Major-General Ambrose Everett Burnside was a West Point graduate, inventor
of a breech-loading rifle, commander of a brigade in the first battle of
Bull Run, captor of Roanoke Island and Newberne (North Carolina), and
commander of the Federal left at Antietam. He was appointed to the command
of the Army of the Potomac and succeeded General George B. McClellan on
November 8, 1862. He was a brave soldier, but was an impatient leader and
inclined to be somewhat reckless. He pressed rapidly his advance against
Lee and massed his entire army along Stafford Heights, on the east bank of
the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg. According to General W. B.
Franklin (who commanded the left grand division of the army), the notion
that a serious battle was necessary to Federal control of the town "was
not entertained by any one." General Sumner (who led the advance of
Burnside's army) held this opinion but he had not received orders to cross
the river. Crossing was delayed nearly a month and this delay resulted in
the Federal disaster on December 13th. This put an abrupt end to active
operations by Burnside against Lee. This picture was taken at Warrenton,
November 24th, on the eve of the departure of the army for its march to
Fredericksburg.
[Illustration: THE DETAINED GUNS