Commanded the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va.

United States Congressman & Senator from Rhode Island

Governor of Rhode Island

(1824-1881) Born at Liberty, Union County, Indiana, he was known as "Old Sideburns." He graduated in the West Point class of 1847, and served in the Mexican War. Seeing action on the western frontier, he was wounded in a skirmish with Apache Indians in 1849. He resigned his commission in 1853, he invented a breech loading rifle, was appointed a Major General of the Rhode Island State Militia, was elected to serve as a U.S. Congressman, and he worked with the Illinois Central Railroad under his friend future Union General and presidential candidate George B. McClellan. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he organized the 1st Rhode Island Infantry, becoming their Colonel. He was in command of a brigade at the Battle of 1st Bull Run. Having become a President Lincoln favorite, he was given command of the expedition forces against the coast of North Carolina, he fought at the Battle of Antietam, and in December of 1862 he commanded the Army of the Potomac during their bitter defeat at Fredericksburg, Va. General Burnside also saw action at Knoxville, Tenn., in the Overland Campaign, and at Petersburg, Va., in the Battle of the Crater. In his post war career he was elected Governor of Rhode Island three times, and later served as a U. S. Senator.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Seated view in uniform with rank of major general. J. Gurney & Son, N.Y. imprint on the front mount. Back mark: J. Gurney & Son, 707 Broadway, N.Y., with a 2 cents orange revenue tax stamp. Light age toning and wear. Very fine.