Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/515

 1862] Burnside defeated at Fredericksburg. 483 inspired by the hope of victory. The end of his military career came on November 5, 1862, when an order of the President directed him to hand over the command of the Army of the Potomac to Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, the ranking corps-commander. (2) FREDERICKSBURG, CHANCELLORSVILLE, AND GETTYSBURG. Burnside was a West Point graduate, who, having devoted himself to civil pursuits, re-entered the military service at the beginning of the war as Colonel of the 1st Rhode Island regiment. He had com- manded a brigade in the first battle of Bull Run, and in the autumn of 1861 organised a half-military, half-naval expedition, which in January, 1862, entered Albemarle Sound, captured Roanoke Island, and by several minor expeditions took possession of nearly all the interior coast-line of North Carolina. From this duty he had been recalled in July, 1862, to reinforce McClellan, after the failure of that general's campaign against Richmond. In the battle of Antietam he nominally commanded the right wing, but as his divisions became separated and went into action on both the extreme right and extreme left, his subordinate generals rather than himself exercised immediate control. His advancement, therefore, was due on the one hand to his military training, handsome personal presence, and winning disposition, and on the other to the steady course of regular promotion, rather than to any manifestation of exceptional military genius. So it was not unnatural that his appointment to command the Army of the Potomac (an offer of which he had twice before declined) was against his personal wish and inclination. He instinctively and cor- rectly doubted his ability to fulfil the duty. Nevertheless, urged by personal friends and by McClellan himself, with whom he was intimate, he accepted the command. His own lack of confidence, however, soon communicated itself to the whole army and led to speedy disaster. Against the advice of the President and General Halleck, he chose the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg as the point from which to advance toward Richmond, and in his movement to it was so delayed by the non-arrival of his pontoon train from Washington that he found the whole of Lee's army impregnably fortified on the hills behind the town when he arrived. With such a lion in his path, no better plan seems to have occurred to him than simply to cross the river and attack the enemy in position. Bridges were thrown across the stream at two points on December 11 and 12, 1862; and on the 13th the Federal troops made an assault in force which, for desperate courage, hopelessness, and frightful loss, has rarely been equalled. The effort resulted in a complete repulse; and after two days of anxious suspense and indecision, the troops were CH. xv. 31 2