virginia under General 
 Pope, with headquarters at Fredericksburg. General 
 McClellan, under orders, withdrew from the posi- 
 tion occupied by liim on August 20, and commenced 
 
24 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 to embark his troops, a large detachment of which 
 disembarked at Acquia Creek, to which point he was 
 ordered to hasten, arriving there on the morning of 
 the 24th in tlie expectation, as he says, of advancing 
 to the relief of Burnside and General Pope, who 
 were reported hard-pressed by the Confederates. 
 Soon after he was ordered to proceed to Alexandria, 
 arriving there on AugUvSt 26, his army having been 
 concentrated in that neighborhood. Here he was 
 soon practically deposed. General Halleck having 
 been appointed to succeed him in the chief com- 
 mand. 
 
 On taking command at Fredericksburg, Burnside 
 was confronted by a question of rank, — being the su- 
 ])erior of General Pope, — but in the same generous 
 and loyal spirit he never failed during his military 
 career to display, when occasion arose, he cheerfully 
 and without question assumed the subordinate 
 place. General Burnside furnished General Pope 
 during the final days of his disastrous campaign in 
 Virginia, his uncpialified loyal support, which elic- 
 ited his warmest expressions of gratitude and ap- 
 preciation. 
 
MA.TOR-GENERAI. AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDB. 25 
 
 The timely arrival at Fredericksburg of the Ninth 
 Corps, reinforced by Stevens' division, and the 
 prompt assistance rendered by Burnside, doubtless 
 prevented the turning* of Pope's left flank, which, 
 had the Confederates succeeded in doing, would 
 most likely have resulted in cutting otf his army 
 from Washington. 
 
 The Confederate forces confronting Pope, rein- 
 forced by Lee's veterans, fresh from their successes 
 on the Peninsula, were aggressively forcing the fight- 
 ing, which resulted in his being thrown back upon 
 the defenses of Washington. The enemy were at the 
 same time pressing vigorously upon Burnside, when 
 he was ordered to withdraw his troops from Fred- 
 ericksburg and bring them to the Capital. He 
 promptly burned all the bridges leading to the town, 
 a machine-shop and the government buildings. 
 Through cool judgment and prompt action, together 
 with sleepless vigilance and untiring personal ex- 
 ertion, he brought, under cover of the night, his col- 
 umn, his artillery and wagon train over almost im- 
 passable roads safely to Acquia Creek. Here, under 
 the protection of the gunboats and his own artillery, 
 
26 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 ihe eijeiri^^ haiigiiig close on his rear, he embarked 
 his trooi)s aod munitions, remaining behind and fir- 
 ing the government buildings, after which he started 
 for Washington. 
 
 Arriving at the Capital, he found the high officials, 
 as well as the inhabitants, in a perturbed state, from 
 fear of the capture of the city or a possible invasion 
 of the North. 
 
 The fateful days of the summer and fall of 1862 
 were quite the gloomiest of any period of the gre^t 
 Avar. The failure of the Peninsular ('ainpaign and 
 tJie defeat at the second Bull Run battle well-nigh 
 overwhelmed the loyal hearts of the country with 
 discouragement and apprehension, and now, on the 
 closing days of the long summer period of failure 
 and disaster, as the wailing of bereaved kindred as- 
 cended from the hearthstones of thousands of homes, 
 rendered desolate by battle-slain fathers, sons and 
 lovers, the specter of dreadful war rose up in their 
 distracted visions, stalking in the peaceful valleys 
 and v. ithin the gates of the great cities of the North- 
 land. 
 
 There was good cause for fear, as Lee's ragged 
 
MAJOR-Gf:NERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 27 
 
 and hungry veterans, their breasts swelling with 
 martial ardor, incited by the recent successes of 
 their arms, were hovering about the gates of the 
 Capital, eager and impatient to be led to its assault, 
 or, what was more their desire, to the fertile valleys 
 of the Northland, where they might levy tribute on 
 their overflowing granaries, their herds and flocks, 
 and the storehouses of rich merchandise that 
 abounded in the great cities, wherewith to feast 
 their famished bodies and clothe their nakedness. 
 
 Facing these impending dangers, the President 
 again turned to Burnside, and with the approval of 
 his ofiicial advisers, tendered him the command of 
 the armies concentrated in and about Washington, 
 as the most available general officer to marshal the 
 forces and lead them successfully against the in- 
 vader. 
 
 The tender of this high command was most entic- 
 ing, being one that would have turned the head of a 
 vain, self-seeking nature. But however alluring the 
 opportunity it afforded General Burnside to tempt 
 fate for the winning of fame in a great military 
 struggle, he again manifested the same self-abjura- 
 
28 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 tion and exalted patriotism as on the occasion of the 
 former tender of the command of the Army of the 
 I'otomac. He saw with a clear vision that General 
 McClellan, with his popular hold upon the veterans 
 of the Army of the Potomac, was the conunander in 
 this emergency best qualified to successfully bring 
 order out of existing confusion, arouse the rank and 
 tile of the various military organizations to enthusi- 
 astic action under his leadershij), for repelling the 
 invading foe. Burnside hesitated not a moment in 
 refusing the honor, and, at the same time, earnestly 
 urged the President to reinstate McClellan in the 
 command. 
 
 The situation was too grave and urgent for fur- 
 ther delay, and the President summoneil McClellan 
 to take command of "all the troops for the defense 
 of the Capital.'' General Lee, having meanwhile 
 withdrawn his army from before Washington, was 
 now marching into Maryland. McClellan promptly 
 detailed sufficient garrisons for the occupation of 
 the several forts around Washington, and quickly 
 organized an army and started for the enemy, five 
 days after the defeat of General Pope at Second 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 
 
 29 
 
 Bull Kuii. Burnside was placed in the advance in 
 command of the right wing, formed of the First 
 Corps under General Hooker, General Cox's Kana- 
 Tvha Division and the ]S^inth Corps under General 
 Reno. On September 13 the advance guard of Burn- 
 side's column came in contact with the enemy, with 
 whom there was skirmishing. Later in the day 
 Burnside's advance guard entered Frederick, Mary- 
 land, just as Wade Hampton's cavalry. Lee's rear 
 guard, were leaving at the other end of the street. 
 
 The Union troops were received with the most pa- 
 triotic expressions of loyalt}^ and delight. Burn- 
 side, arriving later in the evening, was welcomed 
 with the wildest demonstration of joy, and McClel- 
 lan, arriving the next morning, was accorded a re- 
 ception no less ardent and enthusiastic. 
 
 On the morning of September 14 Burnside started 
 from Middleton toward South Mountain, about 
 three miles distant, to meet the enemy. Pleasanton, 
 moving forward from Middleton at six o'clock, met 
 with determined resistance from a large force of the 
 enemy. The battle opened with an artillery duel be- 
 tween batteries at long range. The infantry coming 
 
30 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OP 
 
 up soon after, opened fire, which the Confederates 
 briskly returned, as they retreated slowly up the 
 mountain side, being hard pressed by Cox's division, 
 which finally gained the crest, where it halted to 
 await the arrival of the Ninth Corps. Wilcox's di- 
 vision was the first to arrive, reporting to Cox, the 
 senior officer, at about two o'clock. McClellan, 
 Burnside and Reno came soon after Wilcox's divi- 
 sion, to a knoll in the valley which had been Pleas- 
 anton's position, and from this point, a central one 
 in the midst of curving hills, issued their orders. 
 McClellan established his headquarters at this point, 
 where he remained in apparently most friendly co- 
 operation with Burnside, as commander of the right 
 wing, until the close of the engagement. 
 
 The battle raged fiercely until the dusk of evening, 
 when General Reno fell, greatly lamented by the en- 
 tire army. During the night the Confederates with- 
 drew and retreated down the mountain, leaving the 
 battlefield in possession of Burnside's command. 
 The troops engaged at the summit, bivouacked for 
 the night on the battlefield where the severest fight- 
 ing took place, resting on their arms. 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 31 
 
 General McClellan, in his dispatch, sent off that 
 night to the President, characterized the result of 
 the battle as ^^a brilliant victory." 
 
 During the morning hours of the 15th orders were 
 given for an advance of the army on the roads lead- 
 ing to Sharpsburg. In consequence of unavoidable 
 delays, Burnside's column did not get a clear way 
 to move until past noon, doubtless in part caused 
 by the change in his position to the left of the line. 
 
 In the late afternoon of the 16th McClellan came 
 in contact with the enemy in the neighborhood of 
 Antietam Creek. 
 
 General Lee, having taken advantage of the past 
 two days, had intrenched himself in a strong posi- 
 tion of his own choosing, on the westerly side of the 
 creek, in front of Sharpsburg. 
 
 Late in the afternoon, through McClellan's dispo- 
 sition of his forces, Burnside found himself with a 
 serious task confronting him, in command of only 
 the Ninth Corps and the Kanawha Division under 
 General Isaac B. Cox, and occupying the extreme 
 left of the line, with his troops disposed along the 
 easterly side of Antietam Creek. 
 
32 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 Under tlie instiuctioMS given Burnside on the 
 evening of tlie Kith, he was to hold liis comiuaiid in 
 readiness to advance, wlien ordered on the next 
 morning, and cany the bridge over Antietam Creek, 
 since known as "Bnrnside Bridge,'- together with 
 the heights beyond, and, ha\ iug gained their crest, 
 to press the attack on the Confederate right wing, 
 capture Sharpsburg and cnt oti the retreat of the 
 enemy. A s tliis woukl be a peri Ions movement, as 
 well as a difficult one to accomplish, he called to- 
 gether his commanding oliicers during that evening, 
 and carefnlly instructed them in the detail neces- 
 sary for its execution. 
 
 At ten o'clock the next morning Burnside received 
 the order of McClellan to carry the bridge, as di- 
 rected the night before. This order was at once car- 
 ried into etfect. General Cox, who had been stand- 
 ing by Burnside all the morning, watching the tight, 
 started at once to attend to the details of which he 
 had charge for carrying the order into eti'ect, and 
 without delay caused the i loops to advance as di- 
 rected. It was an appalling task to axvi j the bridge 
 and heights beyond. The lieights and crest bristled 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 33 
 
 with rifle-pits and stone walls, behind which were 
 posted the enemy's artillery, infantry and shai'p- 
 shooters, from which protection a destructive en- 
 filading fire was directed against the Union columns 
 in their struggle to carry the bridge and heights. 
 For three mortal hours the gallant veterans of Burn- 
 side's command struggled back and forth amid a 
 fierce and deadly tempest of shrapnel, of flying rifle 
 bullets and exploding shells, in heroic assaults at 
 the bridge, the fords of the Creek and the well-nigh 
 impregnable heights beyond, and when at length 
 they succeeded in carrying the bridge and gaining a 
 foothold under the crest, the ground over which they 
 fought their way was drenched and crimsoned with 
 blood, shed as a full-measure offering, even to over- 
 flowing, to their country's cause. 
 
 Beneath the crest of the embattled heights the as- 
 saulting troops were compelled to halt and make 
 necessary preparations for tlieir further advance. 
 It was now one o'clock, three hours having been con- 
 sumed in gaining their position. McClellan, hear- 
 ing of the halt, dispatched a succession of impera- 
 tive orders, impatient in tone, for a forward move- 
 
34 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 ment, which was then physically impossible. Stur- 
 gis's Division was so exhausted that reserves had 
 to be ordered up and placed in its front. Some of 
 the command had exhausted their ammunition. 
 Hurry orders were sent out for troops to replace 
 Sturgis's Division and for the ammunition train to 
 cross the bridge. After most strenuous exertions, in 
 which Burnside lent his personal assistance, the 
 preparations were completed_, and at three o'clock 
 the troops again advanced, carrying the crest and 
 driving the Confederates to the vicinity of Sharps- 
 burg. McClellan says, in his "Own Story": 
 
 "The advance was then gallantly resumed, the en- 
 emy was driven back from the guns, the heights 
 handsomely carried and a portion of the troops 
 reached Sharpsburg." 
 
 It was now nearly dark and the enemy was then 
 reinforced by the troops of A. P. Hill, who had just 
 arrived from Harper's Ferry, which made a vigorous 
 attack on Burnside's left flank, forcing his lines 
 back to the lower line of the hills near the bridge. 
 As his lines were driven back the situation became 
 extremely critical. Burnside, realizing the danger 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E\^RETT BURXSIDE. 35' 
 
 of being forced back across the bridge, dispatched 
 an aide to McClellan with the message: 
 
 *'I want troops and guns. If you do not send them 
 I cannot hold my position for half an hour." 
 
 "Tell General Burnside," said McClellan, . . . 
 •'he must hold his ground till dark, at any cost. I 
 will send him a battery ; I cannot do more.'' As the 
 aide was riding away he called him back. ''Tell him 
 also, that if he cannot hold his ground, then the 
 bridge to the last man; always the bridge; if the 
 bridge is lost, all will be lost." 
 
 The battle ceased as night cast its sable wings 
 over the ghastly scenes of war's dreadful carnage, 
 calmness succeeding the strain and excitement 
 evoked by the roar of artillery, the crash of mus- 
 ketry, the battle cries and the clamor of the charge. 
 And now the wearied and exhausted heroes of Burn- 
 side's command lay down upon the ground near the 
 bridge which they had wrested from the enemy in a 
 titanic struggle, to rest on their arms. 
 
 Late in the evening of the day of the battle Gen- 
 eral Burnside called on General McClellan at his 
 headquarters, and in conversation concerning the 
 
36 
 
 THE MILITARY SERVICES OF 
 
 events of the day suggested the advisability of re- 
 suming the battle on the following morning, "ofifer- 
 ing to lead an advance against the enemy, provided 
 MoClellan would give him five thousand fresh troops 
 to pass ill advance of his Ninth Corps." General 
 McOlellan declined to take the responsibility of re- 
 newing the engagement, and accordingly General 
 Lee, undisturbed b}^ McClellan's veteran army, 
 which had expectantly waited to be again led to the 
 attack, leisurely transported across the Potomac his 
 munitions and su}>})lies, together with the booty cap- 
 tured at Harper's Ferry and in Maryland, and on. 
 the 19th of Heptember (]uietly crossed the river with 
 his troops into Virginia, ])assing by easy stages into 
 tlie Shenandoah Valley, where liis veterans sat down 
 and enjoyed the fruits of their Maryland campaign, 
 together with a recuperative rest from their strenu- 
 ous service. 
 
 On October 18 General Burnside, under orders of 
 General McOlellan, strangely delayed, crossed the 
 Potomac just below Harper's Ferry and marched 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 37" 
 
 along the easterly base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 
 T^ith the purpose of preventing Lee from escaping 
 through any of the passes; but meanwhile the Con- 
 federate Army had slipped through Thoroughfare 
 Gap, its right wing in camp at Culpepper Court 
 House, with its left resting in the valley. 
 
 A\Tiat happened on the night of November 7, 1862, 
 is familiar history. It was a dramatic incident in 
 a dismal setting. It was the appearance at the tent 
 of General Burnside in a blinding snowstorm, of 
 General Buckingham, bearing as the special confi- 
 dential messenger of President Lincoln, an order re- 
 lieving General McClellan from the command of the 
 Army of the Potomac, with instructions to report at 
 Trenton, New Jersey, for further orders, accom- 
 panied by an order . placing General Burnside in 
 command, to which he reluctantly yielded obedience, 
 solely because it came as an order; and then the cold 
 and cheerless night ride of Generals Buckingham 
 and Burnside through the winter's blizzard to the 
 headquarters of McClellan, twenty miles away, on 
 
38 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE. 
 
 the delicate mission of notifying him that he was. 
 relieved, and of the succession of Burnside to the 
 command. 
 
 This story is continued in the next paper (Series 7, No. 9) of 
 these Publications. 
 
Date Due 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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