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Quiz about Battle of Fredericksburg 1862

Battle of Fredericksburg, 1862 Quiz

This is a short quiz on the gruesome and bloody battle of Fredericksburg, VA during the American Civil War, in December 1862. Good luck and have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by liszkaj. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
liszkaj

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
107,701

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2208

Last 3 plays: tomsj1154 (6/10), Guest 47 (10/10), Guest 45 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who commanded the Union forces during the battle?
Hint

Ambrose Burnside

Robert E. Lee

George McClellan

Joseph Hooker

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Question 2 of 10

2. What delayed the Union Army's advance across the river into Fredericksburg? Hint

The absence of pontoon boats

A shipment of ammunition had not arrived

The river was flooding the countryside

Burnside was physically ill, and did not write orders

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Question 3 of 10

3. The left wing of the Confederate Army, commanded by troops from James Longstreet's First Corps used what strong natural position for artillery, that peppered Union forces? Hint

Marye's Heights

Stafford Heights

Little Round Top

Mt. Frederick

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Question 4 of 10

4. Soldiers of which Confederate brigade engaged Union soldiers in the streets of Fredericksburg on 11-12 December, 1862? Hint

Ransom's

Pickett's

Anderson's

Barksdale's

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who became a Confederate hero after bravely engaging the left wing of the advancing Union army south of Fredericksburg with one artillery cannon? Hint

William Pegram

John Pelham

Edward Porter Alexander

William Poague

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was seen in the night skies of Fredericksburg during the battle? Hint

The Flying Nun

The Starship Enterprise

Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis

An Airplane

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who asked his superiors for permission to bring water to wounded Union soldiers trapped in front of his position? Hint

Moxley Sorrel

James Wells

George Sykes

Richard Kirkland

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Question 8 of 10

8. James Longstreet was one of Robert E. Lee's Corps commanders. Who was the other? Hint

A. P. Hill

Richard Ewell

D. H. Hill

Stonewall Jackson

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Question 9 of 10

9. Burnside was replaced as commander of the Army of the Potomac immediately after the battle on 14 December 1862.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. What river separated Union forces in Falmouth, VA from Confederate forces in Fredericksburg? Hint

James

Rappahannock

North Anna

Totopotomy

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 04 2024 : tomsj1154: 6/10
Nov 04 2024 : Guest 47: 10/10
Nov 02 2024 : Guest 45: 9/10
Sep 30 2024 : Guest 104: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who commanded the Union forces during the battle?

Answer: Ambrose Burnside

Burnside, a native of Indiana and 1847 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point received command of the Army of the Potomac on 7 November 1862, replacing General George McClellan.

2. What delayed the Union Army's advance across the river into Fredericksburg?

Answer: The absence of pontoon boats

The Army waited for over two weeks for pontoons to arrive at the their camps at Falmouth, across the river from Fredericksburg. Critics of Burnside have claimed that he did not even need the pontoons, rather he could have crossed the river at a shallow spot upstream from the town. Nevertheless, the river was rising and conceivably the portions of the army could have been trapped across the river.

3. The left wing of the Confederate Army, commanded by troops from James Longstreet's First Corps used what strong natural position for artillery, that peppered Union forces?

Answer: Marye's Heights

Confederate artillery dominated the field from their commanding position on Marye's Heights, west of Fredericksburg. The plateau of the Heights is now a National Cemetery.

4. Soldiers of which Confederate brigade engaged Union soldiers in the streets of Fredericksburg on 11-12 December, 1862?

Answer: Barksdale's

Barksdale's Mississippians: 13th, 17th, 18th, and 21st Mississippi regiments fiercely contested the streets of the town in the initial Federal crossing. It was one the first examples of urban warfare in modern military history with street to street and house to house fighting.

5. Who became a Confederate hero after bravely engaging the left wing of the advancing Union army south of Fredericksburg with one artillery cannon?

Answer: John Pelham

The "gallant" Pelham as Robert E. Lee called him became a Confederate folk hero for his actions on right of the Confederate line. While Pelham's actions did not directly influence the outcome of the battle he did greatly annoy Union soldiers and cause the Union artillery to waste ammunition by trying to silence his one gun.

6. What was seen in the night skies of Fredericksburg during the battle?

Answer: Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis

Okay if you answered anything other than Northern Lights, then...

7. Who asked his superiors for permission to bring water to wounded Union soldiers trapped in front of his position?

Answer: Richard Kirkland

Kirkland, a sergeant in the 2nd South Carolina, brought water to wounded soldiers after the gruesome attacks of 13 December. A statue within the Fredericksburg National Military Park depicts Kirkland's humane acts.

8. James Longstreet was one of Robert E. Lee's Corps commanders. Who was the other?

Answer: Stonewall Jackson

Jackson commanded the Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia and was in charge of the Confederate defenses south of Fredericksburg. His portion of the line was arguably the weakest part of Lee's defensive position. Jackson's troops, however defended it well.

9. Burnside was replaced as commander of the Army of the Potomac immediately after the battle on 14 December 1862.

Answer: False

Burnside was not replaced until the spring of 1863 after his infamous "Mud March." Joseph Hooker took over command of the Army of the Potomac, was soundly beaten by Lee at Chancellorsville and would himself be replaced in June 1863.

10. What river separated Union forces in Falmouth, VA from Confederate forces in Fredericksburg?

Answer: Rappahannock

The Rappahannock River separated the opposing forces and was the barrier that needed to be crossed for Burnside and the Army of the Potomac to get at Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia

Source: Author liszkaj

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor coolupway before going online.
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