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Fort Sumter Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz mainly about Fort Sumter at the prelude of the Civil War. No trick questions here, just Fun Trivia!

A multiple-choice quiz by unclereed19. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
unclereed19

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
261,729

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1885

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the name of the Union captain that was 2nd in command at Fort Sumter in April 1861? Hint

Abner Doubleday

Jefferson Davis

Robert Anderson

James Chestnut

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who was in charge of the South Carolina troops in April 1861 for the confederacy? Hint

Chestnut

Beauregard

Anderson

Lee

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the name of the ship that was planned to resupply Fort Sumter in January, 1861? Hint

Star of the West

Star of the East

Star of the North

Star of the South

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Question 4 of 10

4. A Union troop fired the first shot of the battle of Fort Sumter.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Fort Sumter is in South Carolina, which was the first state to secede from the Union.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Besides Fort Sumter, what was the other major Union fort that lay in Confederate territory? Hint

Fort Snelling

Fort Albany

Fort Dakota

Fort Pickens

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Question 7 of 10

7. Fort Sumter is in the shape of a square (4 sided).

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. What South Carolina town, less than 3 miles from Fort Sumter, witnessed the intense battle April 12-13, 1861? Hint

Columbia

Jamestown

Baltimore

Charleston

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was the name of the Union major that was 1st in command at Fort Sumter? Hint

Robert Anderson

Ulysses Grant

Abner Doubleday

George Meade

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Battle of Fort Sumter lasted from April 12, 1861- April 16, 1861.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the name of the Union captain that was 2nd in command at Fort Sumter in April 1861?

Answer: Abner Doubleday

Abner Doubleday is said to have created the sport of baseball.

2. Who was in charge of the South Carolina troops in April 1861 for the confederacy?

Answer: Beauregard

At 3:30 A.M. on April 12,1861 Beauregard ordered Major Robert Anderson to surrender Fort Sumter or warned that if he didn't that Fort Sumter would be fired upon in one hour. Robert Anderson did not surrender, and the first battle of the Civil War started started an hour later.

3. What was the name of the ship that was planned to resupply Fort Sumter in January, 1861?

Answer: Star of the West

The Star of the West was actually a civilian boat,not a military ship, and never made it to Fort Sumter like planned because it was fired upon so it was forced to turn around.

4. A Union troop fired the first shot of the battle of Fort Sumter.

Answer: False

Confederate troops started firing mortars and other batteries on Fort Sumter at about 4:30 A.M. on April 12,1861.

5. Fort Sumter is in South Carolina, which was the first state to secede from the Union.

Answer: True

South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20,1860. Mississippi was the 2nd state to secede.

6. Besides Fort Sumter, what was the other major Union fort that lay in Confederate territory?

Answer: Fort Pickens

Fort Pickens is located on Santa Rosa Island off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. It was named after Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens.

7. Fort Sumter is in the shape of a square (4 sided).

Answer: False

Fort Sumter is actually in the shape of a pentagon and has 5 sides.

8. What South Carolina town, less than 3 miles from Fort Sumter, witnessed the intense battle April 12-13, 1861?

Answer: Charleston

The citizens of Charleston were awakened by loud explosions and gunshots at 4:30 A.M. on April 12,1861 and gathered on rooftops during the Battle of Fort Sumter to watch the fighting.

9. What was the name of the Union major that was 1st in command at Fort Sumter?

Answer: Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson was stationed at Fort Sumter with about 135 other men. Robert Anderson was a West Point graduate, as most other officers are.

10. The Battle of Fort Sumter lasted from April 12, 1861- April 16, 1861.

Answer: False

It actually lasted about 34 hours, starting at 4:30 A.M. April 12, and going into the afternoon on April 13 before Robert Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter.

Source: Author unclereed19

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