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Quiz about American Civil War  From Cabin Boys to Generals
Quiz about American Civil War  From Cabin Boys to Generals

American Civil War - From Cabin Boys to Generals Quiz


The Medal of Honor was the only medal authorized by Congress during the Civil War. For this reason, many Medals of Honor were awarded for acts of bravery that would not meet the standards of today. More than 40% of the recipients fought in the Civil War.
This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author 168ENG.

A multiple-choice quiz by ncterp. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
ncterp
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
23,584
Updated
May 21 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
321
Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (3/10), Guest 73 (4/10), Guest 174 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Did the Confederate States of America award Medals of Honor during the Civil War?


Question 2 of 10
2. Of the 2,300 chaplains who served with the Union Army, only 4 received the Medal of Honor. One was known as "The Angel of Stone's River". The Battle of Stone's River occurred on New Year's Eve, 1862. Where is Stone's River? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading his New York brigade in a charge during which he lost his right arm. Howard was a staunch abolitionist. He founded a university that bears his name, Howard University. Where is Howard University? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. William Appleton enlisted in the Union Army at age 19. He fought through First and Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, the Peninsula Campaign and Gettysburg, after which he joined a newly formed unit, the 4th U.S. Colored Infantry as a Second Lieutenant. He received his medal for valor at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. What campaign was this battle a part of? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. One of the youngest Medal of Honor recipients was 14-year-old John Anglin (sometimes spelled Angling). He was a cabin boy aboard the side-wheel gunboat USS Pontoosuc. His ship was part of a squadron which attacked Confederate Fort Fisher in January 1865. Where is Fort Fisher? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Even into the 21st century, there was only one woman to receive the Medal of Honor. She was a Union Army surgeon, woman's rights activist, abolitionist, spy, and prisoner of war. Who was this courageous woman? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. A majority of the Medals of Honor awarded by the Union army during the Civil War were issued for what one particular act of courage? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. How many stars were in the Confederate flag that was carried into battle? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Sergeant William Carney was the first black soldier to win the Medal of Honor. He was attached to an all-black regiment that was portrayed in the 1989 movie "Glory". What was the name of the regiment? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Samuel Robertson was a 19-year-old private who received the Medal of Honor for being 1 of 22 men to take part in a daring raid deep in enemy territory. He has the distinction of being the first American soldier to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously. What name was given to the raid that took place at Big Shanty, Georgia, in 1862? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Did the Confederate States of America award Medals of Honor during the Civil War?

Answer: No

It was not until 1977 that the Sons of Confederate Veterans created the Confederate Medal of Honor. In 1862, Confederate President Jefferson Davis signed a law authorizing medals for courage on the battlefield. However, none was issued because General Robert E. Lee refused to award individual citations for valor and instead mentioned noteworthy performances.
2. Of the 2,300 chaplains who served with the Union Army, only 4 received the Medal of Honor. One was known as "The Angel of Stone's River". The Battle of Stone's River occurred on New Year's Eve, 1862. Where is Stone's River?

Answer: near Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The Battle of Stone's River was fought near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Chaplain John Whitehead wrote in his diary that virtually half of his regiment had been killed or wounded that day. Chaplain Whitehead disregarded the shot and shells flying all about and worked to evacuate the wounded and dying to the rear.

The U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School presents the John M. Whitehead Award to the student earning the top score on the Army Physical Fitness Test and demonstrating mental and physical toughness throughout the course.
3. Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading his New York brigade in a charge during which he lost his right arm. Howard was a staunch abolitionist. He founded a university that bears his name, Howard University. Where is Howard University?

Answer: Washington, DC

General Howard founded Howard University on 3 acres of land in Washington, DC in 1867. It educated 150,000 freed slaves. But he later led a massacre of women and children belonging to the Nez Perce tribe because they wouldn't move to a reservation. General Howard was certainly an enigma. He was extremely pious but followed orders to the letter.

Howard today produces more black doctorates than any other university. Alumni include Toni Morrison, Andrew Young, Kamala Harris and Thurgood Marshall.
4. William Appleton enlisted in the Union Army at age 19. He fought through First and Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, the Peninsula Campaign and Gettysburg, after which he joined a newly formed unit, the 4th U.S. Colored Infantry as a Second Lieutenant. He received his medal for valor at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. What campaign was this battle a part of?

Answer: Petersburg Campaign

Lt. Appleton's citation reads, "The first man of the Eighteenth Corps to enter the enemy's works at Petersburg, Va., 15 June 1864. Valiant service in a desperate assault at New Market Heights, Va., inspiring the Union troops by his example of steady courage". The Battle of Chaffin's Farm and the Battle of New Market Heights were part of the Petersburg Campaign.
5. One of the youngest Medal of Honor recipients was 14-year-old John Anglin (sometimes spelled Angling). He was a cabin boy aboard the side-wheel gunboat USS Pontoosuc. His ship was part of a squadron which attacked Confederate Fort Fisher in January 1865. Where is Fort Fisher?

Answer: Wilmington, North Carolina

One of the cabin boy's duties was to carry gunpowder to the gun deck. Although his citation is ambiguous, he most likely received the award for carrying out this duty while under fire at such a ripe young age.

Wilmington was a major port for the South. Fort Fisher is located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
6. Even into the 21st century, there was only one woman to receive the Medal of Honor. She was a Union Army surgeon, woman's rights activist, abolitionist, spy, and prisoner of war. Who was this courageous woman?

Answer: Mary Edwards Walker

Mary Edwards Walker was not initially allowed to serve as a medical officer because she was a woman. At the time, the army had no female surgeons, so Walker was only allowed to practice as a nurse.

In 1863, the Army finally allowed her to practice as a surgeon. Walker often crossed battle lines to care for soldiers and civilians. In April 1864, Walker had just finished helping a Confederate doctor with a surgery when she was captured by Confederate troops as a spy. She was held as a prisoner of war for four months. While imprisoned, she refused to wear the women's clothes provided to her. She wore men's clothes her entire life because they were more comfortable and hygienic.

After the war, Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson.

In 1916, the Medal of Honor was taken away from Walker and many others after the government reviewed their eligibility. Although she was given the award by the president, she did not meet the requirements to qualify for the award because she was a civilian. However, this did not stop Walker from wearing her award until her death in 1919.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter legally restored the Medal of Honor to Walker's name.
7. A majority of the Medals of Honor awarded by the Union army during the Civil War were issued for what one particular act of courage?

Answer: saving the regimental/battle flag(s)

The regimental/battle flags were of utmost importance as they acted as the rallying point for troops scattered across a battlefield. When a flagbearer went down, it was seen as an act of bravery for another soldier to pick it up and rally the troops around it.
8. How many stars were in the Confederate flag that was carried into battle?

Answer: Thirteen

Thirteen stars, representing each seceded state and the secession government of Kentucky and Missouri. The original Confederate flag had only one star on a blue background and was called the Bonnie Blue Flag.
9. Sergeant William Carney was the first black soldier to win the Medal of Honor. He was attached to an all-black regiment that was portrayed in the 1989 movie "Glory". What was the name of the regiment?

Answer: 54th Massachusetts Infantry

Born into slavery, Carney, at the age of 14, attended a secret school where he learned to read and write. Emancipated when his owner died, he moved to Bedford, Massachusetts.

Carney voluntarily joined the 54th Massachusetts Infantry which was an all-black unit commanded by white officers.

The assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, would be the first real test of these young black, Union soldiers. When the soldier carrying the colors fell, Sergeant Carney threw his rifle aside and grasped the colors before they touched the ground.

Amid the cheers of his battered comrades, Sergeant Carney finally reached safety. Before collapsing among them from his many wounds his only words were, "Boys, I only did my duty. The flag never touched the ground."
10. Samuel Robertson was a 19-year-old private who received the Medal of Honor for being 1 of 22 men to take part in a daring raid deep in enemy territory. He has the distinction of being the first American soldier to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously. What name was given to the raid that took place at Big Shanty, Georgia, in 1862?

Answer: The Great Locomotive Chase

Robertson and his comrades commandeered a train in Big Shanty, Georgia, nearly 200 miles into enemy territory and took it northward toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) line from Atlanta to Chattanooga as they went. They were pursued by Confederate forces at first on foot, and later on a succession of locomotives.

Because the raiders had cut the telegraph wires, the Confederates could not send warnings ahead to forces along the railway.

All of the raiders were enlisted men. Of the raiders, 6 were hanged as spies, 7 escaped, and 6 were exchanged. Two others enlisted in Confederate units. Robertson was one of those hanged.

A feature film entitled "The Great Locomotive Chase" (1956) starring Fess Parker was also based on these exploits.
Source: Author ncterp

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