Remains of Burnside cartridge found at Fredericksburg

This is another nice item being offered, it is the remains of a .54 caliber Burnside Cartridge. The Burnside was the third most widely used carbine in the Union Cavalry, with over 50,000 purchased by the U.S. government. This piece was recovered several years ago from the Fredericksburg, Virginia Battlefield.

On November 14, 1862, Union General Ambrose Burnside sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Lee reacted by entrenching his army on the heights behind the town. On December 13, after pontoon bridges were laid, Union forces crossed the Rappahannock River under fire.

Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye's Heights that resulted in staggering casualties. On December 15, Burnside called off the offensive and recrossed the river, ending the failed campaign.

This is a nice little piece and remains just how it was found with a couple others.