U.S. Civil War Trivia

1. It has been quoted in many ways and numerous contexts but one of the better known quotes from the time period is "War is Hell". Who said it?

From Quiz Back to Civil War "Hell"

Answer: W T Sherman

It seems this quote originates from his address to the graduating class of the Michigan Military Academy (19 June 1879); but slightly varying accounts of this speech have been published. Here's the full text: "I've been where you are now and I know just how you feel. It's entirely natural that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired here. Suppress it! You don't know the horrible aspects of war. I've been through two wars and I know. I've seen cities and homes in ashes. I've seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is Hell!

From Quiz Civil War "Hell"

Answer: William T Sherman

Sherman had been severely criticized early in the war and learned quickly. During the war newspapers often were the only source of news. Reporters often sensationalized stories supporting or attacking anyone in politics or uniform - anything that would sell papers. Look at press given to Jeff Davis or Abraham Lincoln. If history repeats itself, today's events show others share similar opinions.

From Quiz The Civil War In The Indian nations

Answer: Albert Pike

Albert Pike agreed on behalf of the Confederate States to continue their annual payments as promised them by the United States. Various tribes would also be recognized as sovereign nations, nor would they be required to serve outside of Indian Territory.

From Quiz A Civil War Reenactor's Rations

Answer: a haversack

The haversack was usually a white or whitish linen or cotton pouch with a buttoned flap, or a black painted or rubber one with a buckled flap. It hung by one's side, and soon became greasy and dirty enough that it wasn't fit for much else. Reenactors can help keep food clean by putting it in regularly-washed calico bags or in clean cotton cloth or brown paper.

From Quiz American Civil War

Answer: Braxton Bragg

Henry W. Halleck was a Union general. Joseph E. Johnston was wounded and replaced by Robert E. Lee near Richmond, Virginia. Braxton Bragg was the commander of the C.S.A army of Tennessee.

From Quiz April, 1865

Answer: Battle of Five Forks

The Battle of Five Forks was fought around a road junction in Dinwiddie County. Seriously outnumbered at least two-to-one, the South suffered nearly 3000 casualties to the Union's 800+. The Union Army gained control of the Five Forks and, thus, the South Side Railroad, a major supply line to Petersburg, placing the Confederate capital in Richmond, Virginia, in peril.

From Quiz Just Another U.S. Civil War Quiz 2

Answer: B.G. Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis shot William Nelson inside the Galt House which was being used as a base of operations. Davis shot Nelson because he felt Nelson had disrespected him by slapping his face after Davis flicked a wad of paper at him. Nelson died of his wounds and after two weeks of investigation, Jefferson Davis was released without charge.

From Quiz Civil Warriors

Answer: single shot muzzle loading rifles

Soldiers were either killed outright or died from infected wounds or amputations. Most rifles carried bayonets, but very few soldiers were injured by bayonets.

From Quiz Civilized War!

Answer: Attack on Fort Sumter

The attack on Fort Sumter was led by Confederate commander P.G.T. Beauregard and this was the major event that kicked the war off.

From Quiz American Civil War - Horses and Riders

Answer: Cincinnati

Cincinnati is just a few miles down the Ohio river from Grant's birthplace of Point Pleasant, Ohio. Cincinnati, his horse, stood some seventeen hands high. Grant had a way with horses from very early in his childhood and was the best horseman at West Point during his time there.

From Quiz The United States Tragedy: The Civil War

Answer: Alexander Stephens

Just as Jefferson Davis was the only President of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens was the only Vice-President. Robert Toombs served as the first Secretary of State. Leroy Pope Walker served as the first Secretary of War. John H. Reagan served as the Postmaster General. After the war, Alexander Stephens eventually ended up serving in the United States Senate.

From Quiz All about The American Civil War!

Answer: Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis was the leader of the Southern Confederacy, whilst Abraham Lincoln led the Union, assisted by Ulysses Grant. Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union (1985-1991).

From Quiz More Civil War Connections and Characters

Answer: Edmund J. Ruffin, Virginia

Ruffin was an ardent seccessionist from South Carolina and a flame throwing newspaper writer adamantly against staying in the Union. When it was all over, he said he'd refuse to live under Yankee rule and one warm June day in 1865 on his front porch took his own life. Rhett was another "fire-eater", an outspoken pro-seccession landowner from South Carolina. Called the "Father of Seccession", his home in Beaufort, SC is on the list of historically preserved homes in a lovely historically preserved town. It has been converted into a hotel and a pleasant evening dining on the verandah can be had in the "fire-eater's" home. Robert Rodes was a CSA general killed in the fighting at Winchester VA in 1864 and is buried in Lynchburg VA not far from old Jubal Early's gravesite. Thomas Rosser was a CSA cavalry general and a good friend of his classmate at West Point, George Custer, until they ran into each other in several fights in the Shenandoah Valley and at the end of the War in and around Appomattox.

From Quiz Just another U.S. Civil War quiz

Answer: Alabama

Alabama Volunteer Corps was a unit in the Confederate army. It was started in February 1860 out of a group of militia men.

From Quiz American Civil War

Answer: 618,000

About 620,000 people died in the Civil War. Most of these deaths were caused by disease, uncleaned medical equipment that spread disease, and lead bullet wounds, which were usually lethal. Starvation was another major cause of death.

From Quiz American Civil War

Answer: Fort Sumter

The firing at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina started the civil war. Here Confederate soldiers tried to take the Union-controlled fort. The Confederates fired the first shots of the war.

From Quiz Civil War Trivia

Answer: Fire Eater

Johnston was riding his horse "Fire Eater" when he recieved the mortal wound on April 6, 1862.

From Quiz The Civil War in Missouri: 2

Answer: He freed Missouri's slaves

In the fall of 1861, John C. Fremont, the Republican presidential candidate in 1856 and now commander of the department of Missouri, issued an order freeing the state's slaves. President Lincoln quickly revoked the order, because Fremont did not have the authority and Lincoln, at this early stage of the war, needed to make certain that the border states (all slave) stayed in the Union. Radical Republicans and abolitionists were sharply critical of Lincoln for rescinding the order.

From Quiz The Civil War in Missouri: 1

Answer: William Harney

Harney initially commanded Union forces in Missouri from St. Louis, but was soon replaced by Nathaniel Lyon. Ulysses S. Grant led a small number of troops in Missouri operations in 1861, but never had overall command. William S. Rosecrans commanded Union forces in Missouri through most of 1864.

From Quiz Civil War Mountains, Hills, and Creeks

Answer: Lookout Mountain

On the afternoon of November 24, 1863 Grant dispatched reinforcements to Hooker and Sherman to launch a three-pronged attack, against the Confederate position on the fog-shrouded Lookout Mountain. Hooker's men cleared the Confederates from Lookout Mountain and proceeded to Rossville to threaten Bragg's left and rear. On the 25th Sherman's troops attacked the rebel right at Tunnel Hill but were stopped. That same day Thomas's men advanced up Missionary Ridge, and Hooker pummeled Bragg's left. The Confederate front dissolved, and Bragg prepared to retreat.

From Quiz Field and Heavy Artillery

Answer: Cascabel & cascable

It is the knob that they use to pull the newly poured tube from the mold. The knobs on the sides of the tube where it is connected to the carrige are called trunions. The cap squares hold the trunions to the carrige.

From Quiz Civil War Hodge-Podge

Answer: Joseph E. Johnston

Johnston was upset from the very beginning that he did not get to keep his place in the seniority line of generals. And this hurt his relationship with Davis. It is thought to be one of the reasons Davis replaced him later at Atlanta, with Hood. Moreover, Johnston was giving up much territory.

From Quiz Civil War: "Burgs"

Answer: Fredericksburg

Richard Rowland Kirkland was "The Angel of Marye's Heights". The night of December 14-15, 1862 "The Northern Lights" lit up the night sky a rare thing that far south. Of the 12,700 Union dead and wounded at Fredericksburg most were laid in front of the stone wall at the foot of the heights.

From Quiz Civil War: "Ride with the Wind"

Answer: Winchester

On the way back from the meeting he had just attended, he heard the sound of gunshots and raced towards the sound, waving his hat on the way to rally troops that were starting to flee.

From Quiz Ohio's Role in the Civil War

Answer: Johnson's Island

The island housed over 15,000 Confederate men, mostly officers. The prison had one of the lowest mortality rate of any Civil War prison on either side. South Bass, Kelleys, and Gibraltar Islands are all islands in Lake Erie.

From Quiz Civil War Nicknames

Answer: Five Forks

While Pickett and Fitz Lee were at a shad bake given by General Rosser, the important crossroads at Five Forks was attacked. And due to a phenomenon known as accoustic shadows the generals could not hear the fighting, and did not arrive until too late.

From Quiz Civil War Mixture

Answer: Iowa

The 14th Iowa was the first to take up the position and the 12th Iowa was the last to leave it. Grant said, "Iowa is a young state, but it is a state of heros; those Iowa boys saved my Army."

From Quiz Civil War Miscellany

Answer: S. E. Edmonds

Sarah Emma Edmonds, was the only woman to draw a pension in her own name for fighting after the war. She fought at the first Bull Run as Thompson and also sold Bibles.

From Quiz Civil War - Who, What, Where?

Answer: William Tecumseh Sherman

Sherman, a colonel at the time, was the first superintendent of the Academy that later became L.S.U. He was recommended for the job by P.G.T. Beauregard, and Braxton Bragg, who had been his West Point classmates.

From Quiz Poems and Songs of the US Civil War

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Whitman who had lived in Washington D.C. during much of the Civil War was a great admirer of the President. The poem was published in New York's 'Saturday Press' in November of 1865. The bittersweet poem which spoke of the war's end and Lincoln's death received instant acclaim and solidified Whitman's position as one of the great 19th century American poets.

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