Category Archives: Gen. Ambrose Burnside

Burnside’s congratulations

Posted on September 1, 2011 by

The day before President Lincoln issued his proclamation of thanksgiving for the Confederate defeat at Knoxville, Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside congratulated his troops on their steadfast performance: “The Army of the Ohio has nobly guarded the loyal region it redeemed … Continue reading →

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Reprise: Bustin’ Caps

Posted on July 1, 2011 by

Even before the war, the percussion cap had replaced the older flintlock and matchlock systems for firing a musket/rifle. The copper cap had the advantage of being useful in all weather. Their manufacture in Knoxville was due to the town’s … Continue reading →

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Starving privates, gorging generals

Posted on May 20, 2011 by

Gen. Burnside’s Union troops were so hungry, according to some diaries and memoirs, they were stealing corn meal from the feed bags of the artillery and cavalry horses. So when Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s troops arrived on Dec. 6 to … Continue reading →

Posted in "Knoxville 1863", Crozier House, Gen. Ambrose Burnside, Knoxville, New York Cameron Highlanders, The Northwest Bastion, Twenty-Ninth Massachusetts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The dancing master in the bomb-proof

Posted on March 9, 2011 by

Gen. Edward Ferraro, a New York dancing master turned politically-appointed Union general, nominally commanded the troops who defended Fort Sanders. In fact, Ferraro didn’t lead anyone but spent the battle for the fort in his bomb-proof shelter along the north … Continue reading →

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The post-war Union view

Posted on February 7, 2011 by

The Nov. 28, 1863, Rebel attack on the Union pickets in front of Fort Sanders’ northwest bastion was as clear a tip off as anything could be that a larger ground attack was imminent, according to these recollections in the … Continue reading →

Posted in "Knoxville 1863", Confederate Veteran Magazine, Fort Sanders, Gen. Ambrose Burnside, The National Tribune, The Northwest Bastion | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Union was watching

Posted on January 20, 2011 by

New York Herald, Nov. 24, 1863 What history has generally forgotten was important at the time.

Posted in "Knoxville 1863", Gen. Ambrose Burnside, Gen. James Longstreet, Knoxville | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Lamar Hotel

Posted on September 28, 2010 by

Also known as the Lamar House and, today, at least on the rear (S. Gay Street) side, the Bijou Theatre. It was there that Union cavalryman Gen. William P. Sanders died from a mortal wounding by a Rebel sharpshooter (sniper), … Continue reading →

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Captain Orlando Metcalfe Poe

Posted on August 31, 2010 by

Captain Poe, Gen. Burnside’s chief engineer, worked with Lieutenant Benjamin in preparing some of the innovative defenses at Fort Sanders. (No spoilers; read the book.) Poe (West Point, Class of 1856) rose to colonel of volunteers, then was appointed brigadier … Continue reading →

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