Who Did I Just Meet? (time travel) Online Quiz | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I met this prominent Confederate at the Brockenbrough House. President Zachary Taylor had remarked about him "My daughter, sir, was a better judge of men than I was". Whom did I meet?

Answer: Jefferson Davis

While on frontier duty as a junior officer of the US Army, Jefferson Davis fell madly in love with Taylor's daughter, Sarah Knox Taylor, and asked Taylor his permission for their marriage, but he refused. Davis subsequently resigned and married the girl, despite Taylor's opposition.

They went to live at the "Hurricane", Joseph Davis' (Jefferson's elder brother's) house. Unfortunately, both of them contracted malaria. Sarah died, while Jefferson's health improved after months. The phrase was spoken by Taylor when he observed Davis' bravery at the battlefield of Buena Vista, where he led the charge that broke the Mexican lines.

2. I am now watching a man making a speech to the CSA Senate. Although I cannot see him clearly, I remember that he had said that the only blood shed in the Civil War "could be wiped up with a handkerchief". Who did I meet?

Answer: LeRoy Pope Walker

LeRoy Pope Walker was the first Confederate States Secretary of War. He was an Alabamian born in 1817 in Huntsville and was grandson of LeRoy Pope. A lawyer by profession, an ardent supporter of secession, but with no military training, he received the appointment but was unpopular and overconfident, as expressed by the handkerchief statement.

After resigning due to the strain of his job, he was transferred to the CSA Army, initially as a brigadier general and subsequently as a military judge. He died in 1884.

3. After exiting the Senate chamber, along with other spectators, I stumble upon the only member of the Confederate Government that opposed General Lee's proposal for a Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania. Who did I meet?

Answer: John Henniger Reagan

John Henniger Reagan was a Texan. He was the first and only Confederate States postmaster general. Late in the war, when the CS Secretary of Treasury George Trenholm resigned, Jefferson Davis appointed Reagan to the task. Reagan was captured along with Davis and Francis Lubbock, Confederate Texas Governor, on May 10, 1865, at Irwinville, Georgia. He died in 1905.

4. I am now in a bar, not far from the center of the city. A man enters and sits beside me. While enjoying our drinks, he tells me that firing on Fort Sumter was suicidal for the Confederacy. I do not remember his name clearly, but I know that Jacob Clawson said that he "could not balance his volatile personality with his otherwise keen political skill". Whom did I meet?

Answer: Robert Toombs

Robert Toombs was one of the founding fathers of the CSA. He was a champion for secession in his native Georgia. He was the first Secretary of State of the Confederacy. Because of his disagreements with Jefferson Davis, he joined the military. He distinguished himself in the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), when he repulsed three assaults launched by US General Ambrose Burnside.

After the war, he returned to Georgia where he died in 1885, blinded and with his health shattered by alcoholism.

5. After finishing my meal, I went for a walk. Walking down Ninth Street, I meet the man who commanded the Richmond Howitzers Battalion at the Battle of Big Bethel. He was a grandson of Thomas Jefferson and, for most of 1862, he served as CS Secretary of War. Whom did I meet?

Answer: George Wythe Randolph

Randolph was Thomas Jefferson's grandson from his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph. In Virginia's Secession Convention in 1861 he was a staunch secessionist. As CS Secretary of War, he was effective in coordinating the defenses of his nation. He also passed the Conscription Act of 1862. He resigned his seat due to tuberculosis. He died in 1867.

6. As I am passing through Main Street, I meet the commander of the 20th North Carolina Infantry, who received his commission directly from Jefferson Davis. His name has slipped from my mind, but I know that, three years later, he will capture Union General Stoneman in Macon, Georgia. Who did I meet?

Answer: Alfred Iverson

Alfred Iverson distinguished himself early in the war, especially at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, on June 27, 1862, where he captured a Union battery. However, he became gradually ineffective, especially at Gettysburg, where his men were ambushed by Union soldiers.

He was accused of being drunk and was transferred to Georgia, where he captured Stoneman, but was unable to keep up the good work. He died in 1911.

7. I am now in the center of the city. I am sitting on a bench and observe a man passing by me. What a coincidence! On that very moment I am reading in Douglas Freeman's biography of Robert E. Lee, which I brought with me that, after the battle of Sayler's Creek, April 6, 1865, he was relieved of command, but the order didn't reach him. Who did I meet?

Answer: George Pickett

Pickett was a general in the CSA Army, most is remembered for participating in the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge at Gettysburg. He is also known for enjoying a shad bake on April 1, 1865, while his troops were struggling to maintain their position at Five Forks.

Some say that before surrendering at Appomattox and seeing Pickett, Robert E. Lee remarked, "Is that man still with this army"? He died in 1875.

8. As I rise from the bench I am sitting on, I notice that next to me is walking the man who, at First Manassas (Bull Run) commanded the 2nd Company of the "Washington Artillery". He would be later known as "the Saviour of the Valley". Who did I meet?

Answer: Thomas Rosser

Rosser was famous since early in the war, because he shot down an observation balloon of US General George McClellan. He was a daring partisan, whose raids brought much consternation among Federal commanders in West Virginia. He was also humorous, for example, on the eve of the battle of Tom's Brook, where he remarked on General Custer : "That's General Custer, the Yanks are so proud of, and I intend to give him the best whipping today that he ever got".

He died in 1910.

9. By now, I am almost leaving the city for going to the suburbs. I notice the commander of the 12th Georgia, on the move to rejoin his regiment. He will accompany Robert E. Lee in West Virginia where he will receive the nickname "Allegheny". Who did I meet?

Answer: Edward Johnson

Edward Johnson commanded the 12th Georgia until the Battle of McDowell, on May 8, 1862, where he was wounded. After Chancellorsville, he was promoted to major general and was given command of the Stonewall Division. He contributed amazingly to the Confederate victory at the Second Battle of Winchester.

After the war, he was accused of being involved in Lincoln's assassination, but was found not guilty. He died in 1873.

10. I have almost reached my time machine, when I hear the 1st Maryland (CSA) training nearby. I try to deduce who is their commander, but I only remember that he succeeded Arnold Elzey after 1st Manassas (Bull Run), he was a strict disciplinarian and that, at the 1st Battle of Winchester, General Ewell was surprised by his "tardiness". Who did I meet?

Answer: George Steuart

Steuart was an ardent secessionist and actively promoted the secession of his native Maryland. He was wounded at the battle of Cross Keys, on June 8, 1862. When his regiment crossed the Potomac to Maryland during the Gettysburg Campaign, he was reported kissing the ground in jubilation.

After the war, he served as president of the Maryland division of United Confederate Veterans. He died in 1903.

Source: Author DeepHistory

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

Who Did I Just Meet? (time travel) Quiz

My time machine transported me at Richmond, the year being 1861. During my journey, I met ten prominent Confederates. Can you identify them? Good luck and have fun!

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>