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Quiz about Back to Civil War Hell
Quiz about Back to Civil War Hell

Back to Civil War "Hell" Trivia Quiz


Good scores require a knowledge of the war. Also, in some cases, look at the question to derive the correct answer. In any case, I hope the questions are entertaining!

A multiple-choice quiz by quiz18. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
quiz18
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
388,980
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
8 / 15
Plays
293
- -
Question 1 of 15
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?
Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Which battle ...?
After surviving multiple attacks in a famous site, units here started to retreat. To escape they had to pass through a gauntlet taking fire from both sides in an area now known as "Hell's Hollow". Where is it?
Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Prisoners of war fared poorly. They reportedly ate household pets and even rats to survive. But rats played a role in more than prison fare during the war- fetid, rat-infested no-man's land called "Rat Hell" eventually helped prisoners stage an epic prison break in 1864. The dungeon-like cellar was horrifying in its squalor and its constant onslaught of creatures. As the basement became more and more infested, it was avoided by guards, who closed it off rather than deal with the vermin. Prisoners used the basement to make their break at which of these prisons/camps?
Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. "I am a damned sight smarter man than ________. I know more about military history, strategy, and grand tactics than he does. I know more about supply, administration, and everything else than he does. I'll tell you where he beats me though and where he beats the world. He doesn't give a damn about what the enemy does out of his sight, but it scares me like hell. .... He uses such information as he has according to his best judgment; he issues his orders and does his level best to carry them out without much reference to what is going on about him". Who said this of whom? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. Assigned to Texas before and after the war, he was also known for brutal tactics and said "If I owned Texas and Hell, I'd rent out Texas and live in Hell". Who said this?
Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Which battle ...?
These hungry men had their breakfast ruined when forced to stem a charge near a cornfield prompting the quote:
"... Sgt if a Texan is merely a Mexican who couldn't make it further north... then by God give me ten thousand of those Mexicans and I'll whip the Yankees clean to hell".
Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Which battle ...?
Showing no shortage of spirit, especially considering the time of year, the quote:
"We'll fight them, sir, 'til hell freezes over, and then, sir, we will fight them on the ice" comes from which battle?
Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. Which battle ...?
Four intensive attacks were made on the only unit not to retreat in this battle of many retreats, preventing a likely full-scale rout. The attackers aptly named this "Hell's Half-Acre" as many died, unable to take the position.
Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Where ...?
"It ain't so hard to get to that ridge--the hell of it is to stay there" was the statement of one attacker. Somewhat prophetically, a few attackers made it but could not endure this "hell". At which ridge was this?
Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. The oldest intact, unmoved Civil War monument is located near: Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Who are they talking about?
Using flanking moves to keep his railroad supplies available during his major campaign, it was said of this general-
"________ will never go to hell. He'll flank the devil and make heaven despite the guards."
Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. Which charge?
The high ground always yielded greater defensive strength. Attacking uphill was difficult and in one attack the general was shocked when he saw troops continue climbing the ridge. Down the command chain he asked who had given the orders. Nobody claimed responsibility, but a general replied, "When those fellows get started all hell can't stop them."
Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Who said ...?
"God damn your god damned old hell fired god damned soul to hell god damn you and god damn your god damned family's god damned hell fired god damned soul to hell and god damnation god damn them and god damn your god damned friends to hell".
Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Who said ...?
"Good God, where does the South find such a class of corrupt liars to call leaders? Give Georgia men who were willing to give their all to the cause. I don't mean the shirkers, dodgers and outright cowards who now call themselves veterans of the War; I mean the MEN, who fought and were willing to die for their country. Those are the men I respect of the South. To hell with the rest."
Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. Dealing with a different "civil" war, who said "Marriage is neither heaven nor hell, it is simply purgatory"?
Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
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?

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!
2. Which battle ...? After surviving multiple attacks in a famous site, units here started to retreat. To escape they had to pass through a gauntlet taking fire from both sides in an area now known as "Hell's Hollow". Where is it?

Answer: Shiloh

The Confederates had attacked and turned the position on both flanks and ultimately surrounded the Hornet's Nest. Some Union units successfully ran the gauntlet later termed "Hell's Hollow," which was so named because of the interconnecting fire from the nearing Confederate flanks; several other regiments were not able to escape and had to surrender.
3. Prisoners of war fared poorly. They reportedly ate household pets and even rats to survive. But rats played a role in more than prison fare during the war- fetid, rat-infested no-man's land called "Rat Hell" eventually helped prisoners stage an epic prison break in 1864. The dungeon-like cellar was horrifying in its squalor and its constant onslaught of creatures. As the basement became more and more infested, it was avoided by guards, who closed it off rather than deal with the vermin. Prisoners used the basement to make their break at which of these prisons/camps?

Answer: Libby Prison

Libby Prison was originally a ship supply shop turned jailhouse in Richmond, Virginia. Named for its former owner, it became a place to house captured Union officers. The overcrowded building had multiple stories but the basement was unusable. In Feb. 1864 109 Union officers escaped through basement tunnels. Forty POW's were recaptured.
4. "I am a damned sight smarter man than ________. I know more about military history, strategy, and grand tactics than he does. I know more about supply, administration, and everything else than he does. I'll tell you where he beats me though and where he beats the world. He doesn't give a damn about what the enemy does out of his sight, but it scares me like hell. .... He uses such information as he has according to his best judgment; he issues his orders and does his level best to carry them out without much reference to what is going on about him". Who said this of whom?

Answer: Sherman of Grant

Early on, Grant reported that he realized that scared as he might be, his enemy would be just as scared. Through several campaigns, Sherman had watched his friend, Grant. He was able to develop a "calmness" where he focused on what was in front of him. As commander, hundreds of reports would be coming in and Grant was usually able to sort them out and carry out his plan.
5. Assigned to Texas before and after the war, he was also known for brutal tactics and said "If I owned Texas and Hell, I'd rent out Texas and live in Hell". Who said this?

Answer: Phil Sheridan

After the war he admitted he would have been guilty of war crimes except that he was on the winning side. He would later employ the viciousness he used in the Valley against American Indians out West.
6. Which battle ...? These hungry men had their breakfast ruined when forced to stem a charge near a cornfield prompting the quote: "... Sgt if a Texan is merely a Mexican who couldn't make it further north... then by God give me ten thousand of those Mexicans and I'll whip the Yankees clean to hell".

Answer: Antietam

Almost alone during a powerful Federal onslaught, the Texas Brigade sealed a threatening gap in the Confederate line. In so doing the 1st Texas Infantry Regiment suffered a casualty rate of 82.3 percent, the greatest loss suffered by any infantry regiment, North or South, during the war. Of approximately 850 men engaged the Texas Brigade counted over 550 casualties.
7. Which battle ...? Showing no shortage of spirit, especially considering the time of year, the quote: "We'll fight them, sir, 'til hell freezes over, and then, sir, we will fight them on the ice" comes from which battle?

Answer: Gettysburg

A Confederate soldier at Gettysburg, which occurred in July, is credited with this statement as things went badly for the Confederates. While happening in early April, there were reports of snow flurries in days leading up to Shiloh. The other battles did occur in winter. Maybe hell freezing over could have helped Pickett!
8. Which battle ...? Four intensive attacks were made on the only unit not to retreat in this battle of many retreats, preventing a likely full-scale rout. The attackers aptly named this "Hell's Half-Acre" as many died, unable to take the position.

Answer: Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro (Stones River). In the area known as Round Forest, Hazen's Brigade repelled attacks while, like a giant hinge, the rest of the Union army had swung back in retreat. Unable to move Hazen's troops, the Rebel forces were unable to sweep up the Nashville Tpke where other Union troops were finally able to stop their retreat.
9. Where ...? "It ain't so hard to get to that ridge--the hell of it is to stay there" was the statement of one attacker. Somewhat prophetically, a few attackers made it but could not endure this "hell". At which ridge was this?

Answer: Cemetery Ridge

Cemetery Ridge in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. While all here are CW bucket list musts, it is hard to imagine some Rebels actually crossed the stone wall. Federal troops attacking at Fredericksburg never reached the ridge. though bravely making 14 attempts. Seminary and Missionary Ridges were both captured in attacks on them.
10. The oldest intact, unmoved Civil War monument is located near:

Answer: Hell's Half-Acre

The Hazen Brigade Monument is the oldest Civil War monument still standing in its original location in the nation. Hazen's men were so proud of their efforts in this area that they erected a monument within six months after the battle at Stones River. The only unit that did not retreat during this battle, they served as rallying point to other troops preventing a rout, acting like a hinge when other Union troops on their right had retreated much of the day.
11. Who are they talking about? Using flanking moves to keep his railroad supplies available during his major campaign, it was said of this general- "________ will never go to hell. He'll flank the devil and make heaven despite the guards."

Answer: Sherman in Atlanta Campaign

Sherman was ever aware of the railroad (RR) supplies to his army from Chattanooga. As he approached Atlanta, he set about cutting rail supplies to Atlanta. Chancellorsville did not involve RR's and Grant's campaigns were more based on destroying RR's supplying the cities he was attacking.

In some ways, Sherman had seen flanking work against Bragg during Rosecrans' Tullahoma campaign taking Chattanooga.
12. Which charge? The high ground always yielded greater defensive strength. Attacking uphill was difficult and in one attack the general was shocked when he saw troops continue climbing the ridge. Down the command chain he asked who had given the orders. Nobody claimed responsibility, but a general replied, "When those fellows get started all hell can't stop them."

Answer: Union charge at Missionary ridge

Missionary Ridge dominated the city of Chattanooga.
Ordered to take the first row of trenches at the base of the ridge, Union troops under Thomas kept climbing the ridge on their own and drove Confederate forces back, breaking the siege of Chattanooga for good.
13. Who said ...? "God damn your god damned old hell fired god damned soul to hell god damn you and god damn your god damned family's god damned hell fired god damned soul to hell and god damnation god damn them and god damn your god damned friends to hell".

Answer: Citizen writing letter to Abe Lincoln

Okay, couldn't pass this up! A Mr. Peter Muggins in a letter to Abe Lincoln. Diagram that sentence! No doubt the other choices yielded some criticism but the sheer eloquence here is memorable. Unlikely a memory of a verbal assault would have done this well.
14. Who said ...? "Good God, where does the South find such a class of corrupt liars to call leaders? Give Georgia men who were willing to give their all to the cause. I don't mean the shirkers, dodgers and outright cowards who now call themselves veterans of the War; I mean the MEN, who fought and were willing to die for their country. Those are the men I respect of the South. To hell with the rest."

Answer: Union officer during reconstruction

Attributed to Captain Aldretch, US Army, clarifying his view of post-reconstruction Georgia. The others were killed during the war.
15. Dealing with a different "civil" war, who said "Marriage is neither heaven nor hell, it is simply purgatory"?

Answer: Abe Lincoln

One of the quotes of Abe Lincoln, no doubt the result of the tremendous hardships he had faced in his life dealing with a son's death and his wife's mental health issues. Funny is that another Lincoln quote was - "Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be."
An interesting side note on Sickles. He shot his wife's lover dead. The lover was the son of Francis Scott Keys (Star Spangled Banner). For the first time in American history Sickles used the temporary insanity defense.
Source: Author quiz18

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