The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-09-14

Ambrose Everett Burnside, junior Senator
of the State of Rhode Island, died yesterday,
at his residence in Bristol, in that State. He
was man distinguished alike in military and
civil life, and few Americans were more
generally esteemed and loved. He was born
at Liberty, Ind lana, May %, 1924, and was in
the ifty-ei ghth year of his age. He graduated
al West Point in the class of lS47, and served
in the Mexican war as a Second Lieutenant OF
Artillery and was for time in garrison at
the City of Mexico, but no opportunity to dis
tinguish himself was afforded. Subsequently
he was assigned to frontier duty and in an
engagement with Indians in New Mexico, in
lS49. he was wounded. He was with the
Mexican Boundary in 1851 and 1852, and the
next year he resigned, and commenced the
manufacture of firearms at Bristol, r. l.,
where he has since resided, except for short
period a few years later. He invented a
breech-loading rifle which bore his name, was
Major General of the Rhode Island militia,
served on the Board of Visitors at West Point,
and finally, in 1853, entered the employ OF the
Illinois Central Railroad land was the treasurer
of that great corporation when the war of the
rebellion was begun. He was among the first
to volunteer in the service OF the Union, and
in May, 1861, he was made colonel OF Rhode
Island three-months regiment. He partlci-
pated in the Manassas campaign and in the
battle of Bull Run, and was soon after muster
ed out of service, only to be commissioned
four days later as brigadier general OF volun-
teers. He served in command of brigade in
the vicinity of Washington fe*months,
where he was selected to organize the force
sent to the coast of North Carolina He COM
manded the Union forces at the capture OF
Roanoke Island, and at the attacks on New
bern and Camden, and the capture Oh fort
Macon. After that be was assigned to COM
mand in the Army of the Potomac, and was
engaged at South Mountain and Antietam, III
September, 1862. A little later he was given
the command of the Army of the Potomac, and
fought the battle at Fredericksburg, where ne
was defeated without discredit to himself.
Subsequently, be was sent West, where ne
found active employment, first in the pursuit
of Morgan's raiders in Ohio, and later IN
several battles where he greatly distinguished
himself At later period he recruited the
Ninth Army Corps, which he led in Grants
Virginia campaign in the wilderness, at
Spottsylyania and in other battles up to the
siege Of Petersburg in July, 1864, when he OBJ
tanned leave of absence. he soon after De-
came Interested III FdliIOdQ dud luibAuS opoAn
tons. but in 1866, and the two succeeding
wears. was elected Governor of Rhode Island,
and since that time has given his attention to
public affairs He visited Europe In lolD and
during the siege of Paris he received dis
tinguised consideration from French and Ger
man officers. He was elected to the Senate
for full term in 1865, and was reelected Tor
| a full term commencing in March last. he has
| enioyed the full confidence of his associates
in that body, and was most useful member.
re cd nrh hQ va n
poor health for short time early in the sea-
son. .
General Burnside was a widower, his wife
having died several years since. He resided
Of Bristol. r. T., and while at Washington
kept house, extending generous hospitality:
He was esteemed as man of rare nobility OF
nature loyal to his friends and faithful to ms
trusts While he cannot be said TO have held
a prominent position in the Senate, he was a
most useful member. He twas prompt IN his
attendance, and no member OF the Senate
responded more readily to the demands OF his
| constituents,