New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-14
HIS PUBLIC CAREER

ing the west Point Military Academy, he grad
mated in lsf7. He was first stationed at Fort
Adams Newport Il. l. He afterward commanded
squadron of cavalry in New-Mexco and in the
Boundary Commission i'll 1851, he acted as uarter-
master. lie resigned his commission in 1853
having invented breech-loading Iifle of which he
established mandatory in Rhode Island which
did not prove successful He then became treasurer
of the Illinois Central Railroad with its office i'm
New-York City. He was for time associated
in business with General George b. Mcclellan in
Chicago but citizen of New-York in 1861
In that year he was commissioned Colonel of the
LIST Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers which
four days after the issuing of the Presidents call
marched to Washington. At the battle of Bull RIM
he commanded a brigade, which was the first
opened upon at the Warrenton Turnpike bv the
rebel artillery. General Burnside, though also
pressed by the enemys infantry continued to adj
vance hghting and amply contributed to the early
success OF the Union troops in this subsequently
disastrous action. After Bull Run Colonel Burn
side was commissioned a Brigader-General
In January, 1862, General Burnside commanded
the expedition to North Carolina. which left
Fortress Monroe on the 18th of that month con-
slstng OF thirty-One steam gunboats with ninety
four guns, and a military force of about IL 300
men. After the loss of the propeller New York the
fleet moved toward Roanoke Island. the fortifca-
tons upon which carried by bombardmcnt
and assault. General Burns lie next concentrated
New-Berne the most important seaport of North
Carolina, which captured March L. Fort
Macon was captured, and several towns on the
coast occupied by our forces The division
OF Burnside had by this time become widely dis |
persed and little more of moment occurred in his |
department. before he was ordered to proceed with
all the force to Fortress Monroe He arrived there
three days afterward. His successes and cap1ures
III North Carolina rendered the possession OF Nor
folk by the rebels no longer tenable and that point
was speedily evacuated.
General Burnside made a Maior-Ccner,l |
May Is. 1862. He was ordered to Fredericksburg
where he remained until after the defeat of Pope
at the second battle of Bull Run. He was engaged
at the battle of South Mountain. and at Antietam
he commanded the left wing and aftcrward one of
The three army corps into which the Union army
was divided On the Sth of November $50
General Burnside succeeded Mcclellan in the com
mand of the Army of the Potomac it has been
stated with unfegned self-disrust. He accepted
the post in obedience to orders and immediatelv
began preparations for a moveu ent of his forcre
down the Rappahannock tc Fredericksburg which
he selected as on the proper well as the direct
ine OF operations from Washington AGAINST Rich
mond. Lee, detecting his design. commenced a
parallel movement down the south bank of the
river while Longstrects corps moved rapidly
eastward. fredericksburg was summoned Noyem-
Der u. General Lee was in possession of the
heights on the opposite bank of the river Barn
side crossed December ~, and tho 18th en- |
deavored to force the enemy's lines. but was re-
pulsed with heavy losses. lie was eager for a
'eco@d attack upon the next day but was over
ruled by his officers. He behaved, however with |
great honor, taking all the blame of the disost.r
lpOn himself in his report to General Halleck Rnt |
was no longer possible for him to remain in com
nand OF the Army of the Potomac. Officers of !
llgh rank were crlticising his operations and when
lis request Tor their removal denied he himself
eslgned' or was relieved from command bein,, a
ucceeded by General Hooker January 20. 1sG3 q
Inc order announcing the change stated that he II
vas q" relieved at his request" Against this me
demonstrated, insisting that ne had resigned a..
vas finally persuaded to withdraw his resi.na,ion "
ND consented to serve wherever his aid might he
equired.
In May, 1868. General Burnside was assigned to ,,
he command of the Department of the Ohio. He +
Ook with him two divisions of the Ninth Corns
These being recalled to reinforce Grant at Weeks :
'urg burnside was forced to remain inactive at :
;inclnnati. He arrested the weli-known C. l. =
aliandlgham for disovalty and treason and he ! 4
as sent through our military line into the Southern
onfedeIacy General Buruide after having 4
thoroughly organized and equipped his army at
amp Nelson, near Richmond, Ky. began an adj OF
alce on knoxville stint ltancously with Rose b
rans's movement on Chattanoovo Pn.bin, 40 L.
apldly as possible to Knoxville which he re.cboJ
ep'em1cr 8, he was warmly welcomed bv fine
lhabtantS General Lee had meanwhile sort W
ongstIeet into Tennessee with strong force from ba
lrglna After many gallant assaults the siege of II
knoxville was abandoned on the 9TH of December CT
OF MS successful efforts to free East Tennessee "
'om Confederate control, General Burnside re- te
'lved the thanks of Congress. lie was relieved u
ON the command IN the West and in January
o64, placed at the head of Me Ninth Corps 70
inch colored brigade had been added. On the -
3d of April, 1864, General Burnside crossed the -
otomac, joining the army of Meade and the move
ent upon Charlottesville. He participated with
edit i'll the battles of the Wilderness SpottsvIyo
"a and the North Anna, from May to MAY % and p'
was at the battle of Cold IIarbor He partic- rt
ated also as is well known during the operations a.
petersburg, waving his seniority of rank and Inn
rvlng under General Meade Here he was again | nr
fortunate. He had undertaken to mine a strong | de-
doubt forming an important part of the Con- !
derate defence. This mine was exploded Julv 70 | OF
his was to have been followed by q general as col
ult. but there were misunderstanding and mis- ter
and it was not made. General Grant vel
aracterzed 1t as a miserable affair." General oo'
rnside offered his resignation. This the Pres ~
nj refused TO accept, but him instead leave OF
absence. lie was not again called into active th.
rvice On the 10th of April, S65, he resigned Pre-
after leaving the army General Burnside again an'
gagged IN bnsiness. He chosen president of til
9 Cincinnati and MartinsviIle Railroad. He hn
IS also president of the Rhode Island Locomotive @
orks. In 1866 he was elected Governor of Sci
ode Island. and he was reelected in 1867 and PR
oo. In 1870 he visited Europe, and was adj Sta
tted within the German and French lines during OF
siege of Paris. He was chosen United States Tor
major from Rhode Island, as q Republican, TAX Cor