Virginia in the American Civil War Quiz

Answer: 7

Initially, the Old Dominion did not want to severe ties with the Union. But the tide turned when Abraham Lincoln declared war on the Confederate States. Virginia did not want to fight her fellow Southerners and it seceded.

Answer: April 17, 1861

Virginia voters ratified the ordinance after one month. Meanwhile, Lincoln had orderd the Union Navy to blockade Virginia and North Carolina, thus tipping the scales and leading to public acceptance of the Ordinance of secession in an overwhelming majority.

Answer: John Letcher

Letcher was a staunch secessionist and very loyal to his home state. He was a talented politician and an impressive lawyer. Pierpoint was a unionist and, during Reconstruction, he acted as Governor of the State, despite having not been elected. Carlisle was a member of the Senate in 1861. William "Extra Billy" Smith had been Governor and later became a Confederate general.

Answer: Robert E. Lee

General Lee received his first assignment as a Confederate General and did a very creditable job. "Stonewall" Jackson was a colonel up to this time and had not received even his famoys moniker. Beauregard was commanding the defenses of Charleston Harbor and later he commanded the Confederate Army of the Potomac at First Manassas. Johnston had not received an assignmemt.

Answer: William Smith and John B. Floyd

All of them were Virginia governors during the 19th century. Both William Smith and Floyd became Confederate generals. Fitz Lee became Governor after the war, as did also Henry Wells. Patrick Henry had indeed been a Virginia Governor, but both of the pairs in which he is included are incorrect.

Answer: Fitz Lee and James Kemper

All of them - except Henry - were Confederate generals. Wise and Floyd had been Governors before the war. William Smith had his second term as Governor after the war, but the pair is incorrect. Fitz Lee was Robert E. Lee's nephew, a cavalry general throughout the war, while Kemper had been disabled at Gettysburg during Pickett's Charge.

Answer: James Longstreet

Lee's "old War Horse" was from South Carolina. George Pickett became famous from his charge at Gettysburg. John Pegram was a capable and talented infantry commander. Finally, Ewell was Stonewall Jackson's successor in command of the Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

Answer: May

Richmond was the CS capital for the duration of the war. The most important city of the Confederacy, it was skillfully defended by Robert E. Lee till April of 1865. Its fall signaled the collapse of the Confederacy.

Answer: Tredegar Iron Works

In fact, none of the other suggested companies existed. Tredegar Iron Works was the only industrial factory kept under Confederate control during the war. Some historians say it was comparable to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Answer: First Military District under John Schofield

The other suggestions are completely incorrect. Schofield commanded the District for five years. O.O. Howard was the unforunate commander of the XI Corps, Army of the Potomac, at Chancellorsville. Godfrey Weitzel was the Federal general who built observation towers during the Siege of Petersburg. E.O.C. Ord was a cavalry commander. Some say that Lincoln had an affair with his wife.