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Civil War Navies Trivia Quiz

Questions about the Civil War at sea and on rivers - a side of the war often ignored but vital to the survival of the Confederacy in the face of the Union blockade.

A multiple-choice quiz by mroyd. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mroyd

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
22,163

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
1848

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Which was the world's first warship to carry its guns in a rotating turret? Hint

USS New Ironsides

HMS Warrior

CSS Virginia

USS Monitor

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Question 2 of 15

2. Who designed the Monitor? Hint

John Dahlgren

John Porter

John Ericsson

James Eads

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Question 3 of 15

3. In March 1862, at Hampton Roads, which US warship did the CSS Virginia actually sink? Hint

USS Roanoke

USS Monitor

USS Cumberland

USS Minnesota

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Question 4 of 15

4. The CSS Virginia, which fought the USS Monitor, was built using the hull of which US steam frigate? Hint

USS Montauk

USS Massachusetts

USS Merrimack

USS Mississippi

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Question 5 of 15

5. The CSS Virginia, at Hampton Roads, and the CSS Tennessee, at Mobile Bay in August 1864, were both commanded by the same man - who? Hint

Raphael Semmes

Franklin Buchanan

James Waddell

John Taylor Wood

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Question 6 of 15

6. Relations between the US and Britain were damaged in 1861, when the USS San Jacinto forcibly abducted two Confederate diplomats from which British steamer? Hint

Severn

Mersey

Thames

Trent

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Question 7 of 15

7. Stephen Mallory (Confederate) and Gideon Welles (Union) performed the same duty for their respective sides - what was it? Hint

Commandant of Marines

Admiral

Secretary of the Navy

Ship Designer

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Question 8 of 15

8. In June 1863, which harbor in Maine was daringly attacked by Confederate Lieutenant Charles W. Read? Hint

Camden

Jonesport

Bath

Portland

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Question 9 of 15

9. What were 'Pook's Turtles'? Hint

Submarines

Bomb-carrying reptiles

Floating Mortars

Ironclad riverboats

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Question 10 of 15

10. Who was the agent who had several warships secretly built for the Confederacy in Europe? Hint

R.B. Pegram

James North

Stephen Bulloch

Matthew Maury

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Question 11 of 15

11. In June 1864, the USS Kearsarge sank the CSS Alabama outside which French port? Hint

Nantes

Le Havre

Brest

Cherbourg

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Question 12 of 15

12. The ironclads CSS Chicora, and CSS Palmetto State, defended which Southern port from 1862 until the end of the War? Hint

Savannah

Charleston

Galveston

Wilmington

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Question 13 of 15

13. Which warship did the Confederate submarine Hunley sink? Hint

USS Hatteras

USS Hartford

USS Houston

USS Housatonic

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Question 14 of 15

14. When US Admiral Farragut said 'Damn the torpedos, full steam ahead' at the Battle of Mobile Bay, what was he talking about? Hint

Rockets

Submarines

Floating Mines

Armour-piercing shells

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which commerce raider surrendered in November 1865, the last Confederate unit to do so? Hint

CSS Georgia

CSS Florida

CSS Stonewall

CSS Shenandoah

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which was the world's first warship to carry its guns in a rotating turret?

Answer: USS Monitor

The New Ironsides was an ironclad but carried its guns broadside-fashion; the Warrior was an ironclad and the world's most powerful warship in 1861.

2. Who designed the Monitor?

Answer: John Ericsson

3. In March 1862, at Hampton Roads, which US warship did the CSS Virginia actually sink?

Answer: USS Cumberland

The Minnesota went aground in the battle.

4. The CSS Virginia, which fought the USS Monitor, was built using the hull of which US steam frigate?

Answer: USS Merrimack

5. The CSS Virginia, at Hampton Roads, and the CSS Tennessee, at Mobile Bay in August 1864, were both commanded by the same man - who?

Answer: Franklin Buchanan

Semmes was the famous captain of the Alabama, and Waddell captained the Shenandoah.

6. Relations between the US and Britain were damaged in 1861, when the USS San Jacinto forcibly abducted two Confederate diplomats from which British steamer?

Answer: Trent

The Confederates were delighted; they hoped the incident would provoke Great Britain into joining their cause.

7. Stephen Mallory (Confederate) and Gideon Welles (Union) performed the same duty for their respective sides - what was it?

Answer: Secretary of the Navy

8. In June 1863, which harbor in Maine was daringly attacked by Confederate Lieutenant Charles W. Read?

Answer: Portland

9. What were 'Pook's Turtles'?

Answer: Ironclad riverboats

Pook, an Army officer, was responsible for these vessels, which were instrumental in the Union gaining control of the Western waterways.

10. Who was the agent who had several warships secretly built for the Confederacy in Europe?

Answer: Stephen Bulloch

North was given the same job, but was useless at it, and he seemed to have been an expensively-funded tourist.

11. In June 1864, the USS Kearsarge sank the CSS Alabama outside which French port?

Answer: Cherbourg

12. The ironclads CSS Chicora, and CSS Palmetto State, defended which Southern port from 1862 until the end of the War?

Answer: Charleston

13. Which warship did the Confederate submarine Hunley sink?

Answer: USS Housatonic

The Hunley's crew drowned in the attack - as had three whole crews during the Hunley's preparation.

14. When US Admiral Farragut said 'Damn the torpedos, full steam ahead' at the Battle of Mobile Bay, what was he talking about?

Answer: Floating Mines

The torpedo as we understand it, was first built in 1866.

15. Which commerce raider surrendered in November 1865, the last Confederate unit to do so?

Answer: CSS Shenandoah

Under Captain James Waddell, she had sailed right round the globe, traveling 58,000 miles.

Source: Author mroyd

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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