They Were Soldiers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Braxton Bragg

Braxton Bragg was born on March 22, 1817. He served in the Mexican War. At the Battle of Buena Vista, Zachary Taylor, commanding general and future U.S. President, allegedly told him "A little more grape, Captain Bragg" (what he really said was "Captain, give 'em hell"). In 1856, he went to live in Louisiana as a sugar planter.
In 1861, he offered his services to the Confederacy. He was initially assigned to Florida, where he fought in the battle of Santa Rosa Island, late in 1861. In 1862, he was placed under General Albert Sidney Johnston and fought in Shiloh. After the death of General Johnston and the departure of his successor, General Beauregard, to restore his health, Bragg was appointed commander of the Army of Tennessee.
His first campaign was an expedition into Kentucky. Although Bragg had told Richmond he was going to occupy the state permanently, his expedition was merely a giant raid. Although he earned a tactical victory at the Battle of Perryville, he retreated to his base.
He also commanded his troops in the bloody battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River), from December 31, 1862 to January 3, 1863. His persistence to attack strong US positions resulted in unnecessary Confederate casualties and criticism from his subordinates.
Later in 1863, Bragg, with the help of reinforcements from the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of James Longstreet, won the Battle of Chickamauga, albeit after heavy casualties on his part. Later, he was surprised and defeated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Despite their long friendship, President Davis relieved him of command.

Answer: Leonidas Polk

Alongside his superior, Braxton Bragg, Bishop Polk is one of the most controversial Confederate Generals. He is widely blamed for sending troops to occupy the city of Columbus, Kentucky, thus ending the state's attempt at neutrality and resulting in the Federal occupation of Kentucky, although Polk did it in response to Federal plans concerning the occupation of the city, winning a race against Union general Ulysses S. Grant. After the Kentucky Campaign of 1862, Polk petitioned Richmond, asking the removal of General Braxton Bragg from command. Bragg was retained and the enmity between them was strengthened. Polk served in all the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee until 1864, when he was killed in the Battle of Marietta, during the Atlanta Campaign. Whatever his shortcomings as a military leader, Polk was a great morale-lifter for the Army, helping the soldiers endure the hardships and difficulties of the war.

Answer: Daniel Harvey Hill

D. H. Hill was born in 1821. In 1861, upon North Carolina's secession, he was appointed to command the 1st North Carolina Infantry, which he led in the Battle of Big Bethel. He also served in the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days' Battles. In the Maryland Campaign, in September 1862, Hill and his command fought valiantly at South Mountain, allowing General Lee change his base to Sharpsburg without being harassed by the Federals. On September 17, 1862 he fought at the Sunken Road phase of the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), where he managed to throw back the Union onslaughts and hold the center of Lee's line. Yet, Hill was blamed for the discovery of General Lee's battle plans by the Federals, with a rumor circulating that Hill had received two copies of it, of which one went astray, but Hill vehemently denied it. After Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, conflict arose between Hill and General Lee. Hill was angry he was not given corps command after Stonewall Jackson's death, in the subsequent reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia.

After the Gettysburg Campaign, he was sent west, to the Army of Tennessee. There he contributed to the Confederate victory at Chickamauga but later turned against his superior, Braxton Bragg, because off the latter's failure to exploit the victory properly. President Davis went to resolve the dispute, and it was in Bragg's favor. Afterwards, Hill played no important role in military actions.

Answer: Robert F. Hoke

Robert F. Hoke was born in 1837. Upon his native state's secession, Hoke enlisted in the military, being quickly promoted to Captain. Hoke's conduct at the Battle of Big Bethel earned him the esteem of his superiors. In early 1862, he was given command of the 33rd North Carolina Infantry, which he led with distinction in the Peninsula, Northern Virginia and Maryland Campaigns. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, he served in the division of General Jubal Early, helping him repulse a Union attack by George Meade's Pennsylvanians. At the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, Hoke was wounded while defending his position.
In early 1864, he resumed his old command, achieving his Plymouth triumph. He was later called back to Virginia, in time for Cold Harbor.
In December, 1864, Hoke was sent back in North Carolina, participating in the defense of Fort Fisher against the Yankees. He also fought at Bentonville, the last hurrah of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, where he stopped several Federal attacks before the Union's numerical superiority had the final word.

Answer: William Dorsey Pender

William Dorsey Pender was born in 1834. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army. After his promotion to brigadier, Pender fought valiantly in the Seven Days, being slightly wounded at Glendale. He also fought at Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas, in all of them under A.P. Hill. At Second Manassas, he was again wounded, this time in the head. He also led his brigade at Harpers Ferry and Sharpsburg (Antietam), where he and Hill arrived at the nick of time to prevent the collapse of General Lee's right flank.
At Fredericksburg, Pender was again wounded in the left arm, but continued leading his brigade, no matter the blood pouring from his wound. At Chancellorsville, after the woundings of Stonewall Jackson and A.P Hill, Pender assumed command of Hill's division, being again wounded in the arm in the last day of the battle.
At the fist day of Gettysburg, Pender helped push the Federals back through the town. On the second day, his division attacked Cemetery Hill, where he was wounded mortally. He was forced to turn over command to a brigadier, James Henry Lane, and as a result the attack lost momentum and didn't break the Union lines. Pender was evacuated to Staunton, Virginia. On July 18, 1863, an artery was ruptured in his wounded leg. A surgeon amputated the leg, but couldn't prevent the general's death. Pender was sorely missed by his superiors for the remainder of the war.

Answer: Stephen Dodson Ramseur

Stephen Dodson Ramseur was born in 1837. He enlisted in the Confederate States Army even before the secession of his native state. In the Peninsula Campaign, his charge at Malvern Hill impressed General Robert E. Lee. There he was wounded and returned only after the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). Despite the fact that he had missed many battles, General Lee promoted him to brigadier general.
At Chancellorsville, Ramseur's brigade was the leading one of Stonewall Jackson's flank attack. Ramseur's performance so thoroughly impressed Major General J.E.B. Stuart, in temporary command of Jackson's corps after Stonewall himself was wounded, that Stuart recommended Ramseur be promoted to major general.
On the first day of Gettysburg, Ramseur attacked the flank of the Union First Corps, close to Oak Hill, but was forced to halt his march close to Cemetery Hill, under orders of his superiors, especially Lieutenant General Richard Stoddert Ewell.
He also played an important part in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. On May 12, 1864, at the "Bloody Angle", he fiercely contested the Federal advances, refusing to give ground and fighting stubbornly for 20 hours. Later, he was promoted to major general.
Ramseur fought in Jubal Early's Valley Campaigns of 1864, being mortally wouned at the last of the battles of it, Cedar Creek. His superior, Jubal Early, wrote this on Ramseur: "Major-General Ramseur fell into the hands of the enemy mortally wounded, and in him not only my command, but the country suffered a heavy loss. He was a most gallant and energetic officer whom no disaster appalled, but his courage and energy seemed to gain new strength in the midst of confusion and disorder. He fell at his post fighting like a lion at bay, and his native State has reason to be proud of his memory."

Answer: Lewis Addison Armistead

Lewis Addison Armistead was born in 1817. Upon the start of the Civil War, he offered his services to the Confederate States of America. He fought as a brigadier at the Seven Days, chosen by General Robert E. Lee to lead the assault at Malvern Hill. He also fought at Second Manassas (Bull Run) and Sharpsburg (Antietam).

He saw little service at Fredericksburg and missed Chancellorsville, like the majority of James Longstreet's First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Armistead is best known for his gallant conduct at Gettysburg on Day 3, during the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble charge.

He led his men to the "Angle", the target of the assault, waving his had on his saber. He shouted to his soldiers to give the Yankees cold steel. He was mortally wounded while leading his troops and, after a Federal counterattack, his brigade was forced to retreat. Armistead was expected to survive, because none of his wounds caused bone or artery damage, but secondary fever and prostration were a formidable enemy the general couldn't face.

Answer: James Johnston Pettigrew

James Johnston Pettigrew was born in 1828. In the age of 15, he joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he excelled in math, languages, fencing and boxing. He received praise from US President James K. Polk for his achievements. In adulthood, Pettigrew moved to South Carolina to work with his uncle in the latter's law firm.
In 1860, after the secession of South Carolina, Pettigrew enlisted in the military, joining the Hampton Legion. At the Battle of Seven Pines, a Minie ball shattered his shoulder, throat and windpipe, a bayonet hit his right leg and his left arm received a shot. Pettigrew forbade his soldiers to risk their lives by carrying him to the rear, believing he would die anyway. He lived and was captured, spending two months as a prisoner. After his exchange and recovery, Pettigrew was given command of a brigade in D.H. Hill's division.
In the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia after Chancellorsville, Pettigrew's brigade was assigned in Henry Heth's division, A.P. Hill's Corps.
At the first day of Gettysburg, Pettigrew's men clashed with the Iron Brigade and drove the Federals from McPherson's Ridge. After Heth's wounding, Pettigrew assumed command of the division.
He led it at the third day of the battle, during the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge. Pettigrew's horse was shot down under him, but he continued on foot. He received a wound in his hand by canister fire, but refused to live his men. When it became obvious that the assault would not succeed, Pettigrew went for the rear.
During the retreat to Virginia, Pettigrew continued to command the division. At the Battle of Falling Waters, also known as Battle of Williamsport, Pettigrew was wounded again, but refused to be left behind and e taken captive by the Federals.
He died some days later in Bunker Hill, in what is now West Virginia.

Answer: Robert Daniel Johnston

Robert Daniel Johnston was born in 1837. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army, with the rank of captain. In early 1862 he was given command of the 12th North Carolina Infantry. He fought in the Maryland Campaign, at South Mountain and Sharpsburg (Antietam). He fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
After Gettysburg, he was given the brigade of Alfred Iverson, Jr. to command. His performance at Spotsylvania was pivotal in preventing Hancock's breakthrough.
In August, 1864, he and his brigade went with Jubal Early in his Valley Campaign. Johnston saw combat at Third Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, all valiant stands by Early against the much bigger force of Union general Philip H. Sheridan.

Answer: He was the first enlisted Confederate soldier to get killed.

Private Henry Lawson Wyatt was killed in the Battle of Big Bethel, on June 10, 1861. He and some of his comrades had volunteered to burn the house from where Union artillery was firing at the Confederate positions. Yet, Union fire stopped them and they ducked to the ground. Wyatt was killed, but the others escaped. Soon, Major George W. Randolph and the Richmond Howitzers Battalion destroyed the house with artillery fire. Although Wyatt was the first *enlisted* Confederate to be killed, a Confederate officer, John Quincy Marr, had been killed ten days earlier, in the Battle of Fairfax Court House.