Gettysburg : 3rd July 1863 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Pickett studied law with his uncle in Illinois. He met Lincoln in the 1840's. Lincoln in turn took a liking to the young Pickett and gave some advice for the young West Point Cadet on his departure to the academy.

Answer: Cadmus Wilcox

Wilcox commanded a brigade that attacked the Union position on Cemetery Ridge on the evening of 2 July. He was held in reserve for Pickett on 3 July and not a member of Pickett's Division.

Answer: Isaac Trimble

Trimble, without formal command of any unit at the beginning of the Gettysburg campaign led Pender's division after Pender was mortally wounded earlier in the battle.

Answer: Second Corps

Scott commanded the Second Corps on 3 July until he was wounded on the field of battle.

Answer: G.J. Stannard

The Second Vermont Brigade, under Stannard executed a crucial flanking maneuver against Kemper's Brigade on the Confederate right which caught the Confederates in a vicious firestorm and helped repulse Pickett's Charge.

Answer: Joseph R. Davis

Joseph R. Davis, from Mississippi, the President's nephew commanded a brigade in Heth's Division of Hill's Corps and new to the Army of Northern Virginia.

Answer: Wisconsin

Cushing was only twenty-one at the time of Pickett's Charge. He was a promising young artillery officer whose life was cut short from multiple wounds while pouring double cannister into the oncoming Confederate ranks near the Copse of Trees on Cemetery Ridge.

Answer: Bliss Farm

The Bliss Farm was a sore spot for the men on Cemetery Ridge. Confederate sharpshooters pestered the Union soldiers throughout the morning. General Hays sent the 13th New Jersey regiment to capture the barn. They were successful initially, but had to retreat because of the proximity to the Confederate lines. The barn was later captured and torched by the men from Connnecticut.

Answer: Frank Haskell

Frank Haskell was omnipresent on 3 July on Cemetery Ridge passing information between units and helping to rally troops. For his service he was given command of the newly raised 36th Wisconsin regiment with the rank of colonel.

Answer: Emmitsburg Road

The Emmitsburg Road continues south into Emmitsburg, Maryland. The road was not a major obstacle to advancing Confederate forces, however it was the last point before the upward slope of Cemetery Ridge.

Answer: He bowed his head in silence

Longstreet objected all morning long to Lee's plan of battle. He was reluctant to send Pickett into an attack that he thought would fail. When it came time to advance the troops he could barely speak.

Answer: 12,000

The actual number has been debated for the last 140 years. However, the accepted figure of 12,000 is used by most historians of the Civil War. However, some have placed the figure as high as 15,000 and as low as 6,500-7,000.

Answer: James L. Kemper

Kemper, who had served in the Virginia legislature before the war, was so seriously wounded during the charge that most felt he would die. He made a near miraculous recovery and returned to his old political stomping grounds after the war.

Answer: Falling Waters

Pettigrew, a brilliant and learned North Carolinian was in command of troops in Lee's rear guard as it crossed the Potomac into Virginia.

Answer: Robert E. Lee

Lee's remark clearly demonstrated what the General thought of Pickett in the last days of the Army of Northern Virginia. Perhaps Pickett's absence at a shad-bake during the Battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865 further sealed his fate alongside his defeat at Gettysburg on 3 July 1863.