Burnside's IX Corps

[Dred]

I am currently reading about the Wilderness campaign of 1864. The author seems to take it for granted that you know the circumstances before the campaign, and never explains the situation of Burnside and his IX corps. Can anybody tell my why his command was independent and not part of the AoP or any other Army at the time?

[Blockaderunner]

I have always understood the reason was that technically Burnside outranked Meade. If Burnsides Corps were part of Meades army, then Burnside would be back in command of the AoP.

[Freddy]

In late March of 1863 the IX Corps was transfered to Kentucky and Tennessee and in early June to Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi and then back to Kentucky and Tennessee. By late March 1864 they were headed back East. They travelled by train, foot, and steamer.
I do not know about the rank of the two commanders. I think if the CIC appoints a commander of an army all have to follow orders. Visit my website, www.civilwardiary.net, to read about the IX Corps and at Wikipedia.

[Dred]

Thanks for the info, I did not know about all the transfers. I know Burnside still fell under Grant, as did every Federal Unit, but he was not under Meade's command. Maybe he had not been offically transferred back to the AoP yet? or maybe he outranked Meade?

[Freddy]

From Wikipedia:
"Burnside was ordered to take the IX Corps back to the Eastern Theater, where, in Annapolis, Maryland , he built it up to a strength of over 21,000 effectives. The IX Corps fought in the Overland Campaign of May 1864 as an independent command, reporting initially to Grant; his corps was not assigned to the Army of the Potomac because Burnside outranked its commander, Maj. Gen. George G. Mead, who had been a division commander under Burnside at Fredericksburg. (This cumbersome arrangement was rectified on May 24 just before the Battle of North Anna, when Burnside agreed to waive his precedence of rank and was placed under Meade's direct command.)[14]"

[ole]

(This cumbersome arrangement was rectified on May 24 just before the Battle of North Anna, when Burnside agreed to waive his precedence of rank and was placed under Meade's direct command.)

Which may well indicate that there was no real difficulty except that, in military circles, placing a superior under another's command simply was not done. I take Burnsides' gesture as recognition of the fix and graciously volunteering to remedy it. Of course, I don't know if Grant or Meade suggested it (as in, would you like Western Montana as your new post?).

ole

[matthew mckeon]

"I was with Grant"--the stranger said;
Said the farmer, "Say no more,
But rest thee here at my cottage porch,
For thy feet are weary and sore."

"I was with Grant"--the stranger said;
Said the farmer, "Nay, no more,-
I prithee sit at my frugal board,
And eat of my humble store.

"How fares my boy,--my soldier boy,
Of the old Ninth Army Corps?
I warrant he bore him gallantly
In the smoke and the battle's roar!"

"I know him not," said the aged man,
"And, as I remarked before,
I was with Grant"--"Nay, nay, I know,"
Said the farmer, "say no more;

"He fell in battle,--I see, alas!
Thou'dst smooth these tidings o'ver,--
Nay, speak the truth, whatever it be,
Though it rend my bosom's core.

"How fell he, --with his face to the foe,
Upholding the flag he bore?
Oh, say not that my boy disgraced
The uniform that he wore!"

"I cannot tell," said the aged man,
"And should have remarked before,
That I was with Grant, --in Illinois--
Some three years before the war."

Then the farmer spake him never a word,
But beat with his fist full sore
That aged man, who had worked for Grant
Some three years before the war.

Francis Bret Harte, "The Aged Stranger"

IX = Ninth
One of my mom's favorite pieces of doggerel. She laughs every time she recites it.

[cw1865]

Originally Posted by Freddy

(This cumbersome arrangement was rectified on May 24 just before the Battle of North Anna, when Burnside agreed to waive his precedence of rank and was placed under Meade's direct command

One thing about Burnside, he does seem to be a team player.

[Dred]

Originally Posted by cw1865

One thing about Burnside, he does seem to be a team player.

I dunno, he's kinda slow. Not sure I would want him on my team lol The Rebs probably wouldn't have taken him either tho.. too bad for us hehe

[Freddy]

At 28 in 1852 Burnside was stationed in Providence, RI and later went into private business there and married a local girl. My great grandfather states this in his diary as he returned home from the war in 1865

June 13th.
Had a fine night’s rest on deck of the steamer. Into Providence at 8 a.m. We were treated to a fine collation, interspersed with music from Morris Brothers minstrels. Came upon General Burnside on the street and cheered him most lustily...