Ambrose Burnside

General Ambrose Everett Burnside (May 23, 1824 - 1881) fought in the American Civil War.

Noted for his facial hair, joining his ears to his moustache but with chin clean-shaven; the word burnsides was coined to describe these strips of hair in front of the ears. The syllables were later reversed to give sideburns.

During the Battle of Antietam, Burnside lead the Union IX Corps. He ordered suicidal charges against a well-defended bridge and hundreds of his men died taking a short narrow bridge while undefended fords begged to be crossed.

On November 14, 1862, Union President Abraham Lincoln approved General Burnside's plan to capture the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia. This plan led to a dramatic Union defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13 that year. Burnside had ordered suicidal charges against the strong Confederate positions along a raised ridge called Marye's Heights. After the main battle, Burnside became distraught at the carnage and wanted to peronally lead a final charge. Fortunately, he was talked out of it.

In the 1864 Battle of the Crater, Burnside ordered a hole be mined under a Confederate fort and explosives be placed accordingly. The fort was destroyed and many rebels died. Burnside then ordered troops to fill in the gap but they went into the hole and were massacred. Burnside was ruined as a military commander after this battle.