Write 6 page essay on the topic Civil War History.Download file to see previous pages... Not only was Ambrose plagued with lucklessness, he was also indecisive and reckless.Ambrose Everett Burnside wa

Write 6 page essay on the topic Civil War History.

Not only was Ambrose plagued with lucklessness, he was also indecisive and reckless.

Ambrose Everett Burnside was born in Liberty, Indiana in 1824. He became a tailor's apprentice in his home town until he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from West Point in 1847, low in his class and showed more promise singing and cooking than using tactics and strategy. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Artillery where he accompanied Braxton Bragg's Battery throughout the Mexican-American War all the way to Mexico City. At the close f the war the then Lieutenant was sent to the New Mexico Territory to fight against the Apaches. In 1849 he was shot through the neck by an arrow and by 1852 appointed to the command Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island. While stationed there he married Mary Bishop f Providence, Rhode Island. In 1853 he resigned from the Army, yet retaining a position in the state militia. While in Rhode Island he worked on his firearm, the Burnside Breechloading Carbine. The Secretary f War at the time John B. Floyd, decided to arm the army with his carbine, and had Burnside establish many factories for this contract. The works were no sooner completed than another gunmaker bribed Secretary Floyd to accept his contract and reject Burnsides. Burnside was bankrupt, so he went west in and soon found himself working for George B. McClellan, his future commanding officer.

Rowland explains that at the outbreak f the Civil War, Burnside was appointed as Colonel f the 1st Rhode Island volunteer infantry. His initial success in North Carolina brought him much acclaim and got him to the rank f major. A year later Burnside took command f the Army f the Potomac. His first action, at Fredericksburg, showed his distinction as a failure to command and lead. Burnsides plan led to a humiliating and costly defeat at Fredericksburg. Burnsides advance upon Fredericksburg was rapid, but later delays, due to poor planning and communication in getting pontoon bridges for crossing the Rappahannock River, allowed the Confederates to concentrate their forces along Marye's Heights and easily repulse the Union attacks. Assaults to the south f town, which were supposed to be the main avenue f attack, were also mismanaged and the initial waves went unsupported. A special truce had to be called to bury the 100,000 Union dead at Fredericksburg, earning the battle the nickname "Burnside's Slaughter Pen."

After being relieved f command f the Army f the Potomac, Burnside served in the army in much lesser roles to mediocre degree for the remainder f the war. One such instance was the Battle f the Crater during the Battle f Petersburg. Here Burnside agreed to a ridiculous plan thought up by some crazy Pennsylvania coal miners. The plan was to dig a mine under a confederate fort, and then ignite explosives there.