The Human Side of Ambrose Burnside

In a certain way, I wonder whether Burnside was put in a difficult situation when he was given command of the AOTP in November 1862. Even though the summer campaigning season was pretty much over, Burnside understood that Lincoln and the administration would not wait until springtime for the AOTP to make a major move. So right away, rather than having time to train, rest, and renew the troops during the winter, Burnside was forced to undertake an immediate offensive going into winter weather. Second, Burnside objected to Lincoln and Halleck's preferred route south along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and in fact, Burnside's proposed dash to outrace and flank the ANV at Fredricksburg was well conceived. Finally, while Burnside must bear certain responsibility for not ensuring that the "critical path" was not disrupted (that is, that Halleck and the engineering staff did not mess the delivery of the pontoons), the primary fault for that fiasco must rest with the Washington crowd. That being said, there is no doubt that Burnside still had ultimate responsibility for the debacle at Fredricksburg.
 
Agreed. Burnside failure was in not adapting to the changed situation. That and continuing the attacks against Marye's Heights even after Franklin's half-butt attack was driven back.

Ryan

The flaw in Burnside was that he kept throwing "good money after bad." The repeated assaults on Mayre's Heights were inexcusable after the original main assault by Franklin against Stonewall Jackson was going nowhere.
 
Also I think the Moon family house is still standing in Oxford?

Yes Miami took it over a long time ago as its a nice structure right next to the presidents house, Miami doesnt save much unfortunately but they saved that at least.
 
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