The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-09-15
\ SOLDIER AND A STATESMAN

~ ~ 1(AL1AN <AAN ~ n = "A EkOH1 n N.
The death of General Ambrose f.
Burnside, United States Senator from
Rhode Island, removes from the theatre
of life man who has been very promi-
nently and honorably identified with the
history of his state and country. He /
was born at Liberty, Indiana, May %,
1924, graduated at West Point in 1S47 |
and was stationed at Fort Adams, New |
port, II. l., and subsequently sent 10
New Mexico, where he commanded |
squadron of cavalry and acted as quar-
termaster in the boundary commission,
1872. Having invented breech-load.
ing rifle, he resigned his commission IN
the army in 1858. and established man.
ufactory for the guns in Rhode Island.
This project met with success, and his
next step was to become treasurer of
the Illinois Central railroad, with his Of
flee in New York In 1861 General
Burnside was prompt in showing his
loyalty TO his government. He was ap-
pointed colonel Of the first regiment Of
Rhode Island volunteers, and marched
with his regiment to Washington four
days after the issuing Of the call for
troops by President Lincoln. He COM
manded brigade at the battle of Bull
Run, after which he was promoted TO be
brigadier general. In January, 1862.
he commanded an expedition TO North
Carolina, and captured Roam
oke, Newberne and Beaufort
He was next ordered to Fredericksburg,
and remained there until Pope's defeat
at the second Bull Run fight. When the
confederates invaded Maryland he was
placed under the command of McClel-
Ian, and gained victory in the fight at
South Mountain, Sept. IA, 1852; COM
manded the left wing of the union army
at Antietam. On November z, the same
year, he succeeded Mcclellan in the
command of the army of the Potomac.
This prominent position was Of short
duration for him. He soon commenced
q movement on Richmond, but in at
tempting TO cross the Rappahannock,
was met by Lee and the attempt was re.
pulsed with heavy loss. He was severe
ly criticised for his action, by some of
his officers. He asked that they be re-
moved, rendering his resignation if they
were not. HIS resignation was accepted
and he was succeeded by Gen. Hooker,
January 90, 1868. He was then assign
ed TO the command of the department
of Ohio, and soon afterward arrested the
notorious G. l.. Vallandigham for treas
enable utterances. he next
undertook to free east
Tennessee from the confederates, and
was so successful that he received a vote
of thanks from Congress. He fell back
to Knoxville where he was beseiged by
Longstreet until Sherman came to the
rescue. In command of the 9th corps
Burnside took part in the battle Of the
Wilderness, SpottsYlvania, and North
Anna. In the subsequent operations,
down to the seige of Petersburg, his
corps bore n promint mt part. During
the early part of the seige BurnsIde's
lines were close to the enemy, and OPP
posite them was a strong Tedoubt, form
ing an important part of the confederate
defence. Burnside undertook to blow
up this work by running mine beneath
1t. This was completed in month, and
was exploded, and the redoubt blown
up, but the general assault which was
70 follow the explosion was not made.
and the effort proved total failure.
General Burnside proffered his resigna-
ton, which the President refused TO ac-
cept, but gave him leave of absence, and
he was not again in active service. He
resigned, April 8, 1865.
In 1866 he was elected governor OF
Rhode Island and reelected in the two
following years. He engaged in bust
ness in 1860 until sent TO the senate
In the autumn of 1870 during the Franco
Prussian war, being in Europe, the gen.
eral was admitted within the German
and French lines in and around Paris,
and Intellectually endeavored to mediate
between the belligerents.
In 1875 the general was elected 10 rep
resent Rhode Island in the u. S. senate !;
was reelected last winter, and had just
SHpCACu upOh MS 5cSOnu ACIh' III INC
senate he was an active and useful men,
Der of the military and other commit
tees. and made record as a sincere and
sensible member of the body. In poll
tics he was a stalwart. His successor
will be appointed by the governor TO
hold, we presume, until the meeting of
the legislature, and as that official is a
Republican, the death of General Burn
side will not change the political COM
plexion of the senate.