genuity was devoted to the production and the perfection. of efficient breech-loaders. The result of Lieutenant Burnside's meditations on this subject was the production of a breech-loader which would not become so speedily heated from rapidity of fire as to impair the general utility of the weapon, while the mechanism was as secure from water or derangement as that of the muzzle-loader with its flint lock. While in waiting at Washington, he put his thoughts into shape, and produced an arm which attracted much notice for its simplicity, its strength, and its adaptability for military uses. Several pattern arms were made under his direction at the Washington Arsenal, and when tested they proved superior to similar inventions recently made. On the 16th of December, 1851, Lieutenant Burnside was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and received a furlough, that he might visit his home in Indiana. He was greeted with open arms, and his old friends were delighted to find that he not only recognized them, but could call them by their names, a wonderful faculty which he retained through life. Among those whom he met was his old partner, Mr. John M. Myers, who had served creditably in Mexico, and had risen to the command of a regiment of volunteers, with the rank of colonel. While at home on a previous visit, Lieutenant Burnside had made many acquaintances at the neighboring town of Hamilton, Ohio. Among them was a Kentucky belle, who united to the vivacity of the North the soft and languid style of the South. She was highly educated, and her industry in acquiring knowledge was only surpassed by her conversational power to impart it to others. The young officer was dazzled by her personal beauty and accomplishments, charmed by her affability, and bewitched by her fascinations. Offering his hand, it was accepted, the necessary license was procured, and on an appointed day the young couple stood up before a clergyman to be joined in wedlock. Asked whether he would take the bride to be his wedded wife, Burnside responded affirmatively, but when the question was put to her, whether she would take him to be her husband, she said no! and could not be prevailed upon to change her mind. This, of course, terminated the proposed marriage, to the great annoyance of the disappointed bridegroom. The amazement with which youth receives its first defeat in love came to deaden the smart of the rebuff, and then the flame which Cupid had so suddenly kindled was extinguished without a sigh. A few years afterwards, a distinguished Ohio lawyer obtained from the same lady a promise that she would marry him, and the wedding-day was fixed. He showed her, on their way to be married, a revolver, and told her that she would return either his wife or a corpse. Prompted either by love or by fear, she replied, "I will," and she made a most devoted wife. By a curious coincidence, when, during the Rebellion, General Burnside was placed in command of the military district of the Ohio, the lady's mother and sister were arrested as they were about to go South, carrying correspondence and munition of war concealed on their persons. General Burnside ordered them. sent through the lines into "Dixie," and the husband of his old lady-love had hard work to obtain from President Lincoln permission for them to return to their home. On the 16th of March, 1852, a special order, issued by command of Major General Scott, relieved Lieutenant Burnside from duty on the Mexican Boundary Commission, and directed him to proceed without delay to join his company at Fort Adams, near Newport. MISS AT FORT ADAMS AGAIN GARRISON DUTY-MARRIAGE TO MISSION MAJOR GENERAL A GAIN at Fort Adams, Lieutenant Burnside was one of the hosts on "fort days," when a gay concourse would drive or ride out from Newport, to hear the fine regimental band fill the air with the concert of sweet harmony. Beautiful and elegantly dressed ladies from every section of the country would promenade to and fro, now and then returning with haughty or affable recognition the salute of a friend or acquaintance, or visiting the officers in their cosy casemates, several of which were luxuriously fitted up. The light battery to which Lieutenant Burnside was attached was composed of picked men, active and intelligent, and was drilled by efficient officers in the performance of movements which would be very effective in an engagement. Showy additions were made to the regulation uniform, and the strict discipline enforced, the care taken of the horses, and the confidence felt by the men in themselves and their officers, made the light battery a perfect organization. The last recruit, beneath the eye of the commander, "felt full of point of honor like a knight." Lieutenant Burnside was not only popular with the officers and men of his command, but with the members of the volunteer militia associations of Rhode Island, who sought the acquaintance and the advice of those who had received military educations. His courteous and considerate manner which was no outward form, but the natural result and the true reflex of his kindly disposition-made him a general favorite in the militia armories. Among the organizations with the members of which he became acquainted was the Marine Artillery Corps of Providence, which Mr. William Sprague, afterwards the War Governor of Rhode Island, had made so efficient in drill that it compared favorably with the light batteries of the regular army. At a ball given by this corps at Providence, Lieutenant Burnside met Miss Bishop, the lady who afterwards became his wife. Lieutenant Burnside also devoted much time and thought to the breech-loading rifle which he had invented. It had been his wish that government should manufacture this weapon at the Springfield Armory. While he would not have objected to the receipt of a reasonable royalty for his invention, he did not wish it to fall into the hands of speculators, and be manufactured so cheaply that its efficacy would be impaired. Meanwhile Congress was urged to make an appropriation of $100,000 for the best breechloading rifle, and it was understood by those familiar with the subject, that the Burnside rifle was far superior to any other which had been brought to the notice of the Ordnance Department. On the 27th of April, 1852, Lieutenant Burnside was married to Miss Mary Richmond Bishop, at Providence, where she had been born on the 26th of October, 1828. She was the only daughter and the youngest child of Maj. Nathaniel Bishop, who had married Fanny Windsor. Miss Bishop was a lady of courtly presence, rather tall and stately, of quiet and genial temper, self-reliant, and the possessor of earnest religious convictions. The education which she had received had been conducive to the development of feminine character. Mrs. Burnside made the casemate at Fort Adams, in which they passed the first months of their wedded life, a happy home, where she greeted her young husband with joy-beaming eyes, and encouraged him as he advanced amid the stern realities of life. She also exerted a salutary influence in toning down the exuberance of spirits acquired in military life, and in reforming his camp habits. One day, as they were sitting together, a messenger brought in a demijohn of wine which Lieutenant Burnside had purchased at Providence, and put it down roughly on the brick floor. The wicker covering could not protect the enclosed glass vessel, which broke, and the wine was wasted. The young lieutenant, incensed by the man's carelessness, which would prevent his offering a glass of wine to visiting friends that afternoon, expressed himself in language more profane than elegant. When the man had left, Mrs. Burnside rose from her seat, went to her husband, and placing her hand on his shoulder as she looked him calmly in the face, said: " My dear, you have shocked me by swearing so. Don't, I beg of you, ever let me hear you use profane language again." From that day, an oath rarely escaped General Burnside's lips, although he was often sorely tempted to relieve his feelings by an energetic use of the king's English. |