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Quiz about Mount Up Draw Sabers Charge 1
Quiz about Mount Up Draw Sabers Charge 1

Mount Up, Draw Sabers, Charge! 1 Quiz


Some of the most daring and colorful characters of the Civil War came from the ranks of the cavalry officers on both sides. This quiz focuses on Union cavalry commanders.

A multiple-choice quiz by tazman6619. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
tazman6619
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
301,173
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
856
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 107 (5/10), Guest 108 (10/10), Guest 107 (6/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Imagine that you are a graduate student working on your master's thesis on Union cavalry officers. Your friend happens to be a doctoral candidate in physics and he has developed a time machine. He needs a volunteer to test his invention and you are the lucky guinea pig. If this works you will have firsthand knowledge for your thesis and will get to experience that which you have only read about. In your first mission you end up as a courier for a very famous general. This cavalry general was renowned for being the youngest general in the Union army and for his flowing golden hair. In the Civil War he was known as the "Boy General" to the Northern Press and later in life he was called "Yellow Hair" and "Son of the Morning Star" by his enemies. Who is this general? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Since your first mission was such a success, your friend decides he needs to run nine more tests to make sure his time machine has no bugs. This time you end up as a sergeant on the staff of a cavalry general who now commands a whole army, the Army of the Shenandoah. He was a practitioner of the concept of total war and used it to great acclaim or infamy, depending on which side you belonged to. He led his forces in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 in which he employed these scorched earth tactics. Who is this general? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. With two successful missions under your belt, you now begin to grow confident in your friend's machine and decide to have a little fun. For your next mission you end up as a scout for the commander of the most daring Union cavalry raid of the war. You and 1,700 other horse soldiers leave La Grange, Tennessee, travel south 600 miles through enemy territory, wreaking havoc along the way. Finally 16 days later you reenter Union lines at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Who is your commanding officer? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. After the thrill of your last mission, you are beginning to thoroughly enjoy these experiments in time travel. You decide next to travel back to one of the most pivotal battles of the war. This time you are serving as a private in a cavalry division commanded by the next general. You have just passed through a sleepy little hamlet in Pennsylvania and have taken up positions on the north side of town. You and your comrades must hold the line against advancing Confederate infantry until your own infantry arrives. The nation and your general are depending on you. Who is your commander? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. On your next mission you end up in a horse cavalry artillery unit. The men and officers of your division seem to be of two opinions about their commanding general - some see him as a gallant and noble warrior who effectively engages the enemy at every opportunity while others see him as a man who cares little about his men, often ordering suicidal cavalry charges. You happen to have joined his division late in June 1863 and find yourself fighting against General Fitzhugh Lee and General JEB Stuart prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. Who is your commander? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. You are half way home with five more missions to go. Your friend is excited at how well his time machine is working and decides to join you on your next mission. For the next mission you are both second lieutenants and are aides to the commander of the District of Baton Rouge in early 1864. Your commander is sometimes referred to as the father of the US Cavalry, although he was born in Virginia. In fact his only son is serving as a Confederate general and one of his daughters is married to Confederate General JEB Stuart. Who is this general? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Upon your return your friend decides time travel is not for him and lets you continue on the missions alone. This time you end up as a colonel in the cavalry attached to the Army of the Cumberland. Your commanding general is a daring officer who started out as an engineer but proved to be an extremely effective cavalry combat officer. In fact you are with his troops when they capture the fleeing Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Who is this general? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. You are starting to dread the end of this most excellent adventure. The things you have seen and experienced are almost too much to grasp. But then you remember the task at hand and refocus on what must be done. For your next mission you are back in the Shenandoah Valley as a corporal in a scouting unit in the 1st Division of the Cavalry Corp of the Army of the Shenandoah. Your commander leads your division expertly arriving just in time to rout enemy at the Third Battle of Winchester. You are also present at Appomattox Court House and watch your commander as he performs as one of the commissioners at Lee's surrender. Who is your commander? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. For this mission you are the personal attendant to the commander of the Cavalry Corps for the Army of the Potomac in June of 1863. You watch as he commands his forces in the largest cavalry engagement of the war at Brandy Station and ends the dominance of Confederate cavalry in the East. Who is this general? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. It is time for your final mission. You are once again a scout at the forefront of a daring cavalry endeavor. Your commanding officer has been charged with the task of raiding deep into enemy territory, to destroy supply and communication lines so that General Hooker can advance on Chancellorsville. The raid starts out promising but gets bogged down and the raid fails. Who is your commanding officer? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Imagine that you are a graduate student working on your master's thesis on Union cavalry officers. Your friend happens to be a doctoral candidate in physics and he has developed a time machine. He needs a volunteer to test his invention and you are the lucky guinea pig. If this works you will have firsthand knowledge for your thesis and will get to experience that which you have only read about. In your first mission you end up as a courier for a very famous general. This cavalry general was renowned for being the youngest general in the Union army and for his flowing golden hair. In the Civil War he was known as the "Boy General" to the Northern Press and later in life he was called "Yellow Hair" and "Son of the Morning Star" by his enemies. Who is this general?

Answer: George Armstrong Custer

Custer had a remarkable career in the Civil War. He graduated last in his class at West Point and yet was promoted from captain to brigadier general, an unheard of accomplishment. He proved to be a brilliant cavalry officer, leading a division by the end of the war.

His command of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade in the Battle of Gettysburg is worthy of particular recognition. It dealt Confederate General JEB Stuart his first setback in command of Rebel cavalry by stalemating Stuart and keeping him from the Union rear.
2. Since your first mission was such a success, your friend decides he needs to run nine more tests to make sure his time machine has no bugs. This time you end up as a sergeant on the staff of a cavalry general who now commands a whole army, the Army of the Shenandoah. He was a practitioner of the concept of total war and used it to great acclaim or infamy, depending on which side you belonged to. He led his forces in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 in which he employed these scorched earth tactics. Who is this general?

Answer: Philip Henry Sheridan

Sheridan was known as "Little Phil" because he was so short (5'5") but his size had nothing to do with his ability to command. He was legendary as a cavalry commander and his daring led Grant to appoint him as commander of the Army of the Shenandoah even though he was relatively young to rise to such a high post. He proved worthy of Grant's trust.
3. With two successful missions under your belt, you now begin to grow confident in your friend's machine and decide to have a little fun. For your next mission you end up as a scout for the commander of the most daring Union cavalry raid of the war. You and 1,700 other horse soldiers leave La Grange, Tennessee, travel south 600 miles through enemy territory, wreaking havoc along the way. Finally 16 days later you reenter Union lines at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Who is your commanding officer?

Answer: Benjamin Henry Grierson

Grierson was only a colonel but his exploits were remarkable. Grant himself called his raid "one of the most brilliant cavalry exploits of the war." It is interesting to note that Grierson was "a man with little military training or experience-and a pronounced dislike of horses-would soon prove to be one of the most skilled cavalry leaders of the war." http://www.historynet.com/griersons-raid-during-the-vicksburg-campaign.htm
4. After the thrill of your last mission, you are beginning to thoroughly enjoy these experiments in time travel. You decide next to travel back to one of the most pivotal battles of the war. This time you are serving as a private in a cavalry division commanded by the next general. You have just passed through a sleepy little hamlet in Pennsylvania and have taken up positions on the north side of town. You and your comrades must hold the line against advancing Confederate infantry until your own infantry arrives. The nation and your general are depending on you. Who is your commander?

Answer: John Buford, Jr.

Buford is credited as being the general who picked the location for the Battle of Gettysburg. He slowed the Confederate advance long enough to allow Union infantry to take the high ground south of Gettysburg, giving the Union a decided advantage in the upcoming battle.
5. On your next mission you end up in a horse cavalry artillery unit. The men and officers of your division seem to be of two opinions about their commanding general - some see him as a gallant and noble warrior who effectively engages the enemy at every opportunity while others see him as a man who cares little about his men, often ordering suicidal cavalry charges. You happen to have joined his division late in June 1863 and find yourself fighting against General Fitzhugh Lee and General JEB Stuart prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. Who is your commander?

Answer: Hugh Judson Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick was another one of the young generals the Union produced. He was a very controversial figure who people either loved or hated. He earned the nickname "Kilcavalry" or "Kill-cavalry" because of his apparent lack of regard for the lives of his men and horses.

He was instrumental in keeping JEB Stuart away from the Battle of Gettysburg, which meant Lee was blind for most of the battle. But he also earned infamy in this battle by ordering General Farnsworth to attack Confederate infantry after the battle had already been decided.

This order was not given on his own initiative, however, since it came down from higher headquarters. Farnsworth died in the charge.
6. You are half way home with five more missions to go. Your friend is excited at how well his time machine is working and decides to join you on your next mission. For the next mission you are both second lieutenants and are aides to the commander of the District of Baton Rouge in early 1864. Your commander is sometimes referred to as the father of the US Cavalry, although he was born in Virginia. In fact his only son is serving as a Confederate general and one of his daughters is married to Confederate General JEB Stuart. Who is this general?

Answer: Philip St. George Cook

Cooke was commander of the 2nd Dragoons, which became the 2nd US Cavalry, at the outbreak of the war. He had authored a cavalry manual for the US Army in 1858 but only saw limited action early in the war. He is more noted for his family relations and their support of the South.
7. Upon your return your friend decides time travel is not for him and lets you continue on the missions alone. This time you end up as a colonel in the cavalry attached to the Army of the Cumberland. Your commanding general is a daring officer who started out as an engineer but proved to be an extremely effective cavalry combat officer. In fact you are with his troops when they capture the fleeing Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Who is this general?

Answer: James Harrison Wilson

Wilson started out as a topographic engineer and served as an aide-de-camp to General McClellan before transferring out west to serve under General Grant. He was the only one of Grant's regular staff to be promoted to troop command, a decision that proved extremely beneficial to the US Army.

He trained Sherman's cavalry for the March to the Sea and then led a famous raid of his own through Alabama and Georgia. It was his troops who captured Jefferson Davis.
8. You are starting to dread the end of this most excellent adventure. The things you have seen and experienced are almost too much to grasp. But then you remember the task at hand and refocus on what must be done. For your next mission you are back in the Shenandoah Valley as a corporal in a scouting unit in the 1st Division of the Cavalry Corp of the Army of the Shenandoah. Your commander leads your division expertly arriving just in time to rout enemy at the Third Battle of Winchester. You are also present at Appomattox Court House and watch your commander as he performs as one of the commissioners at Lee's surrender. Who is your commander?

Answer: Wesley Merritt

Merritt was promoted from captain to brigadier general at the same time as Custer by General Pleasonton. Later on he commanded the 1st Cavalry Division in the Overland Campaign and in the Shenandoah Campaign. He was second in command to Sheridan and was one of the commissioners at Lee's surrender.

He later served in the Spanish-American War and was the first Military Governor of the Philippines.
9. For this mission you are the personal attendant to the commander of the Cavalry Corps for the Army of the Potomac in June of 1863. You watch as he commands his forces in the largest cavalry engagement of the war at Brandy Station and ends the dominance of Confederate cavalry in the East. Who is this general?

Answer: Alfred Pleasonton

Pleasonton's forces stumbled upon Confederate General JEB Stuart's forces at Brandy Station, VA on June 9. The battle lasted 14 hours but was largely inconclusive. Pleasonton did not follow up this battle by pursuing Stuart's forces for which he was criticized.

At Gettysburg Meade kept a tight rein on Pleasonton and when Grant took over the Army of the Potomac he replaced Pleasonton with Sheridan.
10. It is time for your final mission. You are once again a scout at the forefront of a daring cavalry endeavor. Your commanding officer has been charged with the task of raiding deep into enemy territory, to destroy supply and communication lines so that General Hooker can advance on Chancellorsville. The raid starts out promising but gets bogged down and the raid fails. Who is your commanding officer?

Answer: George Stoneman, Jr.

Stoneman commanded the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Hooker blamed Stoneman's inability to accomplish his mission as one of the major reasons for the loss of the battle and relieved him of command. Later on Stoneman commanded the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Ohio under General Sherman.

As he fought in the Atlanta campaign he was taken prisoner and became the highest ranking Union officer to become a POW. He was exchanged after three months based on Sherman's personal request.
Source: Author tazman6619

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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This quiz is part of series US Civil War:

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