Challenge: Make Ambrose Burnside President

Title says it all. Find a way to make the quite possibly one of, if not the most, incompetent general of the Civil War the President of the United States postbellum. Bonus points if you write up an idea of what a Burnside Administration would look like.
 
Burnside isn't close to being the most incompetent general of the war. You want utter lack of military ability, try Ben Butler. Or Gideon Pillow.

He had some notable successes, which got him promoted beyond his ability. That's how he got the chance to make such massive mistakes.

And in fact, there were occasions when Burnside could have gained major successes. The Crater, for instance. If Meade had not interfered, the attack probably would have succeeded, leading to the destruction of the AoNV, the fall of Richmond, and the end of the war in a few more months.

OTL, Burnside remained popular after the war, as shown by his role in the National Rifle Association, and his service as Governor of Rhode Island and US Senator. With a major victory to his credit, he could go farther.

One difficulty is that he died in 1881 of heart failure. If (as OTL) Grant is elected in 1868 and re-elected in 1872, Burnside has only 1876 and 1880 as possible opportunities. Also, his being from a small state is a problem...
 
Perhaps if he turned down the promotion to lead the Army of the Potomac, citing something reasonable like not feeling adequately qualified, and recommended someone (anyone) who he felt was, in order to avoid his name being associated with a disaster like Fredericksburg, that would be a start.
 
If he'd insisted that the boats for his pontoon bridges be made small enough to fit through the canals, he gets across the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg before Lee can arrive, he then takes Richmond in December 1862. So long as he doesn't screw anything else up, he's popular enough to get elected president in 1868 (or maybe 1864).
 
Burnside isn't close to being the most incompetent general of the war. You want utter lack of military ability, try Ben Butler. Or Gideon Pillow.

He had some notable successes, which got him promoted beyond his ability. That's how he got the chance to make such massive mistakes.

And in fact, there were occasions when Burnside could have gained major successes. The Crater, for instance. If Meade had not interfered, the attack probably would have succeeded, leading to the destruction of the AoNV, the fall of Richmond, and the end of the war in a few more months.

OTL, Burnside remained popular after the war, as shown by his role in the National Rifle Association, and his service as Governor of Rhode Island and US Senator. With a major victory to his credit, he could go farther.

One difficulty is that he died in 1881 of heart failure. If (as OTL) Grant is elected in 1868 and re-elected in 1872, Burnside has only 1876 and 1880 as possible opportunities. Also, his being from a small state is a problem...
Ben Butler could be worth a shot if he receives the National Union VP slot. A Reconstruction led by Butler could be...interesting.
 
Ben Butler could be worth a shot if he receives the National Union VP slot. A Reconstruction led by Butler could be...interesting.

Yabbut this is about Burnside. Incidentally, if Butler gets the VP nomination, that removes him from command of the Army of the James, which could have important effects on the Petersburg Campaign. So the knock-ons and butterflies start long before Reconstruction, i.e. the war ends sooner, Lincoln is not assassinated, etc.
 
This happens in the timeline Union and Liberty by @wilcoxchar. He's chosen as a Vice Presidential candidate, and ascends to President after the incumbent dies.
 
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