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. Burnside died of heart disease on September 13, 1881, at his home in Bristol, Rhode Island, and his body lay in state at City Hall until his funeral on September 16th. A procession took his casket, in a hearse drawn by four black horses, to the First Congregational Church for services which were attended by many local dignitaries. Following the funeral services, the procession made its way to Swan Point Cemetery for burial. Businesses were closed, and "thousands" of mourners from "all towns of the state and many places in Massachusetts and Connecticut" crowded the streets of Providence for the occasion. Personally, Burnside was always very popular, both in the army and in politics, and made friends very easily.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photographs, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Chest up view in oval format wearing uniform with rank of major general. No back mark. Light age toning. Very fine.