Wisconsin in the Civil War Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ripon

If you look very, very carefully at the image, you might be forgiven for getting the impression that Ripon is rather enthusiastic about its claim to fame. The small town very much likes to brag that it helped give birth to a major political party, and in this case the bragging is mostly justified. On February 28, 1854, a group of anti-slavery Whigs, "Free Soilers", and unhappy Democrats met in a church in Ripon to protest the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

That law threatened to allow slavery to expand into new territories, which did not sit well with people who thought that the country should be abolishing it, not expanding it. They met again on March 20 at the Little White Schoolhouse (pictured), where discussions about a new political party took place. Alvan E. Bovay advanced the idea to call it the "Republican Party", and the name stuck.

Now, historians will tell you that the Republican Party did not spring fully formed from that one meeting like an ideological Athena. Similar gatherings were happening in other states around the same time, and the party coalesced more gradually over the next year. Don't tell the people of Ripon that, though. In fairness, it definitely earned its place in history by being one of the earliest sparks, and the town has leaned heavily into that legacy with historical markers, plaques, and a strong dose of civic pride.

Answer: Alexander Randall

Alexander Randall was our Wisconsin governor who wasted no time once the Civil War officially began. After the fall of Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers, Randall went a step further and urged additional Wisconsin militia units to prepare for service, even beyond what the federal government initially requested. His response was fast, aggressive, and rooted in the belief that the conflict would be long and brutal rather than short and symbolic.

Randall had already been a strong opponent of the expansion of slavery, and the secession crisis pushed him headlong into action mode. His early mobilization efforts helped Wisconsin become one of the Union's most reliable sources of troops during the war. By the end of the conflict, the state had sent more than 90,000 men into Union service, a huge contribution for its population at the time.

Answer: The Iron Brigade

The Iron Brigade was one of the most famous and hard-fighting units in the Union Army, instantly recognizable to friend and foe alike by the distinctive black Hardee hats worn by its soldiers. Originally composed largely of Midwestern regiments, including the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin, the brigade earned its nickname through its stubborn and relentless fighting during the early years of the Civil War, particularly in the Eastern Theater.

The name "Iron Brigade" was reportedly earned during the Battle of South Mountain in 1862, when General McClellan and General Hooker praised the brigade's performance, with McClellan reportedly saying "they must be made of iron." Whether or not he really said it exactly that way, the name stuck. The brigade went on to fight in many major battles of the Army of the Potomac, suffering some of the highest casualty rates of any brigade in the war.

Answer: Camp Randall

Camp Randall, located on the western edge of Madison, was the primary training center for Wisconsin troops during the Civil War. It was established in 1861, and named after Governor Alexander Randall. The camp saw more than 70,000 Union soldiers pass through its grounds. Recruits drilled, received equipment, and prepared for service there before being sent to the various fronts of the war.

As the conflict wore on, Camp Randall took on an additional and less celebrated role as a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers. Conditions were harsh, especially during the early days of operation in spring of 1862, when overcrowding and disease led to the deaths of over a hundred prisoners over six weeks, despite the townspeople sending food and supplies. The dead prisoners were buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, in an area known as "Confederates Rest". It's the northernmost Confederate cemetery in the United States.

Answer: Old Abe

Old Abe was the famous bald eagle of the Civil War, carried into battle by the 8th Wisconsin Infantry, becoming one of the most recognizable and unusual mascots of the war. The bird was reportedly captured as a young eaglet by a Native American and later presented to the regiment, which quickly adopted him. Old Abe accompanied the unit into numerous battles, often perched on a special stand near the fighting, flapping and screeching amid musket fire.

The presence of a live bald eagle on the battlefield made an impression on both sides. Union troops took it as a sign of national strength, while Confederate soldiers reportedly derided Old Abe as the "Yankee Buzzard", and shot at the bird, which was seen as a Northern morale-booster. Despite being targeted repeatedly, Old Abe survived the war and became an avian celebrity, touring the country at fairs and veteran events and even meeting presidents.

Answer: Louis P. Harvey

Louis P. Harvey was the gGovernor of Wisconsin who lost his life in April 1862, shortly after the bloody Battle of Shiloh. Harvey had traveled south to personally deliver medical supplies and aid to wounded Wisconsin soldiers aboard a steamer. While attempting to transfer to another steamer near Savannah, Tennessee, he slipped, fell into the Tennessee River between the two ships, and drowned. It took ten days to find his body, which was returned to Madison for burial.

Harvey's death stunned Wisconsin and the broader Union public. He had been in office only a few months, after succeeding Alexander Randall, and was widely respected for his leadership and deep concern for the welfare of Wisconsin troops. His death was seen as an act of selflessness while serving rather than... well, slipping and falling into the Tennessee. Edward Salomon inherited the governorship, becoming the third governor of Wisconsin in under a year.

Answer: Siege of Vicksburg

The Siege of Vicksburg was a major campaign that drew in a number of Wisconsin regiments, including the 8th and 14th Wisconsin Infantry. The campaign took place in 1863 along the Mississippi River and was a grueling combination of movements along the river and wetlands, tactical maneuvering, and a long, punishing siege that sought to crack the Confederacy's control over the Mississippi River. Wisconsin units played active roles throughout the campaign, from the early maneuvers through the final siege of the city.

The 8th Wisconsin, accompanied, of course, by Old Abe the war eagle, and the 14th Wisconsin were part of General Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee along with a number of others. They endured brutal conditions including heat, disease, constant skirmishing, and the monotony and danger of trench warfare as Union forces slowly strangled Vicksburg into surrender. When the city finally submitted on July 4, 1863, it marked one of the most decisive Union victories of the war. The loss stung, and it would be about 80 years before Vicksburg again celebrated the Fourth of July (American Independence Day).

Answer: Lucius Fairchild

It was Colonel Lucius Fairchild (pictured) who lost his left arm (not pictured) during the Battle of Gettysburg and later went on to serve three terms as governor of the state. At the time of the battle, Fairchild was commanding the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry, part of the famed Iron Brigade. He was severely wounded on July 1, 1863, during some of the heaviest fighting of the entire war. Surgeons amputated his arm, an injury that put an end to his service in the field, but his public service was just beginning.

After recovering, Fairchild became a symbol of sacrifice and patriotism in Wisconsin. He served as secretary of state, then was elected governor in 1865, holding the office for three consecutive terms. Known for his passionate speeches and deep loyalty to Union veterans, he remained a major political and social figure for decades. His war injury was never hidden or downplayed and instead became part of his public persona.

Answer: Hans Christian Heg

Hans Christian Heg was the commander of the 15th Wisconsin Infantry, a regiment made up largely of Norwegian immigrants and known proudly as the "Scandinavian Regiment." A Norwegian immigrant himself, Heg was a passionate opponent of slavery and a leading figure in Wisconsin's immigrant communities. When the Civil War broke out, he helped recruit fellow Scandinavians, believing deeply that the Union cause was inseparable from the ideals of freedom that had drawn many of them to America.

Heg was mortally wounded on September 19, 1863, during the Battle of Chickamauga, one of the bloodiest engagements of the war. While leading his men in heavy fighting, he was shot (in the abdomen, according to some sources) and died the following day. His death was a harsh blow to the regiment, which suffered enormous casualties during the battle and lost one of its most respected leaders. Over the years, monuments, statues, and memorials have been erected in his honor, including a prominent statue at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Answer: Arthur MacArthur Jr.

The young Union officer was none other than Lieutenant Arthur MacArthur Jr., who earned the Medal of Honor for extraordinary bravery at the Battle of Missionary Ridge in November 1863. Serving as a lieutenant in the 24th Wisconsin Infantry, he took up the regimental colors after the color bearer was shot down and rallied his men forward under intense fire. His actions helped keep up momentum during one of the most dramatic uphill assaults of the Civil War.

MacArthur's actions at Missionary Ridge became the stuff of legends, and he later rose through the ranks of the U.S. Army, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant general. His military career spanned decades and included service in the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, and as military governor of the Philippines. He was also the father of Douglas MacArthur, who would go on to become one of the most prominent American generals of the 20th century.