Newbern weekly progress., 1862-11-22


tiour small children) at 1855 each one boy, 10
years DID, Sl,l9O; one man, old, $500; one man,
~ yelrs old, 3 ,225; one do. $l2l0; one wo-
man, " years old. S,al5:
The following sketch of General Burn
side, from the New York Commercial Ad-
vertiser, will be read with interest by the
veterans in this Department. who Served
under HIM
The New Commander OF the Army
of the Potomac.
Najor-Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside,
of the United states volunteer service, is in
the prime of life, having heen born at Lib
erty, small town in Union county, lndi-
anna, on the 23d of May, 1924. He was
nominated to the West Point Military
Academy, and his name was enrolled as u
cade: in 1912. lie graduated in 1847,
eighteenth in class of thirty-cight mem
bers, and was Immediately attached to fle
I'd artillery with the breyet rank Of second
lieutenant. In September, 1847, Lieuten-
ant Burnside was promoted to'a Full second
lleutenan,cy in Co. C, Sd artillery, since rem
dered famous as "Bragg's Battery" Bragg
himself being then captain of it. With
this battery, Lieut.. Burnside marched, ii
Gen. Patterson's division, to the city Of
Mexico, and remained there until the close
of the Mexican war. After this he served
his companv in New.Mcxico, where he was
distinguished in encounters with the Apache
Indians, being complimented in general or
ders.
On the 18th of December, 1851, he was
p OIL otel to first lieutenantcy, in the room
Of an officer who was cashiercd. When the
present Lieut.. Col James ID. Graham Of the
Corps of Typographical Engineers was ap-
pointed United States Astronomer in the
Joint commission to settle the frontier lines
of the United States and Mexico, Lieut..
Burnside was chosen to fill the Office ofquar1
termastcr, and in this capacity he conveyed
dispatches from Col. Graham TO President
Fillmore, travelling twelve hundred miles
across the plains in seventeen days, with an
escort of only three men. After serving a
sll, rt time at Fort Adams, Newport larbor,
Lieut.. Burnside resigned, in 1858, After
his resignation, he turned his attention to
the manufacture of breech loading rifle OK
lis own invention, known as the "Burn-
side hifc," a project which resulted in con-
siderable pecunary loss.
Gen. Burnside then sold his establishment
to his brother.in.law, who has supplied quite
number of The Burnside rifles to the present
| Administration. Subsequently, 10 this, he was
With Gen. Mcclellan, connected with the ilii-
nois Central railroad, holding the position Of
President of the land Office department. While
rcsidiag at Bristol, Rhode Island, he married
Miss Bishop, of Providence, and removed with
her to Chicago, upon being appointed to the
Illinois Central. lie was also elected major
general of the Rhode Island militia during his
soiourn at Bristol Shortly after removing 10
Chicago, he was elected Treasurer of the Gen.
tral ralhoad, and thereupon removed 10 this
city, from which he was Summoned on tho
outbreak of the rebellion, by Gov, Sprague to
assume the colonecy Of the lst Rhode Island
volunteers. This regiment did good service III
the first battle of Bull Run, its colonel acting
as brigadier general Of the second brigade, the
second division. After this he was appointed
Brigadier General of volunteers, his commits.
sion being dated 9th August 1861.
OF the celebrated Burnside Expeditian" to
North Carolina, nothing need be said. AT the
battle OF Antietam, in September last, General
Burnsldo's corps darmee performed highly
important part. 1t took the main road 10
Sharpsburg on the left and encountered the
most determined opposition in successfully
executing its part Of the general plan OF the
battle. General Burnside had 10 cross the
bride over the Antietam Greek, and dislodge
the enemy, who were in strong force and posi-
ton on the opposite side. Twice his army
made an attempt to cross and twice was 1t re-
pulsed with heavy loss, but the third attcck,
led by the General, in person, was successful;
aud the position was won, though at great
sacrifice of life
In October last, Gen. Burnside was assigned
TO the general charge of the defences Of Harper's
Ferry, Just recovered from the rebels after haHs
ing been surrendered by Col Miles The I'd aud
| 18th army corps were at the same time placed
under HE c, Gimand On October 26. when the
army Of The Potomac began TO move, Gen. Burn
side with his 2d army corps crossed the Pot0.
mnc in light mqrching order immediately after
Peasartons cavalry. and is now in the advance.
Gen burnside Is man of very fne personal
appearance, a rigid dscipliuarian aud thorough
gentleman. His present rank is that ot major
general Of volunteers Ike is tho ninth on tho
list aud by virtue of his c, mmssion alone. which
is dated March l6. 1869, ranks all VOLUNTEER major
generals except Generals Banks. Dix, Builsf,
Daril iiglter, Edwin u. Morgan, nitchceck,
Gran: aud Mcdowell