Editing Ambrose Burnside (section)

===The Crater===
[[File:Petersburg crater aftermath 1865.jpg|thumb|Petersburg Crater, 1865]]
As the two armies faced the stalemate of [[trench warfare]] at Petersburg in July 1864, Burnside agreed to a plan suggested by a regiment of former coal miners in his corps, the 48th Pennsylvania: to dig a mine under a fort named Elliot's Salient in the Confederate entrenchments and ignite explosives there to achieve a surprise breakthrough. The fort was destroyed on July 30 in what is known as the [[Battle of the Crater]].

Because of interference from Meade, Burnside was ordered, only hours before the infantry attack, not to use his division of [[United States Colored Troops|black troops]], which had been specially trained for the assault: instead, he was forced to use untrained white troops. He could not decide which division to choose as a replacement, so he had his three subordinate commanders draw lots.<ref>[[#chernow|Chernow, 2017]], pp. 426-428</ref>

The division chosen by chance was that commanded by Brig. Gen. [[James H. Ledlie]], who had failed to brief the men on what was expected of them, and was observed to be drinking liquor with Brig. Gen Edward Ferrero in a bombproof shelter well behind the lines during the battle, providing no leadership at all.

As a result, Ledlie's men entered the huge crater instead of going around it, became trapped, and were subjected to heavy fire from Confederates around the rim, resulting in high casualties.  in the end his forces suffered 3,800 casualties <ref name=chernow426>[[#chernow|Chernow, 2017]], pp. 426-429</ref><ref>[[#slotkin2009|Slotkin, 2009]], pp. 70, 166, 322</ref>

As a result of the Crater fiasco, Burnside was relieved of command on August 14 and sent on "extended leave" by Grant. He was never recalled to duty for the remainder of the war. A court of inquiry later placed the blame for the defeat on Burnside, Ledlie and Ferrero. In December, Burnside met with President Lincoln and General Grant about his future. He was contemplating resignation, but Lincoln and Grant requested that he remain in the Army. At the end of the interview, Burnside wrote, "I was not informed of any duty upon which I am to be placed." He finally resigned his commission on April 15, 1865, after Lee's surrender at [[Battle of Appomattox Court House|Appomattox]].<ref>Wert, pp. 385–86; Mierka, np.; Eicher, pp. 155–56.</ref>

The [[United States Congress Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War]] later exonerated Burnside and placed the blame for the Union defeat at the Crater on General Meade for requiring the specially trained USCT (United States Colored Troops) men to be withdrawn.