Burnside, Ambrose E.

Ambrose E. (1824-1881), an American soldier. He was born at Liberty, Indiana, and was educated at West Point. In the Civil War he was at Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam. In the autumn of 1862 he was appointed to supersede General McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac. December 13th he was worsted by General Lee, and lost 10,000 men in the battle of Fredericksburg. Restored to a subordinate position, he fought with Grant at the Wilderness and Cold Harbor. After the war he was elected governor of Rhode Island and served that state in the United States Senate.