As General in Chief George B. McClellan began organizing the Union forces nationwide, he recognized the value of General Ambrose Burnside. So much so that in January of 1862, he appointed Burnside to command the Department of North Carolina.
After Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) when McClellan once again believed he needed time for his troops to rest. President Lincoln replaced him (on Nov 7) with General Ambrose Burnside. That was the end of McClellan's service as a Union military leader. As an aside, General Burnside felt uncomfortable replacing George B. McClellan. He had been loyal to him, also, he was not sure the command of the Army of the Potomac would be a fit for his abilities.
On November 7, 1862, General Burnside took command of the Army of the Potomac. He had replaced General George B. McClellan.
McClellan was replaced by Major General Ambrose E. Burnside on November 7, 1862, shortly after the Battle of Antietam.
Once General George B. McClellan was replaced by General Ambrose Burnside, it was clear to General Lee that McClellan's plans for cutting off Lee from Richmond would be altered.President Lincoln had hand picked Ambrose Burnside to replace McClellan as the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Since Lincoln was focused on the capture of Richmond, more than anything else, Burnside would follow Lincoln's preference to attack the Rebel cap[ital of Richmond. Burnside as Lee predicted shifted the Army of the Potomac to the favorite overland route to Richmond, with Fredericksburg as his first objective. Burnside planned to prevent Lee from moving south to protect Richmond.
President Lincoln had asked General Ambrose Burnside to make private inquiries among General McClellan's staff with regards to his ability to lead troops. Burnside was a friend of McClellan's and such a back of the hand stunt did not please Burnside. He followed Lincoln's orders, however. Clearly his top commanders were loyal to McClellan and word got back to him. But Burnside was shocked to learn that not only were McClellan's staff loyal, but worse, in that they held the Lincoln administration in contempt. Burnside was startled to hear open discussions about a military takeover. General in Chief Halleck dismissed Burnside's report as "staff chatter".
George McClellan
Ambrose Burnside
George McClellan
Eventually fired him. "If General McClellan does not wish to use the army, perhaps I may borrow it for a while."
After Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) when McClellan once again believed he needed time for his troops to rest. President Lincoln replaced him (on Nov 7) with General Ambrose Burnside. That was the end of McClellan's service as a Union military leader. As an aside, General Burnside felt uncomfortable replacing George B. McClellan. He had been loyal to him, also, he was not sure the command of the Army of the Potomac would be a fit for his abilities.
General Ambrose E. Burnside had just been named by Lincoln as the general in charge of the Army of the Potomac. Burnside replaced the former head of this army, General George B. McClellan.
On November 7, 1862, General Burnside took command of the Army of the Potomac. He had replaced General George B. McClellan.
George McClellan, Ambrose Burnside,George McClellan(again), Joseph Hooker,George Meade, Ulysses Grant.
When General George B. McClellan was reappointed to head the Army of the Potomac, the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton had opposed this move by Lincoln and made it clear to Lincoln that McClellan was not to be 100% trusted. Stanton was correct and McClellan wanted to settle some personal scores with the Secretary. McClellan took Ambrose Burnside into his confidence and informed Burnside that he would force President Lincoln to fire Stanton, if he, McClellan, was to take up his new command. The ever loyal Ambrose, counseled against this and reminded the general to avoid politics at this time. McClellan agreed to his friends advice, but created a headquarters staff in Washington DC small and loyal only to himself. Anyone who was not a stout ally of McClellan was no longer part of the inner military circle that McClellan created. This is perhaps the reason that after McClellan was relieved of command after Antietam, Burnside turned Lincoln down two times to be McClellan's replacement. Only after the third request of Lincoln, did Burnside accept command. No one realized at the time, that Burnside would be the short lived third leader of the Army of the Potomac. Nor would he be the last one either.
McClellan was replaced by Major General Ambrose E. Burnside on November 7, 1862, shortly after the Battle of Antietam.
Brigadier Ambrose was created in 2006.
Everett. Ambrose Everett Burnside