I can’t take the credit, although my men (in Tennessee) didn’t criticize me
It had been quite a twelve months for Ambrose Burnside – getting whipped at Fredericksburg, the Mud March, Clement Vallandigham, Knoxville. General Burnside and his troops managed to hang on to Knoxville for the Union. After John Foster replaced him in East Tennessee, Burnside headed back east. Here’s a report on a couple of his stops.
From The New-York Times December 21, 1863:
MOVEMENTS OF GEN. BURNSIDE.; His Arrival in New-York Reception at Cincinnati.
Yesterday, at twelve o’clock, Major-Gen. BURNSIDE and lady arrived in New-York from East Tennessee. They came by way of Cleveland, Ohio, and on their arrival in the City proceeded to the Fifth avenue Hotel, where they took apartments. When it was known that the late hero of Knoxville had arrived, many persons of distinction made inquiries respecting his health, and sought an interview with the gallant officer; but after the fatigues of a lengthened journey he declined to see any one until to-day. He will remain for a week, and then proceed to Washington, where he has been ordered to report. As yet the object of his visit to the Capital is not known. He appears in excellent health. Last evening the General granted a short and very agreeable interview to the representatives of the press who called upon him.
RECEPTION AT CINCINNATI.
Gen. BURNSIDE was warmly received at Cincinnati, and just before he left, on Friday evening, he was serenaded, and in acknowledgment of the compliment, said:
we owe all our “success to …. patriotism in the ranks”
MY FRIENDS: I can only thank you for the very kind manner in which you have welcomed me. I am not gifted with the power of speaking to an audience like this. But, gentlemen, though I am unable to fully express myself as I truly feel in respect to the great events that are transpiring, allow me to assure you that no one can feel more thankful than I do to the loyal people of the country for their devotion to the great cause in which we are struggling. I am thankful for your kind estimation of the value of my services, and can only say that I have endeavored to do my duty, and shall endeavor to do so still better on any future position to which I maybe called, I sincerely hope that peace may soon be restored to our beloved country; but as long as these troubles continue and I can be of service, I am ready to do all in my power. [Applause.] I have tried to do my best; and what I have done in East Tennessee has been due to the full cooperation of the subordinate officers and privates of my command. Not a single officer or a man has for a single moment intimated that in his opinion I was making mistakes or erring in my movements; and not one has at any time hesitated to render a full, faithful and energetic obedience to orders in all things. But notwithstanding this happy union of effort on the part of the officers in command of the field, the chief praise of our success is due to the subordinate officers and men in the ranks. Thousands of men in the ranks deserve the credit that is given to the leaders. Many of them have no relations in this country — foreigners — who will never hear of them again. And they fight for the country they love, being actuated by genuine patriotism. I owe all my success to this patriotism in the ranks, as also do all other Generals who have been successful. The principal achievements of this war are chiefly to be credited to the subordinate officers and the devoted fighting men in the ranks, who endure all, and dare all, with little other object in view than the defence of our common country. I have never been more conscious of this fact than during my last campaign. For one, I shall never forget what is due to the men in the ranks. [Applause.]
Allow me, then, again to return you my thanks for the compliment you have paid me, and to withdraw, expressing the ardent hope that our country will soon be at peace with herself, and continue forever in the enjoyment of peace within and with the external world. [Great applause.]
From Bruce Catton’s Mr. Lincoln’s Army via Wikipedia:
… Burnside had repeatedly demonstrated that it had been a military tragedy to give him a rank higher than colonel. One reason might have been that, with all his deficiencies, Burnside never had any angles of his own to play; he was a simple, honest, loyal soldier, doing his best even if that best was not very good, never scheming or conniving or backbiting. Also, he was modest; in an army many of whose generals were insufferable prima donnas, Burnside never mistook himself for Napoleon. …
“they fight for the country they love, being actuated by genuine patriotism”
