Item No. 3126609

An early-war CDV of Colonel Ambrose E. Burnside, commander of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia. Burnside wears the trademark blouse of his design, versions of which were quickly manufactured for his men in order to respond to the secession crisis. He wears heavy gauntlets on his hands, one of which holds a plumed hat. The other hand clutches the guard of his staff and field officer’s sword. The colonel’s sword belt is secured by a pattern 1851 eagle/wreath plate. On the reverse is the early imprint of E. Anthony of New York, with credit to Mathew Brady’s negative. Burnside would rise through the ranks quickly, becoming a major general by March 1862. By November of that year he was commander of the Army of the Potomac, and met with disaster a month later at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Measures about 2 1/2” x 4 1/8”.