FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Civil War Oddities Trivia Quiz

These are questions about things that happened in the Civil War. I hope you learn something new from this.

A multiple-choice quiz by daisyduke71. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
daisyduke71

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
181,578

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1606

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the first soldier killed in the Civil War? Hint

General David Jackson

General David Smith

Private David Williams

Private Daniel Hough

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What food was Confederate General Stonewall Jackson known to consume in battle? Hint

Lemons

Toast

Strawberries

Apples

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What was the typical salary of a newspaper correspondent in the Civil War? Hint

$15 a week plus expenses

$13 a week plus expenses

$10 a week plus expenses

$25 a week plus expenses

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. How much did President Abraham Lincoln's coffin cost? Hint

$1500

$3000

$2500

$500

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What was the name of General George G. Meade's favorite horse? Hint

Baddy

Speedy

Baldy

Smarty

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. How old was the oldest officer to leave the prewar U. S. army for Confederate service? Hint

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. How did Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston die? Hint

Heat stroke

Pneumonia

Gunshot

Land Mine

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Who was the only Confederate general to commit suicide during the Civil War? Hint

General George Simon

General Philip Sherman

General Simon Cooke

Brigadier General Philip St. George Cocke

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. How old was William Cain, a drillmaster of new recruits in the 25th North Carolina? Hint

16-years-old

13-years-old

17-years-old

25-years-old

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Who taught President Andrew Johnson to read? Hint

A teacher

His wife

A general

His mother

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the first soldier killed in the Civil War?

Answer: Private Daniel Hough

On April 14, 1861, a member of the Federal garrison at Fort Sumter, Private Daniel Hough of the 1st U. S. Artillery, was accidently killed by an exploding cannon during the evacuation of Fort Sumter, making Hough the first combat soldier killed in the Civil War.

2. What food was Confederate General Stonewall Jackson known to consume in battle?

Answer: Lemons

Jackson had a fondness for lemons and habitually sucked them even in combat.

3. What was the typical salary of a newspaper correspondent in the Civil War?

Answer: $25 a week plus expenses

Standard pay for a top-rated reporter from a large daily newspaper was $25 a week plus expenses. Combat artist like Alfred R. Waud, of Harper's Weekly, were not paid much better. Some correspondents allegedly made extra money on the sly by writing favorable stories about high-ranking officers.

4. How much did President Abraham Lincoln's coffin cost?

Answer: $1500

For Lincoln's burial, the U. S. commisioner of public buildings purchased from the undertakers Sands and Harvey of Washington a walnut coffin costing $1,500. The coffin was lined with lead and trimmed with silver mountings, its interior was lined with white satin and silk.

5. What was the name of General George G. Meade's favorite horse?

Answer: Baldy

Baldy, Meade's favorite mount, survived wounds at First Manassas, Antietam, and Gettysbug; carried Meade in action at Fredericksburg and Gettsyburg, and trailed Meade's hearse at his funeral in 1872.

6. How old was the oldest officer to leave the prewar U. S. army for Confederate service?

Answer: 71

General David E. Twiggs, who was 71 in 1862, was the oldest army officer to join the Confederacy, although he was not given a field command due to his age.

7. How did Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston die?

Answer: Pneumonia

Johnston, who surrendered his army, to Union General William T. Sherman, died on March 21, 1891, from pneumonia, which he contracted while marching in the rain as a pallbearer at Sherman's funeral.

8. Who was the only Confederate general to commit suicide during the Civil War?

Answer: Brigadier General Philip St. George Cocke

Brigadier General Philip St. George Cocke of Virginia, a West Point graduate and a brigade commander at First Bull Run, returned to his home in poor health a few months after the battle and committed suicide the day after Christmas 1861.

9. How old was William Cain, a drillmaster of new recruits in the 25th North Carolina?

Answer: 13-years-old

He was a 13-year-old cadet drillmaster from Hillsborough Military Academy.

10. Who taught President Andrew Johnson to read?

Answer: His wife

His wife taught him shortly after they married.

Source: Author daisyduke71

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.