Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: General Ambrose E. Burnside's Account of the Battle of Fredericksburg (Illustrated)

Ambrose Everett Burnside (May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881) was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator. But he’s best known as the Union General who commanded the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg, a debacle that quickly got him fired from command. He was also in command of the Battle of the Crater during the siege of Petersburg, another Union debacle. Burnside’s distinctive style of facial hair is now known as sideburns, derived from his last name.

Burnside was commander of the Army of the Potomac in December 1862, during which he commanded the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg. After having trouble crossing the Rappahannock to reach the city, his army attacked strongly fortified positions on Marye’s Heights piecemeal, leading to high casualty rates without coming close to dislodging the Confederates. After the defeat, Burnside retreated back across the river.

Burnside wrote an official account of the Battle of Fredericksburg that became part of The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. This edition of his account includes maps of the campaign and pictures of the important commanders of the battle.