# Ambrose E. Burnside — Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant character guide > Ambrose E. Burnside in Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Burnside, General Burnside, Major-General A. E. Burnside **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot A corps commander whose Ninth Corps sat poised at Annapolis, uncertain whether it was meant to reinforce the Army of the Potomac or strike the coast—a question even he could not answer. ## Who they are Burnside waits at Annapolis with over twenty thousand men, an admirable position whose purpose remains unsettled up to the last moment; he and the War Department both believed the corps was destined for a coastal expedition. Grant's grand plan of simultaneous movements across the whole line depends on commanders like him being placed where they can threaten Richmond or support the main army. He matters because his uncertainty mirrors the broader problem of coordinating vast forces before a single order is given. ## Relationships ### [Winfield S. Hancock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/winfield_s_hancock) _professional_ Burnside and Hancock served as corps commanders in the Army of the Potomac, often coordinating in major battles. ## In the story ### [Commissioned Brigadier-General — Command at Ironton, Mo. — Jefferson City — Cape Girardeau — General Prentiss — Seizure of Paducah — Headquarters at Cairo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xix) Mentioned indirectly as General Prentiss; Burnside is not present, but Prentiss is the focus. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxiv) Not directly mentioned in excerpts; included as placeholder for completeness. ### [First Meeting with Secretary Stanton—General Rosecrans—Commanding Military Division of Mississippi—Andrew Johnson’s Address—Arrival at Chattanooga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xl) Grant telegraphs him from Jasper to secure ammunition for his artillery and small-arms. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlii) Burnside is besieged in Knoxville, holding out with limited supplies; Grant communicates plans for his relief and encourages him to hold his position. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xliii) Under siege at Knoxville, the relief of whom was a primary objective of Grant's operations. ### [The Relief of Knoxville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlv) Besieged at Knoxville, Burnside reports his supplies are nearly exhausted and faces the prospect of surrender or retreat; he is relieved by Sherman's approach. ### [The Military Situation—Plans For the Campaign—Sheridan Assigned to Command of the Cavalry—Flank Movements—Forrest at Fort Pillow—General Banks's Expedition—Colonel Mosby—An Incident of the Wilderness Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlvii) Burnside commands the 9th Army Corps, over 20,000 strong, initially rendezvoused at Annapolis and later moved to support the Army of the Potomac. ### [The Battle of the Wilderness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/l) Commanded the Union IX Corps, arrived late to support Hancock. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/li) Commanded the 9th Corps; positioned with wagon trains on the extreme left. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lii) Commands left wing, gains position near Spotsylvania Court House but is ordered to withdraw. ### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/liii) Ordered to attack on the left of the salient; his division under Potter briefly gets over the parapet but cannot hold. ### [Movement by the Left Flank—Battle of North Anna—An Incident of the March—Moving on Richmond—South of the Pamunkey—Position of the National Army](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/liv) Commands the 9th Corps; moves to New Bethel Church and crosses at Jericho Ford; interacts with the plantation lady. ### [Chapter LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lv) Corps commander; thinks something could be done in his front. ### [Chapter LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lvii) Commences mining operation under Confederate lines at Petersburg, approved by Grant and Meade. ### [The End of the War — The March to Washington — One of Lincoln’s Anecdotes — Grand Review at Washington — Characteristics of Lincoln and Stanton — Estimate of the Different Corps Commanders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxx) Liked and respected but not fitted to command an army; admitted his own blunders. ### [Organization Charts—Union and Confederate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/organization-charts-union-and-confederate) Commanding the Ninth Army Corps. ### [Union Army on the Rapidan, May 5, 1864](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/union-army-on-the-rapidan-may-5-1864) Commanding the Ninth Army Corps. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/ambrose_e_burnside - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters