Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-11-20
The New Commander ofthe Potomac
leaH Army

The New Commander ofthe Potomac
ea - Army.
Major General Amhose Everett Bnrn-
side, Of the United Staes volunteer service,
is in the prime of life having been born
at Liberty, ssapall torn in Union county,
Indiana. on the 23d 81 May. 1924. He
was nominated to the West Point Militia
ry Academy I'D his hme was enrolled
as cadet in 1S42. HI, rsduated in 1S47.
eighteenth in class d&hirty eight mem
bers, and was Immediately attached to the
2d artillery, with the brevet rank Of I'd
lieutenant. In September lS47, Lieut..
Burnside was promoted to full 2d lieu
tenancy in company @. Sd artillery. since
rendered famous as ''Braggs battery
Bragg himself being csptain of it. With
this battery Lieut.. Burnside marched. in
Gen. Patterson's diviiion. to the city Of
Mexico, and remained there until the close
ofthe Mexican war After this he served
with his company in New Mexico. where
he was distinguished in encounters with
the Apache Indians, being complimented
in general orders.
On the 18th of December he was promo
ted to first lieutenancy. in the room of
an officer who was cashiered. When the
present Lieutenant Colonel James d. Gra-
ham. OF the corps Of Typographical engi-
neers, was appointed United States astron-
omer in the joint commission to settle the
frontier lines Of the United States and Mex
leo, Lieutenant Burnside was chosen to fill
the office of quartermaster. and in this ca
pacity he conveyed dispatches from Col.
Graham to President Fillmore, travelling
| 1000 miles across the plains in seventeen
days, with an escort of ohly three men,
After serving short timeat Fort Adams.
Newport Harhor. Lieutenant Burnside re-
signed. in 1858. After Ais resignation,
he turned his attention to3 3he manufacture
Of breech- loading rife q his own invcn-
tion, known as the "Bsrnside rifle" a
project which resulted in considerable Pc
cuniary loss.
Gen. Burnside then sold his establish.
ment to his brother n-law. who has sup
piled quite a number Of the Burnside rifles
to the present administration. Suisse
quently to this. he was.with Gen. McClel-
Ian, connected withsthe Illinois Central
railroad. holding tk position ef president
Of the land department.. While resident
at Bristol. Rhode Is)&pd. he married Miss
Bishop of Providence aud removed with
her to Chicago, upoqf fbeing appointed to
the Illinois Central. yHew was also elected
major general okthe Rhode Island militia
during his sojourn at Bristol. Shortly af-
ter remU9ng to Chicago, he was elected
treasurer Of the Centrs railroad. and there
upon removed to this city. from which he
was summo9e1 be outbreak of the re-
bcllion. by prague. to assume the
colonelcy of tnOD1k Rhode Island volun.
teers. This regiment did good service in
the first battle Of Bull Run. its colonel act.
ing as brigadier general of the 2d brigade,
ID division. After this he was appointed
brigadier general of volunteers, his COM
mission being dated the 9th of August.
1861.
OF the celebrated Burnside expedition
to North Carolina. nothing need be said
at the battle of Antietam. in September
last. Burnsiie's corps darmee performed
highly important part. 1t took the
main road to Sharpsburg. on the left. and
encountered the most determined opposi-
tion in successfully executing its part Of
the general plan Of the battle Gen. Burn.
side had to cross the bridge over the An
t:etam Greek. and dislodge the enemy. who
were in strong force and position on the
opposite side. Twice his army made an
attempt to cross. and twice was it repuls.
] ed. with heavy loss, but the third attack.
led ly the general in person. was success
ful. and the position was won. though at
a great sacrifice of life.
In October last Gen. Burnside was ss-
signed to the general charge Of the defens-
es of Harper's Ferry. just recovered from
the rebels. after having been surrendered by
Col. Miles. The 2d and 18th army corps
were at the same time placed under his
command. On October 26. when the ar
my of the Potomac began to move, Gen
Barnside. with his 81 army corps. crossed
the Potomac. in light marching order. i'm
mediately after Pleasonton's cavalry, and
is now in the advance. Gen. Burnside il
a man Of very fine personal appearance. q
rigid disciplinarian, and thorough gen.
tleman. His present rank is that of ma
jor general of volunteers. He is the ninth
on the list, and by virtue Of his commission
alone. which is dated March Is. 1862
ranks all volunteer major generals excep,
Gen. Banks. Dix. Butler. David Hunter
Edwin ID. Morgan. Hitchcock, Grant and
/ Meno.roll " Y (o,p Al,