FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

April, 1865 Trivia Quiz

April, 1865, was an exceptionally notable month in American history. How many of these events can you identify?

A multiple-choice quiz by lowtechmaster. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
lowtechmaster

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
377,557

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
590

Last 3 plays: Guest 71 (0/10), Guest 73 (7/10), muzzyhill3 (9/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. On April 1, 1865, the South began its final offensive. The Confederate Army was led by General George E. Pickett, the Union Army by General Philip Sheridan. What was the name of the battle, fought near Petersburg, Virginia? Hint

Battle of Five Forks

Second Battle of Bull Run

Battle of Dinwiddie County

Battle of the Southside Railroad

NEXT>

2. April 2, 1865, was a significant one for both the Union and the Confederacy. General Ambrose P. Hill, a Confederate hero, was killed at the Third Battle of Petersburg. What other event occurred? Hint

Lee's depleated forces managed to defeat a Union force led by General Philip Sheridan

The Confederate government abandoned Richmond.

General Sheridan defeated a Confederate force led by General J.E. Johnston

The Confederate Army reinforced Richmond to protect the government.

NEXT>

3. On April 3, 1865, Union forces occupied both Petersburg and Richmond. What occurred in Richmond on April 4th? Hint

Riots broke out when Union troops arrested citizens.

President Abraham Lincoln visited the city.

Generals Sheridan and Grant made a triumphal tour.

Snipers in the city killed several Union soldiers.

NEXT>

4. On April 6, 1865, the last major engagement of the war occurred. General Sheridan inflicted a devastating defeat on Lee's forces. What was the name of this battlefield? Hint

Scott's Creek

Scott's Landing

Sayler's Landing

Sayler's Creek

NEXT>

5. On April 7, 1865, President Lincoln wired this message: "Gen. Sheridan says 'if the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender.' Let the thing be pressed." To whom did he send it? Hint

General Grant

General Crook

General Sherman

General Meade

NEXT>

6. On April 9, 1865, Lee launched an attack intended to break through the Union lines. It was the last engagement of the Confederate Army under Lee. The attack failed. What was the result? Hint

Lee was able to escape and join Jefferson Davis.

Union forces overran the Confederate lines and captured Lee

Lee surrendered that day to Grant at Appomattox Court House

The Confederate Army refused to surrender and was annihilated

NEXT>

7. The evening of April 14, 1865, President Lincoln attended a performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth and died the next day. The Booth plot, however, had two other targets that same night. Who were they? Hint

James Speed and Andrew Johnson

William Seward and Edwin Stanton

William Seward and Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson and Edwin Stanton

NEXT>

8. On April 18, 1865, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston and Union General William T. Sherman signed an Armistice that included a general amnesty, among other terms. How did President Andrew Johnson react? Hint

He rejected the Agreement because it was too strict

He rejected the Armistice and demanded surrender

He accepted the Agreement and complimented both Generals

He accepted the Argeement, but chastised Sherman for not making the terms more rigid

NEXT>

9. On April 26, 1865, John Wilkes Booth was killed at Richard Garrett's farm. The other conspirators were rounded up and eight were ultimately tried by a military tribunal ordered by President Johnson. What was their fate? Hint

Four were executed, three sentenced to life in prison, and one sentenced to six years in prison

Five were executed and three were sentenced to life.

All were found guilty and executed

Four were executed, three were given life sentnces, and one was found not guilty

NEXT>

10. On April 27, 1865, one of the greatest marine disasters in United States history occurred. What ship sunk with a catastrophic loss of life? Hint

Miranda

Monitor

Sultana

Oleander

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Sep 09 2023 : Guest 71: 0/10
Sep 06 2023 : Guest 73: 7/10
Aug 31 2023 : muzzyhill3: 9/10
Aug 15 2023 : Guest 108: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Battle of Five Forks

The Battle of Five Forks was fought around a road junction in Dinwiddie County. Seriously outnumbered at least two-to-one, the South suffered nearly 3000 casualties to the Union's 800+. The Union Army gained control of the Five Forks and, thus, the South Side Railroad, a major supply line to Petersburg, placing the Confederate capital in Richmond, Virginia, in peril.

Answer: The Confederate government abandoned Richmond.

The Confederate government moved reluctantly to evacuate Richmond. Although the people in Richmond thought that Lee and his army would never allow the city to fall, Lee, who had held back the Union Army for 10 months and was faced with depleted and exhausted forces, determined that he could best serve the Confederacy by abandoning its capital and retreating south to join forces with General Joseph E. Johnston

3. On April 3, 1865, Union forces occupied both Petersburg and Richmond. What occurred in Richmond on April 4th?

Answer: President Abraham Lincoln visited the city.

Lincoln was escorted to Richmond over water by Admiral David Dixon Porter. Upon landing, the President was protected first by armed sailors and then by cavalry. He visited the Confederate Executive Mansion, Libby Prison and Castle Thunder where Union troops had been imprisoned, Camp Lee where U.S. Colored
Troops were camped, and the burned out business district. He departed by water.

4. On April 6, 1865, the last major engagement of the war occurred. General Sheridan inflicted a devastating defeat on Lee's forces. What was the name of this battlefield?

Answer: Sayler's Creek

Sayler's Creek Battlefield was the spot where Sheridan cut off about a quarter of Lee's army. Eight Confederate generals surrendered and over 7000 troops were lost. This loss helped convince Lee to surrender.

5. On April 7, 1865, President Lincoln wired this message: "Gen. Sheridan says 'if the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender.' Let the thing be pressed." To whom did he send it?

Answer: General Grant

At President Lincoln's direction, General Grant pushed his troops to neutralize Lee's army. General Custer burned three supply trains. Union cavalry cut off Lee's escape to Lynchburg. Union armies converged near Appomattox.

6. On April 9, 1865, Lee launched an attack intended to break through the Union lines. It was the last engagement of the Confederate Army under Lee. The attack failed. What was the result?

Answer: Lee surrendered that day to Grant at Appomattox Court House

The long, bloody, terrible Civil War (War Between the States) finally ended. Grant's terms were quite generous (for example, everyone who swore not to take up arms against the U.S. government was allowed to return home; none were tried for treason).

Answer: William Seward and Andrew Johnson

Booth had assigned Lewis Powell to assassinate William Seward, Secretary of State, who was confined to bed following an accident. Powell managed to get to Seward and stab him (he also wounded several others in his attempt). Seward, however, lived. George Atzerodt was supposed to kill Vice President Johnson, but he apparently tried to build up his courage with drink and eventually wandered away. No attack was made. Edwin Stanton was Secretary of War, and James Speed was Attorney General.

Answer: He rejected the Armistice and demanded surrender

On April 24, 1865, President Johnson rejected the Agreement. On April 26, Johnston formally surrendered to Sherman.

Answer: Four were executed, three sentenced to life in prison, and one sentenced to six years in prison

On June 30, 1865, Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt were sentenced to death by hanging. Samuel Mudd, Samuel Arnold, and Michael O'Laughlen were given life in prison. Edmund Spangler was sentenced to six years in prison.

10. On April 27, 1865, one of the greatest marine disasters in United States history occurred. What ship sunk with a catastrophic loss of life?

Answer: Sultana

The "Sultana," a side-wheel steamer, had 2427 passengers, most of whom were released Union prisoners of war. On April 27th, the ship exploded, killing over 1800 people on board.

Source: Author lowtechmaster

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Over Time:

Four history quizzes and one on views of truth.

  1. The Silent Generation Tough
  2. New Deal Agencies Easier
  3. Never Before Easier
  4. April, 1865 Average
  5. The Faces Of Truth Average