Ambrose Burnside
Burnside was born may 23,1824. Ambrose Everett Burnside began his military career of varied success after graduating 18th in a class of 47 from the United States Military Academy in 1847. He received a brevet second lieutenant position in the 2nd Artillery, and served during the Mexican-American War mostly on garrison duty in Mexico City. After the war, he briefly served in garrison duty in the southwestern United States, and resigned his commission in 1853. He set to work on a breech-loading rifle, which eventually failed, was appointed as a major general of the Rhode Island militia, and received a nomination to Congress. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Burnside organized the 1st Rhode Island Infantry, which was one of the first units to arrive in Washington and offer the capital protection. Most consider Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside to be either insane or stupid based upon his repeated attacks upon the stone wall during the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. Since Burnside made mistakes in this battle, many people view the general with tunnel vision, seeing only his actions at Fredericksburg. |
Robert E. Lee
On April 18, 1861 Lee was offered field command of the United States Army. On the following day, he received word that Virginia had seceeded from the Union; he submitted his letter of resignation from the United States Army on April 20. Three days later, Lee accepted the position of commander of Virginia forces. From this point onward, Lee's identity became essentially linked to the Confederate cause. At the age of 55, on May 31, 1862, Robert E. Lee was assigned to command the troops which he named "The Army of Northern Virginia". |
Richard Kirkland
A Confederate soldier from South Carolina, Richard Kirkland, risked his life to take water and warm clothing over the stone wall to the wounded and dying of the enemy; the "Angel of Marye’s Heights" is an enduring symbol of humanitarianism. Kirkland was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga the following autumn. http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fredericksburg |