QUESTIONS

ANSWERS

What personal tragedy struck President Jefferson Davis and his wife Varina on April 30, 1864?

Their 5 year old son Joe Davis was killed in a fall from the high veranda at the Confederate White House in Richmond, VA.

How old would Abraham Lincoln have been this Feb 12th?

Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 and would have been 191 years old.

Which General had the longest last name?

U.S. Brig. Gen. Alexander Schimmelfennig had the longest name (14 letters)

We all know Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson's nickname was "Stonewall", but his cousin, Maj. Gen. William L. Jackson also had a nickname… what was it?

 Brig. Gen. Alfred Eugene Jackson's nickname was "Mudwall"

Companies within Regiments were given letters. Ten letters were used beginning with "A".  Which letter did they skip?

They skipped the letter "J" because when ‘pronounced’ it may be mistaken for “A “

How many men died as a result of the Civil War?

620,000 men died....  more died from sickness than from the battle.

What occurred on Feb 9th 1861?

Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederate States on Feb 9th, 1861.

What Civil War soldier held commissions in both the USA and CSA armies simultaneously?

Alfred Thomas Archmedes Torbert held commissions in both USA and CSA armies simultaneously.

What was the Union Army called at the First Battle of Bull Run?  and the Confederate Army?

At the First Battle of Bull Run the Union army was known as The Army of Northern Virginia and the Confederate army was known as The Army of the Potomac.

What Union Regiment had the highest number of officers killed in the Civil War?

The 1st Maine Heavy Artillery had 32 officers killed.

What military command was given U. S. Grant at the start of the Civil War?

Colonel of the 21st Illinois Infantry

Which Amendment to the Constitution provided for the abolition of slavery?

The 13th Amendment

Who was the first person to direct artillery fire for an army via aerial reconnaissance?

Balloonist Thaddeus Lowe, U.S.A. on September 24, 1861.

What was Lt. Gen Richard S. Ewell's nickname?

"Baldy Dick"

Where did the largest cavalry battle of the war take place?

The largest cavalry battle took place at Brandy Station Virginia, June 9, 1863.

What primary Confederate General was killed at the Battle of Shiloh?

Albert Sidney Johnston.

Approximately how far did the three-inch iron rifled ordnance gun throw its shell when elevated five degrees?

When elevated five degrees, the three-inch rifled ordnance gun can throw its shell accurately up to 2,000 yards.

What was the average height and weight of Union Soldiers?

The average height was 5 ft. 8-1/4 inches and the average weight was 143-1/2 pounds.

What Northern general was accused by northern press as being insane?

William T. Sherman

Wha

How many cannon in a Union Battery?  A Confederate Battery?

6 cannon in Union Battery and 4 cannon in Confederate Battery.

The melody of the popular Civil War ballad "Aura Lee" by George R. Poulton and W.W. Fosdick was later used for what twentieth century hit song?

The melody of the popular Civil War ballad "Aura Lee" was later used for Elvis Presley's "Love me Tender".

What Southern General was mortally wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia?

Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson

Who took over "Stonewall" Jackson's division after Jackson's death at Chancellorsville?

Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson

Which Union Infantry Regiment had the most Battle Deaths?

The 5th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment had 195 Battle Deaths.

What physician-inventor devised a weapon for the Union army, which used only twelve of them, that was the prototype of the machine gun?

Dr. Richard J. Gatling (The Gatling gun)

What two Federal generals were in command of troops at the battle of Iuka, Mississippi?

U. S. Grant and W. S. Rosecrans.

What South Carolina aristocrat kept a journal that was later published as "A Diary from Dixie"?

Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut.

Who was the only Jewish member of the group that functioned as a cabinet for Confederate president Jefferson Davis?

Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of War.

Who was the only civilian killed at Gettysburg?

Jennie Wade

What raiders, captured by Confederates, were treated as civilian spies because they were out of uniform?

The 24 army volunteers who followed civilian James J. Andrews. (Andrews Raid became known as the Great Locomotive Chase.)

Where did T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson die?

Guiney Station, Virginia

How many men were in a Company? How many Companies in a Regiment?

100 men in a Company and 10 Companies in a Regiment.

Who were the two commanding generals at the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi?

U. S. Grant and John C. Pemberton

Who were the two commanding officers at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania?

George G. Meade and Robert E. Lee

Who taught at VMI before the war?

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Many battles had more than one name, ie.: Antietam/Sharpsburg, or First Bull Run/First Manassas...  there was a battle on the 30th of Jun 1862 in VA with seven names, what was it?

It was White Oak Swamp/Frayser's Farm/Glendale/Charles City Cross Roads/Nelson's Farm/Turkey Bend/New Market Cross Roads.

What general frequently strolled about camp handing out Sunday school leaflets?

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson

Who spent his first 13 months in Confederate uniform without coming under fire or taking part in a general engagement?

Robert E. Lee

What was the name of the play President Lincoln attended at Ford's Theater on April 14, 1865?

Our American Cousin.

What young South Carolina sergeant took water to wounded enemies and became known as the "Angel of Marye's Heights"?

Richard Rowland Kirkland

Who was the Union General killed leading his men into the Battle of Gettysburg?

General John F. Reynolds

Who commanded the two armies at the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee?

George Thomas and John B. Hood.

What was the name of General Meade's horse?

Old Baldy.

How long was Andersonville in use as a prison site?

14 months.

Who was the Hero of Little Round Top?

General Grover K. Warren

What two events happened July 4th, 1863, that, to many, doomed the Confederacy?

The last day of the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

What was the nickname of Maj. Gen. John Magruder?

"Prince John".

What was the name of the man that was hanged after the war for his activity at Andersonville Prison?

Henry Wirz

Artillery used different rounds against attacking troops.  One was the Canister and the other was Case shot....  What is the difference?

The Canister was a shell made with about 96 iron balls held together by a tin cover, the Case shot was a shell with a timed fuse that would burst over the attacking troops' heads.  Sending pieces of it in to them

Confederate General Robert E. Lee's father fought in what war?

Revolutionary War.

Which general was known as the “drunk general”?

Ulysses S. Grant

What is an "abatis"?

An "abatis" is an obstacle formed of trees felled toward the enemy.

What was the name of General Longstreet's horse?

Hero

What Kentucky battle also has, as part of its landscape, a Bull Run?

Perryville

What was Brig. Gen. William E. Jones nickname?

Grumble

Where did the battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia take place?

Hampton Roads VA.

What was the CSS Virginia before it became a Confederate Iron Clad?

Merrimack

Which Southern state provided the most troops to the Confederate Army?

North Carolina

What was Gen. George Gordon Meade’s nickname?

“The Old Snapping Turtle”

What Commander of the Army of the Potomac lost 2 nephews to the Confederate Cause?

General George Gordon Meade

What Union Regiment was recruited by Herman Berdan?  What Color Uniform did they wear?

The Berdan Sharpshooters, their uniforms were green.

What was the popular name for the US Rifle, Model 1855; a shorter version of the Rifle Musket of the same year.

The Harpers Ferry Rifle

At First Bull Run, what fellow brigadier general coined the nickname "Stonewall" for Thomas J. Jackson?

Barnard Bee (Look men, there stands Jackson and his Virginian's like a Stonewall)

When Robert E. Lee's youngest son entered the army, what was his rank and duty?

Private, cannoneer  (Robert E. Lee Jr. age 18)

Who refused to use pepper on his food saying it gave him pains in his left leg?

Lt. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson

How many companies made up a regiment?

10  (100 Men to a company, 10 companies in a regiment)

What Confederate Major General, a nephew of Robert E. Lee, later served as a Major General in the U. S. Army during the Spanish American War?

Fitzhugh Lee

What was the  "official" name for Andersonville Prison?

Camp Sumter

Why was Camp Sumter named "Camp Sumter"?

Because it was in Sumter County, Georgia

What Virginia born artillerist named four of his cannons Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?

Brig. Gen. William Nelson Pendleton an ordained Episcopal Rector.

Who was known as "Little Napoleon"?

Gen. George B. McClellan

What Ohio native entered the army in the Civil war as a lieutenant colonel and died as commander in chief?

James A. Garfield, assassinated while serving as twentieth president of the United States.

What was Virginian Wilmer McLean's unusual distinction during the Civil War?

The first and last Civil War “land battles” were fought on his farms in Virginia.

What lawyer went to war as a major of the 23rd Ohio, attained the rank of brevet major general and later said that those years were the "best years" of his life

Rutherford B. Hayes, nineteenth president of the United States.

What was the highest rank Robert E. Lee achieved in the U.S. army?

Colonel

Who was the last surviving Civil War “General”?

Albert Ames B. Maine, 1835 D. Florida 1933

What was the "Alligator"?

It was an experimental Union submarine, which was declared useless.

What name was given to the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Reserves when the men began wearing tails of dear on their hats?

The Pennsylvania Bucktails.

There are 13 stars in the Confederate battle flag.  How many states were in the Confederacy?

11...   the other 2 stars were for the secession governments of KY an MO.

Who commanded the famous Irish Brigade, comprised of immigrants and first generation Americans?

Thomas Francis Meagher

Where is the "Bloody Angle"?  The "Bloody Lane"?

There are two landmarks called the Bloody Angle, one at Gettysburg, and one at Spotsylvania.  Bloody Lane is a landmark at Antietam

Who was Vice-president of the Confederate States of America?

Alexander Stevens

What is Panada?

Panada is a hot gruel made of corn meal, army crackers mashed in boiling water, ginger or bully soup.

On what date did South Carolina vote to dissolve the Union?

12/20/1860

Who was known as "Crazy Bet" or "Miss Lizzie"?

Elizabeth Van Lew: she was  from a prominent family in Richmond but very loyal to the Union.  She became one of it's most dependable spies.

On what date were the first shots fired on the Federal vessel STAR OF THE WEST in Charleston Harbor?

01/09/1861

Who or what was Daniel Webster?

One of Gen. George McClellan's favorite horses.

On 2/11/1861 what did both Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln do?

Left their homes to become president.

On what date was Jefferson Davis inaugurated President of the Confederate States of America?

02/18/1861

Who or what was Fire-Eater?

Gen. A. S. Johnson's horse.

What was the first capitol of the Confederate States of America?

Montgomery, Alabama

What disease did President Lincoln contract right after the Gettysburg Address?

Small pox.

Who was the General of the Army at the outbreak of the Civil War?

General Winfield Scott (“Old Fuss and Feathers”)

What two battlefields contain an Irish Brigade Monument?

Antietam and Gettysburg

What was the Motto of the Irish Brigade? What was the translation of that Motto?

Faugh A Ballaugh. Clear the way.

From which 3 states did Irish Volunteers serve in the Irish Brigade?

New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts

Who was the first President of Notre Dame University?

Father William Corby Chaplain of the 88th NY.

In what state was the song "I Wish I Was In Dixie's Land," composed?

New York City, NY.

What term refers to CSA soldiers that deserted the Confederate cause, and joined Union Army to fight Indians?

Galvanized Yankees

What was the name of the CSA Submarine to sink the first enemy vessel in combat?

H. L. Hunley

What is the “meaning” of General "Jeb" Stuart's nickname "Jeb”?

His first 3 initials. J. E. B. (James Ewell Brown)

President Abraham Lincoln was narrowly elected in 1860 and he didn't even carry his home county. True or False?

True

How many days did Confederate President Jefferson Davis spend at Fort Monroe prison?

720 Days... and no visitors for 6 months; his wife was barred for one year.

Rear Adm. David D. Porter, commanding the Mississippi Naval Squadron, had an oddity concerning horses. What was it?

He loved to gallop from shore and leap onto his vessel via the gang plank

Stand Watie was the highest ranking American Indian to serve in the Civil War and was among the last to surrender his men and arms after the peace accord was signed by Gen. Robert E. Lee.  In fact, coupled with is Indian name and its meaning is an oddity of the war.  What does Stand Watie mean in Indian?

Stand Firm... His first name is from a tribal title from the Cherokee Nation

You would say I was a famous spy if you know anything about Gettysburg. I was an actor before the war, touring with the infamous Edwin Booth at times.  I even committed espionage while performing as an actor.  They say I disappeared after the war but it is not true.  I spent my last remaining days in Louisville, living off the actors’ fund.  Who am I?

James Harrison...  Some believe he just vanished but this is not true. He aided Lee by telling him Hooker had crossed the Potomac and Meade was made commander.

My name is widely associated with “prostitution”. What is my name?

Union General Joseph Hooker. His headquarters was often a “den of ill repute.”

Where was General Lee born?

Stratford, Westmoreland County, VA. The property of "Light Horse Harry" Lee, a hero in the Revolutionary war.

What famous battle, April 6 & 7, 1862, in Tennessee was named after a Methodist Church?

Shiloh

What were the 3 New York Regiments of the Irish Brigade?

63rd NY, 69th NY and 88th NY

What were the 2 other Regiments of the Irish Brigade?

28th Mass and 116th Penn.

Where did the University of Notre Dame football team get its Name "The Fighting Irish"?

From the Irish Brigade

What was a "fireball" in the South during the war?

With the shortage of coal to heat their homes, Southerners mixed coal dust, sawdust, sand and wet clay into hardened lumps for burning and heat.

What Northern state first called for the enlistment of Black troops in the Civil War?

Rhode Island

Who was in command of the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg?

Colonel Patrick Kelly

Why did the Irish Brigade carry their Green Flag instead of their state Colors?

In 1860 the Prince of Wales came to NY, and the governor ordered the 69th NY to march in a parade in his honor; they refused so he took away their state colors.  The men - and the Irish residents - raised funds to buy the green Flag which they not only carried into battle, but it is used to this very day.  It's still referred to as “The Prince William Flag.”

What was the nickname of the Irish Brigade?

The Sons of Erin.

Pittsburg Landing, TN, is also known by what other name?

Shiloh

Name the only woman to have completed a fully documented Union Army enlistment.

Jennie Hodges aka Albert D. J. Cashier, 95th Infantry Ill. Vols.

What Union General's Headquarters was described as "Bar room and Brothel"?

Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker.

What or who is a Dragoon?

A mounted infantryman. He is a soldier who uses the horse for transportation to the battlefield, or for mobility on the battlefield, but dismounts to fight.

Who was the other orator at the Gettysburg Cemetery on the day Lincoln delivered his famous address?

Edward Everett.  He spoke two hours, Lincoln spoke 2 minutes

Who was the famous "Unknown father" who was killed at Gettysburg and died while staring at a photograph of his three children?

Amos Humiston of the 154th New York

Who were Moscow, Decatur and Bayard?

They were Gen. Philip Kearny's horses.  Moscow, a high-spirited white horse.  Decatur, a light bay, was killed at Seven Pines.  When Kearny was killed at Chantilly he was riding Bayard, a light brown horse

He was relieved of command after the deadly “Crater” explosion at Petersburg.  After the war, he served as governor of Rhode Island from 1866-1869 and then U.S. Senator from 1875-1881.  What is his name?

Ambrose Everett Burnside

In what Civil War battle did the first African American receive the Medal of Honor?

Sergeant William H. Carney received the medal for his courage during the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers’ charge on Fort Wagner in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, in July 1863.  The black regiment was led by a white officer named Robert Gould Shaw. Shaw and many African Americans also died in that charge.

What was the "Swamp Angel" in the Civil War?

A 200-pounder (8-inch) PARROTT Gun which blew up firing the 36th round.

He was a North Carolina state senator, lawyer, Cherokee chief, Confederate colonel, and cousin to President Zachary Taylor - what is his name?

William Holland Thomas. He commanded Thomas’ Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders during the Civil War. As a boy, he was adopted by the Cherokee.

What did Abraham Lincoln do on the day of his intended wedding - Jan. 1, 1841?

He failed to show up!  But did marry on Nov. 4, 1842

The first and second battle of Manassas was also named or called

Bull Run

What famous Confederate general, trying to rally his fleeing troops at Shiloh, had some of his own men shooting at him?

William J. Hardee

He was a hero at Gettysburg.  He received the Medal of Honor.  He returned to Maine where he served as Governor of the state, and as president of Bowdoin College.  Who is he?

Joshua L. Chamberlain

Baker's Creek was another name for a battle.  What was it?

The battle of Champion's Hill during the Vicksburg Campaign

What was the first major Confederate city to be permanently occupied by Union Troops?

Nashville, TN

What famous general once had a newspaper man run out of camp, sitting backwards on a mule and wearing a sign?

George G. Meade, commanding general of Union at Gettysburg.

What are "Rifle Pits"?

The Civil War equivalent of "foxholes"

“To realize what war is, one should follow our tracks.”  Who said that and on what occasion?

General Sherman as he neared Atlanta on his march through Georgia in 1864.

Frederick Douglass, aka Frederick Bailey, an escaped slave, is considered the "Father of the Civil Rights movement," and also held high posts in the U.S. government. Douglass had an oddity. What was it?

His mistress taught him to read and write.  Additionally, he traded lessons from street people for scraps of food for lessons.

What basic right did Abraham Lincoln suspend without congressional approval?

Writ of Habeas Corpus

At what battle did the Cadets of V.M.I. fight?

New Market, Virginia

What famous general owned a slave, and while needing cash, chose “not” to sell him? He, however, gave the slave his freedom?

General U.S. Grant

Who killed General "Bull" Nelson USA?

General Jefferson Davis  USA

True or False. Due to fears of retaliation, the Confederate government was last forced to operate out of railroad cars.

True. It occurred at Greensboro, N.C.

What was President Lincoln's Christmas Gift from the field in 1864?

The "city of Savannah - with 150 heavy guns and 25,000 bales of cotton" from General Sherman and his Georgia campaigners.

The South had many disadvantages in its fight with the North. What was the one distinct advantage it did have?

Its officer corps...  young, aggressive, not old and dispirited as in the North.

What was another name for Drewry's Bluff near Richmond, Virginia?

Fort Darling

What role did past President John Quincy Adams play in the American Civil War?

None directly, but his son, Charles Francis Adams, U.S. minister to Great Britain, helped to prevent Britain from entering the war on the side of the Confederacy.

What burned on 2/17/1865?

Columbia, South Carolina

Who was the first general to be killed in the war?

CS Gen. Robert Selden Garnett, killed July 13, 1861 at Carrick's Ford

Name Capt. Farragut's Flagship in the battle of New Orleans?

USS Hartford

After the war, Confederate General Forrest faced treason charges for the massacre of black troops at Fort Pillow. What was the outcome of the trial?

The trial never occurred.

Who or what was THE CHILD OF THE STORM ?

West Virginia (It seceded from Virginia in 1863 and forms present-day “West Virginia”.)

What role did Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere have in the Civil War?

None directly - but it is noteworthy, his grandson, Colonel Paul Joseph Revere, 20th Mass., was mortally wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Where was the last land battle of the war?

Palmetto Ranch, Brownsville, Texas

What was the most unpopular duty in the Civil War?

Picket Duty, first to fall upon the enemy’s advance

Who cried those famous words: "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" And, at what famous naval battle?

Union Adm. David Farragut in reference to Confederate mines as he entered Mobile Bay to lay siege to Fort Morgan, Ala.

The war saw the replacement of the paper cartridge with a new metallic cartridge used in repeating rifles. Besides rapid fire, what other advantage did this give the North?

Unlike the old paper cartridge, it was unaffected by moisture.

What happened 5/26/1863 that aided the Federal government's finances?

Gold was discovered in Montana Territory.

Who was the press official referring to when he told a general he was "In very great danger of being President of the United States?"

General George G. Meade - Union commander at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

What happened May 4, 1865?

Lincoln was buried in Springfield, Illinois

What was the ninth article of war in the Civil War?

Violence towards officer punishable by death, but it didn't always prevents such acts!

Who were Virginia and Highfly?

They were J. E. B. Stuart's horses

Where was the BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC written?

Willard's Hotel - Washington D.C.

What Battle was farthest west in the Civil War?

Picacho Pass    North of Tucson AZ

What was the most deadly field artillery piece in the Civil War?

Model 1857 Gun Howitzer firing four types of ammo

Who held 3 C.S.A. cabinet posts?

Judah P. Benjamin; he was Jewish

Who made up, or comprised, the regiment of 1st South Carolina Volunteers?

Freed African Americans, 800 in number to fight for the North

What General wrote the best selling novel Ben Hur?

U.S. General Lewis Wallace

What Southern Government leader Escaped to England?

Secretary of State  Judah Benjamin

Who was William Mumford?

Gambler hanged in New Orleans for lowering the US flag.

Who was Laura Keene?

She was the actress starring in the play "Our American Cousin" at the Ford Theater when Lincoln was assassinated.

Who was Lincoln's 1st vice president?

Hannibal Hamlin

JEB Stuart's famous first ride around McClellan's forces occurred where?

North Anna River to Chickahominy June 12-16, 1862

“Sideburns” was named after me – who am I?

Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside (he had long facial hair which was located on the “sides of his face.”)

What famous Confederate ironclad took on 30 Union warships during a Naval engagement? How was the ironclad finally destroyed?

The Arkansas... the Confederates set it on fire after engine failure.

Where was the battle of Olustee?

Florida

How much was an enlisted man paid for providing his own horse in the war?

Fifty cents per day.

What tradition started 4/22/1864?

“IN GOD WE TRUST” on U.S. coins.

Confederate Captain Shade Wooten of the Twenty-seventh North Carolina Regiment used the most primitive weapon in the Civil War on three occasions. What was it?

He threw dirt in the face of “a would be assailant!”

Harriet Ross Tubman, famous abolitionist and slave, escaped her master's plantation and made her way into Pennsylvania where she is credited for helping many slaves access the Underground Railway. What was the oddity about her?

Plantation overseers had a $40,000 price on her head

Who was the first "Southern Fire-eater" to push for Southern nationalism?

Gen. Louis Trezevant Wigfall, CSA

How old was John Wilkes Booth when he killed Lincoln?

24

Years before the war, Jesse Grant, father of U.S. Grant, worked for Owen Brown. Who was Owen Brown?

The father of John Brown - notorious abolitionist.

The Bermuda Hundred was strategically important to the South. Where was it?

Between the James and Appomattox Rivers, 15 mi. South of Richmond.

What is the story of the "Jinx Horse?"

Three members of the Guillet family were killed riding a horse, then three officers of the Ninety-eighth Ohio Regiment were killed, then a fourth so seriously wounded in the arm, he would suffer for life - all while riding the same horse.

Who was the youngest General?

Galusha Pennypacker. Born Jun 1, 1844, he was 20 years old

Who said, "If I had Stonewall Jackson at Gettysburg, I would have won the fight?"

Gen. Robert E. Lee and he mentioned Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia as well.

Name the war's most striking victory in consideration of lost resources?

The Confederate victory at Sabine Pass, Texas. Capt. Richard W. Dowling, defending with 43 men and six cannon, drove off a Federal force of 15,000 men attempting to land. Capt. Dowling never lost a man!

The trial of the eight people accused of trying to assassinate Lincoln took place in Washington, D.C. at what type of a hearing?

Military Tribunal

What battle had these landmarks? Fraley Field, Bloody Pond, Peach Orchard

Shiloh

What general would change soiled shirts, even during battle?

Union Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock

What was the largest city in the Confederacy as the beginning of the war?

New Orleans, Louisiana

Who once said, "He looks so cold and quiet and grand." Name the speaker and the subject?

Diarist, Mary Boykin Chestnut, speaking of General Robert E. Lee.

By what affectionate nickname did Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA, refer to his cavalry units?

Critter Companies

Who, among all the Union generals, “first” gave orders to raid civilian supplies, punish citizens for guerrilla attacks and had all male noncombatants arrested?

Gen John Pope

A War of 1812 American Patriot's grandson was arrested during the Baltimore riots at the beginning of the Civil War.  Who was he?

Francis Scott Key

I was once a “Vice-President of the United States,” later a Confederate general, and I was also cousin to Mary Todd Lincoln (ya know, President Lincoln’s wife). Who am I?

John Cabell Breckinridge. The most senior ranking member of the U.S. government to ever take up arms against the Union.

Two powerful ram type ships were built by the British for the Confederacy. What were their names?

North Carolina and Mississippi, but seized and served the British Navy. Neither one saw CSS service.

What was the name of the "world's largest hospital" in Richmond, containing 50 buildings?

Chimborazo, for the Chimboraz Heights

Who are the only father-son recipients of the Medal of Honor?

Arthur MacArthur, Jr., Lookout Mountain and his son, Douglas MacArthur, W.W.II fame

What was the only major Civil War battle fought in Florida?

The Battle of Olustee in a virgin pine forest near Lake City in 1864, an offensive by the Union to cut supplies going northward to the Rebs and to induce eastern Florida to form a loyal state government.

Dixie was the South's unofficial Confederate anthem. What was the next popular song during the war?

The Bonnie Blue Flag

On Dec. 8, President Lincoln offered an unusual Christmas gift to the military men of the South. What was it?

Amnesty if they took the Oath of Allegiance

What battle had these landmarks? Mule Shoe - Bloody Angle

Spotsylvania Court House

Stonewall Jackson believed that his only major defeat at Kernstown was the result of withdrawal by his subordinate, Richard B. Garnett, and what other reason?

Fighting on Sunday

Who or what was Rienzi?

One of Sheridan's horses.  His name was changed to Winchester after Sheridan made his famous ride in October 1864.

What famous person in the war said, "War means fightin and fightin means killin?"

Nathan Bedford Forrest, a most feared leader in the Confederacy.

What battle had these landmarks?  Doctor's Creek, Turpin Hill, Bull Run

Perryville

What famous Union general while at West Point as a cadet said he preferred Southerners to Northerners?

George Brinton McClellan

What was an Arkansas Toothpick?

Knife

President Jefferson Davis was rumored to be dressed as a woman during his capture by Union troops on May 10, 1865. This untrue legend was probably started how?

After his capture, a warm shawl was placed around his shoulders during an unseasonably cold chill. The Northern press, desiring to humiliate the Rebel President, printed artwork of Jefferson Davis wearing a dress.

What battle had these landmarks? Hell's Half Acre, Slaughter Pen

Stones River

What Medal of Honor recipient died a prisoner and is buried at Andersonville National Cemetery?

James Wiley of the 59th NY Inf., Company B, 28 years old. Died 07 Feb 1865.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 48th Georgia Regiment on the third day of fighting at Gettysburg.  He captured the flag within musket range of "The Angle" in Pickett's Charge

Moss Neck, Jackson's winter grounds was near where?

Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock River

What was the first Indian tribe to declare for the Confederacy?

The Choctaws in Feb 1861

How many commissioned vessels did the U.S. Navy have at the start of the war. How many cannons were aboard, total?

42 ships, 555 guns

What battle had these landmarks? Read's Bridge, Widow Glen House, Kelly Field

Chickamauga

Who was the worst dressed officer in the conflict?

Brig. Gen. William E. Jones, Confederacy.  He dressed in jeans, hickory shirt, and homespun coat.

What was the name of the 800-acre plantation on the Mississippi River owned by Jefferson Davis?

Briarwood

Said to be the bloodiest single day of the Civil War, this battle began at dawn when two Union corps pushed across a creek to attack Confederate forces. It was McClellan against Lee. What was the name of this famous battle?

Antietam - aka Sharpsburg - which transpired in Maryland on Sept.17, 1862

Who was killed on Pine Mountain?

General Leonidas Polk, C.S.A.

Dr. (or Col.)  J. A. F. LeMat is best known in the war for what?

A U.S. patent on .44 cal. 9 shot revolver which featured a rather unusual secondary 16 gauge smoothbore barrel capable of firing buckshot. (Approximately 2,900 were produced.)  It was revered and cherished by JEB Stuart

What was the Dictator, aka the "Petersburg Express”?

A 13-inch seacoast mortar, mounted on a reinforced railroad car, and used by the Federals in the siege of Petersburg.

Gen. Ewell, CSA, posted his 5,000 men on a ridge with several hundred acres of open fields to his front, woods protecting both flanks. In the center, he had 4 batteries. They were attacked by Gen. John C. Fremont's Union army. It was the third engagement of Stonewall's Valley Campaign. The Confederate side won this battle called?

Battle of Cross Keys, VA - June 8, 1862

Near the Hornet's Nest and the Bloody Pond was the Peach Orchard whose blossoms, cut by bullets, fell like pink snow onto what battle site?

Shiloh

When did the South first begin to organize volunteer military companies?

After the John Brown Raid at Harper's Ferry, it caused an emotional uproar in the South!

Through what state was Grierson's Raid ?

Mississippi

Below the Mason-Dixon Line, certain persons aroused feelings in the Southern people, caused fear of the future and told misconceptions of "the Yankees" which further caused a divide between the North and South populace. What were these people called?

Fire-eaters, for their inflammatory rhetoric and promotion of secession

What geographical entity split from a Confederate state and entered the Union on June 20, 1963?

West Virginia

Gen. Lee pondered heavily as he knew that Gen. Joe Hooker had circled Lee's army with 75,000 men. (Lee had the choice to strike or retreat.) Across the Rappahannock River, were 40,000 additional Union troops poised to strike Lee. Lee, with only 60,000 men, chose to engage. This famous battle which lasted nearly three days was won by the South and known as what battle?

Battle of Chancellorsville, VA - May 1-4, 1863

If someone was talking about "fresh fish", what were they referring to?

Raw recruits

Where was General Nathaniel Lyon killed?

Wilson's Creek, Missouri

The capture of Forts Henry and Donnelson in Tennessee opened middle Tennessee for invasion. Grant traveled from Cairo, Illinois. Don Buell was ordered from Nashville. Sherman was already with Grant. America would soon realize the impact of its great Civil War. What was the name of this early famous battle - which also has a name meaning “place of peace”?

Shiloh - Albert S. Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard [CS] against Grant and Sherman [US] April 6-7, 1862

After the firing on Fort Sumter, a Union general surrendered 19 Federal posts to Texas troops without a struggle. What was his name?

General David E. Twiggs, a native of Georgia and called a traitor for his actions by many in the North.

They called it the greatest land battle in the U.S. It brought Meade and Lee together for a tough three day battle. The sounds of cannon fire could be heard as far away as Pittsburgh, PA, some 140 miles distant. Nearly 50,000 men would become casualties. It was America's greatest Civil War battle. Name this famous place? Also, tens-of-thousands visit this sacred battlefield annually.

Battle of Gettysburg - a name recognized even by many who have no Civil War interests! July 1-3, 1863

Who was the father-in-law of CS Gen James Ewell Brown 'Jeb' Stuart and father of CS Gen. John Rogers Cooke?

U.S. Gen Philip St. George Cooke

Hood faced Sherman. Despite a defeat at Peachtree Creek, Hood proposed a bold and daring second attack. Lt. Gen. Stewart would keep Union forces tied down while Hood's generals, Hardee and Cheatham, would strike the Union’s most vulnerable point. When it concluded, Hood lost nearly 8,000 men and the Union lost 3,700. What was the name of this battle?

Battle of Atlanta - May 1-2, 1864

Where were the 1st black troops used in battle?

Island Mount, Missouri -- 10/29/1862

This former U.S. President’s son was a Confederate general, and considered by Nathan Bedford Forrest as “one of the South’s greatest generals!” What was the name of the confederate general?

Confederate Gen. Richard Taylor, son of former U.S. President Zachary Taylor.

Who were the two opposing commanding generals who fought each other so fiercely in the bloody battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and by what names were their forces officially known?

Union Gen. William Rosecrans who began with 60.0000 troops of the Army of the Cumberland and Gen. Braxton Bragg with 45,000 men in the Army of Tennessee. Before the fall of 1863 was over, Union forces had been augmented by Gen. Joseph Hooker, Gen. William T. Sherman and Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who assumed command, and the Rebels had been saved from early defeat by Gen. James Longstreet.

Federal Gen. John Pope bragged that he was going to "bag" “Stonewall” Jackson. Meanwhile, “Stonewall” and troops marched around Pope and torched his supplies. When the big fight commenced, Pope threw his troops piecemeal against Jackson. Jackson put up a great defense and Longstreet had a timely attack. Pope's army suffered 16,000 casualties. Name this battle?

Second Battle of Bull Run - Aug. 29-30, 1862

Where did General T. J. Jackson die?

Guenia Station, Virginia

Baltimore and its influential newspaper, "The Baltimore Sun," was pro Southern or pro Union?

Pro Southern, Maryland was a divided state and a border state

Who were the Knights of the Golden Circle?

A secret order in the North of comprised of Southern sympathizers

What city did Pennsylvania born John Pemberton attempt to defend?

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Gen. Robert E. Lee, said to be the greatest tactician in the war, lost an early battle in western Virginia. Captured Federals convinced Southern officers that they were outnumbered 2-to-1. Lee consequently ordered a retreat. Factually, the Confederate army had numerical advantage. Soon after, Lee was being dubbed "Granny Lee" by Southern newspapers - a mistake they would regret later. What was this battle called?

Battle of Cheat Mountain - Sept. 11-13, 1861

Who introduced U.S. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to his wife Julia Dent?

Her cousin, Confederate General James Longstreet

The first stamp of the Confederacy, a five cent denomination, green in color and made in London, displayed a picture of?

President Jefferson Davis, the first shipment was two million stamps

It was the last battle that Grant and Sherman were together. What was the name of the battle?

Missionary Ridge

Bold, abrasive and a hard fighter, Jubal Early marched his many barefooted men into Maryland to cut communications and liberate 18,000 prisoners of war in Baltimore. Along the way, he exacted ransom from the cities of Hagerstown and Frederick. Early then confronted Maj. Gen. Lewis Wallace (author of "Ben Hur") in a short but important battle, some believed saved Washington.  It was called?

Battle of Monocacy - July 9, 1864

What famous Union general was known as the Rock of Chickamauga for his courageous stand against repeated Rebel attacks?

Gen. George H. Thomas. He took command of the remaining Union troops after a mistaken order opened up a gap in the Union ranks. His men stood firm at Snodgrass Hill.

Its Indian name meant "River of Death." A battle at this location would pit Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans against Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg. Bragg had strength and advantage, but slow pursuit and inaction allowed Rosecrans to escape and reach the safety of Chattanooga. What was this two day battle called?

Battle of Chickamauga - Sept. 19-20, 1863

What civilian was killed at 1st Manassas?

Mrs. Judith Henry

Who wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"?

Julia Ward Howe in 1862

I was a Confederate and graduate of West Point. They said I kept the Confederacy's hopes alive after Vicksburg and Gettysburg. Before the war, I taught at West Point, Georgetown, KY and Nashville. I was badly wounded at Shiloh. The high point of my career was at Chickamauga. I was finally paroled at Appomattox and spent the rest of my days as a farmer near Macoupin City, and Brighton, Illinois. Who am I?

Bushrod Rust Johnson - Becoming a semi-invalid at the very end due to war hardships. Died 9/12/1880

Who was John Huff of the 5th Michigan Cavalry?

The man that shot General J.E.B. Stuart

Who was the first general to die at Gettysburg?

U.S. General John Fulton Reynolds.  Killed July 1, 1863

I was a Confederate, born in Virginia and received an education at home. I died early in battle leading a rearguard action near Harrisonburg, Va. Because of my death, many said I never realized my potential. “Stonewall” said of me, "As a partisan officer, I never knew his superior." My remains lie in the Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester, Va. I was never married, and wrote very few letters. Many can’t recall anything I had said. Perhaps I never avenged my brother's death by a Union patrol - but I did give my life for my state. I was a cavalry man and colonel for the 7th Virginia. Who am I?

Ashby Turner - He "spoke best with his sword," according to one historian.

Where was Richard Kirkland, the Angel of Maryes Heights, killed?

Snodgrass Hill, Chickamauga

Who claimed to have killed fifty Confederates with fifty shots from a special rifle?

James Butler Hickock, aka, "Wild Bill" Hickock

When Marion Rangers organized in 1861, a famous author joined as a lieutenant but left this MO. Company before it was mustered into Confederate service having fired only one hostile shot during the war.  Who was he?

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

I was a Unionist but ironically, the son of a South Carolinian slaveowner. My father freed his slaves and we moved to Indiana. At 19, I went to West Point and graduated 18th in 1847. My military duty saw garrison duty in the Mexican War, then along the U.S. frontier. I patented a breech loading rifle, eventually selling 55,000 of them along with much ammunition. Yet, I always doubted my ability as a commander. I resigned my commission, became governor and a senator. Who am I?

Ambrose Everett Burnside

Who said "You volunteered to be killed for love of country, and now you can be."

General C.F. Smith USA - at Fort Donelson

What order did Union Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock give at Fredericksburg which was believed to save many lives?

Stay off your horses

What is "green-apple quickstep"?

diarrhea

What Confederate general, believed by many to be the greatest strategist in the Confederacy, died as a result of pneumonia after standing bareheaded in the rain for the funeral procession of Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, whom he had fiercely opposed in bloody battles?

Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, hero of First Manassas, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia until he was wounded and replaced by Gen. Robert E. Lee and an important commander at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. After the war, Johnston and Sherman had become good friends, thus also reflecting American unity

How did most youths “slip into the military service” on both sides by being so young?

They signed on as musicians and then became soldiers. Some regiments really weren’t too picky, so, to muster a full-company (and eventually a regiment), they “sort of turned that blind eye…”

What was Cavalry General Ben Grierson's profession?

music teacher

I was naturalized in the U.S. and adopted Arkansas as my home state. Being from Ireland, I was proud my father was a physician and I wanted to be like him but I failed the exams. I did study law in the U.S. and became partners in a drug store. When the war started, I enlisted and was eventually promoted to brigadier general but I was killed in battle at Franklin, Tennessee. Some called me the "Stonewall of the West." Who am I?

Patrick Ronayne Cleburne - Pres. Davis said his vacancy "will never be filled."

What was so unique about the 39th New York Garibaldi Guard?

Its colonel was Hungarian; its Lt. Col. was Italian; its surgeon was German. The ranks were filled with Bavarians, Cossacks, Germans, and Algerian Zouaves of the French Foreign Legion. And the majority had European war experience.

What general captured three different armies?

U. S. Grant (Ft. Donelson - Vicksburg - Appomattox)

I was a famous Episcopal Bishop but traded my robes for the baptism of fire, also known as fighting in combat. I attended Theological Seminary, West Point, was a friend of Jeff Davis and laid the cornerstone for the famous college in the South - Sewanee. My life was cut short while inspecting troops atop Pine Mountain when an artillery shell struck our position. Sherman regretted it.  Who am I?

Leonidas Polk - often at odds with Gen. Braxton Bragg, CSA commander.

During the Siege of Vicksburg, there were 39 regiments from Missouri.  How many were Union and how many were Confederate?

22 Union and 17 Confederate

The press official was referring to what general when he stated that you are "In very great danger of being President of the United States”?

General George G. Meade - Union commander at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

What Union General was nicknamed "Curly", "Fanny" and "Autie"?

George Armstrong Custer

Who was troubled with the government’s harsh treatment of Indians before and after the American Civil War?

Christopher "Kit" Carson, famous Indian agent.

Who was the last C.S.A. general to die?

Felix Robertson

How did CSA lieutenant general Richard Taylor manage to sleep while traveling cross country?

He slept in an ambulance pulled by trained mules

Who was the C.S.A. highest ranking general?

Samuel Cooper

Who fired the shot which mortally wounded CS Gen. JEB Stuart?

Pvt. John Huff, 5th MI Cavalry, May 11, 1864 at Yellow Tavern, VA

Of the nations of the world, who shunned the Confederacy more due to “their freedom loving” and “wanted no part of slavery”?

The Germans

What distinction did the 69th North Carolina Regiment (C.S.A.) possess?

Four companies of Cherokee Indians (Their descendants are the present-day “Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation”)

What was a "Jonah"?

Soldier with a constant run of luck.

What device used in the Civil War destroyed the Pony Express?

The Telegraph

What were President Lincoln's family ties to the fighting forces of the Confederacy?

His wife, Mary Todd, came from a large family of Southern sympathizers in Kentucky. Four of Lincoln's brothers in law fought with the South, and three of his sisters in law ere married to Rebel officers.

Besides being one of the South's best Civil War fighters, Nathan Bedford Forrest had another unusual oddity about him. What was it?

He was a millionaire

What was a "beat"?

A soldier who would always find a way out of a detail

Why was C.S.A. officer Champ Furgeson hanged by Federal authority?

For executing wounded black soldiers at Saltville, Virginia

Union capture of what city is credited with making the greatest contribution to Abraham Lincoln's reelection in 1864?

Atlanta, GA

What is the only spot in the nation where both blue and gray soldiers are buried in a mass grave?

Woodlawn National Cemetery at Elmira, New York

What general was first in charge of Andersonville Prison?

 John H. Winder

What was a "housewife"?

A sewing kit furnished by a mother, sister, sweetheart or the Soldier's Aid Society

Who was the last Confederate soldier to be executed by the Union?

Robert Cobb Kennedy, was hanged on March 25, 1865 for his part in the Nov 25, 1864, attempt to burn New York City

Southern slain young Confederate men were most always found white-faced and lean on the battlefield. Northern slain young Federals were most often found black and bloated. What caused this?

Diet - the Northern troops were always better fed with a higher fat content.

Who was Lieutenant Harry Buford C.S.A.?

Loretta Janeta Velaques - female

How much "bounty" was paid during the Civil War for deserters?

An average of $30 per soldier

What was the "black list" and what was it used for?

A list of offenders in a unit.  It was always referred to for assigning soldiers to disagreeable details.

What was established by the Federal Government 8/02/1861?

Income Tax

What was a "barrel shirt"?

A common form of punishment wherein the culprit wore a barrel with his crime labeled on it

When did the last men who fought in the Civil War die?

Albert Woodson, Union veteran, died in 1958. The last Confederate veteran, Walter Williams, died in 1959 at the age of 117.

What was the signal, transmitted by drum or bugle, by which a commander ordered scattered forces to regroup?

"Rally"

Who dubbed the title, "War Between the States?"

Alexander Stephens, Confederate vice president, is believed to have coined the phrase.

What was the shortest time required for a letter from San Antonio, Texas to reach Washington?

Ten days

What was a "bounty jumper"?

Someone who enlisted for the bounty or monetary bonus, and then deserted at the first opportunity

Who was Private Albert D. J. Cashier, 95th Illinois Infantry?

Jennie Hodgers - female

Who assumed command of the Orphan Brigade at Chickamauga, fought in the Atlanta campaign, and did not surrender until May 6, 1865?

Brig. Gen. Joseph Horace Lewis (b. Kentucky)

What famous artist painted an eyewitness picture of one of the few naval skirmishes fought by opposing U.S. forces in foreign waters?

The young artist who watched the USS Kearsarge sink the CSS Alabama in an hour-long engagement in the English Channel off Cherbourg, France, in June of 1864, was Edouard Manet. The work now hangs in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What was a "havelock"?

A piece of linen that hangs from the back of a cap over one's neck to protect it from the sun

The snow was deep and the temperature raw as Stonewall Jackson's troops woke to the early dawn. This particular morning, the men had little respect for their famous general due to their situation. A man, sleeping under a nearby tree, awoke and shook the snow from his blanket. Who was this person that had ridden into the camp at night?

Gen. Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson

Why is Lincoln's photograph taken 8/02/1864, famous?

It is on the $5.00 bill.

Where was the famous CSS Alabama constructed?

Liverpool, England

What general would change soiled shirts, even during battle?

Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock - Union

For diarrhea or malaria, what was the rebel field cure?

Tea made from the bark of either slippery elm, sweet gum or dogwood

What famous Union commander and his Union army lost every battle, every campaign and every engagement they fought?

Benjamin F. Butler, Lincoln's political appointee in charge of  the Army of the James

Name the war's most striking victory in consideration of lost resources.

The Confederacy victory at Savine Pass, Texas.  Capt. Richard W. Dowling, defending with 43 men and six cannon, drove off a Federal force of 15.000 men attempting to land.  Capt. Dowling never lost a man!

What were the most common diseases among southern soldiers?

Scurvy, gangrene, measles (If dysentery was a disease, it would be in the top 3)

The Union’s 2nd West Virginia Cavalry Regiment’s troops were recruited predominately from what state?

Ohio

Confederate Captain Shade Wooten of the Twenty-seventh North Carolina Regiment used the most primitive weapon in the Civil War on three occasions.  What was it?

He threw dirt in the face of “a would be assailant!”

What was the most commonly used medication during the war?

Alcohol in the form of whiskey or brandy.  While its value as a medication is questionable, it did relieve pain and it's doubtful that the soldiers complained of its use

Union Troopers assaulted and climbed a 1100 foot high mountain to attack a strong position being held by Confederates.  This battle was dubbed the "Battle above the Clouds."  Rain, mist, fog and chilling winds hampered Union forces but they persisted and eventually were able to plant the U.S. flag.  What was the official name for this battle?