Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ulysses S. Grant

Born Hiram Ulysses Grant, the story is that when Grant was nominated to West Point in 1839, Ohio Representative Thomas L. Hamer put his name down as Ulysses S. Grant. Rather than remaining a H.U.G., Grant took the name as West Point would not change the name under which he had been nominated.

This led to his classmates calling him Sam Grant as by the late 1830s U.S. was already known to stand for Uncle Sam. But following his victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, particularly his demand to Fort Donelson's "unconditional and immediate surrender" the Northern press would dub him "Unconditional Surrender Grant".

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln's supporters used the story of him splitting fence rails in his boyhood as a part of his 1860 Presidential campaign. Lincoln became known as the 'Rail Candidate' for it.

Answer: Robert E. Lee

General Robert Edward Lee was derogatorily dubbed "Granny Lee" following the Battle of Cheat Mountain in September 1861 due to his timid command style. Lee lost the battle and would be widely blamed for Confederate setbacks. He would also be dubbed the 'King of Spades' by the press due to his insistence on digging defensive trenches around Richmond.

The Southern press objected when Davis replaced General Joseph Johnston with Lee, believing that "Granny Lee" that Lee would wait for Federal forces to attack him.

Answer: Richard Kirkland

Richard Kirkland was a sergeant with the 2nd SC Infantry during the Battle of Fredericksburg. During the battle the 2nd SC was stationed along the stone sunken road's stone wall below Marye's Heights. Kirkland could hear the cries of the wounded Federal soldiers and requested permission to take water to the wounded under a white flag.

As this might have been construed as a sign of surrender, his request was denied though he was told if he wanted to take water to the wounded enemy he could do so at his own risk. Though unable to use a white flag, Kirkland still gathered canteens and went over the wall.

At first Federal troops fired upon him, but soon realizing what he was doing they began cheering his efforts. For this act of compassion he became known as the Angel of Mayre's Heights.

Answer: James Longstreet

Robert E. Lee referred to Longstreet as his 'Old War Horse'. This may have been because of his position as Lee's principle subordinate. Others referred to him as 'Lee's War Horse'. Longstreet was also known as 'Pete' or 'Old Pete'. This nickname was given to him in his youth for a rock-like character and may well be a reference to the Apostle Saint Peter.

Answer: Elizabeth Van Lew

Elizabeth Van Lew was a citizen of Richmond and a Southern Unionist. During the war she operated a spy ring out of her home which became known as the Richmond Underground. This spy ring had members in the Confederate Department of War, the Confederate Department of the Navy, and even the Confederate White House.

A biography published in Harper's Monthly Magazine in the early 20th century claimed she pretended insanity in order to mask her activities from her neighbors, though there is some question whether this actually happened or not.

Answer: Thomas J. Jackson

Perhaps the best known nickname of anybody involved with the war. General Bernard Bee gave General Thomas J. Jackson the nickname during the Battle of First Bull Run (First Manassas). As the story goes, Bee tried rallying his men by pointing to Jackson and declared that he stood like a stone wall.

The nickname also came to refer to the brigade Jackson was commanding during the battle. Even after Jackson was promoted to divisional commander the 1st Virginia Brigade continued to be known as the Stonewall Brigade.

Answer: George H. Thomas

General George Henry Thomas entered West Point in 1836 where his age of 20 may have been what caused his classmates to call him Old Tom (despite the fact that he wasn't the oldest in his class; in fact roommate Stewart Van Vliet was a year older). In the 1850s while serving as a cavalry and artillery instructor at Wes Point during Robert E. Lee's tenure as superintendent of the academy, Thomas earned the moniker 'Slow Trot Thomas' due to his concern that cadets were overworking the elderly cavalry horses at the academy. Because of this, Thomas would moderate how the cadets used these horses during drill.

However, it would be his defense the Federal retreat at the Battle of Chickamauga that would earn him the nickname Rock of Chickamauga. It was much like how Jackson became Stonewall Jackson. James Garfield, who would go on to be the second President to be assassinated while in office, carried the news that Thomas would stay behind to guard the Army of the Cumberland's retreat and ensure it did not become a rout. According to Garfield, Thomas was "standing like a rock". Thus Thomas became the Rock of Chickamauga.

Answer: Clara Barton

Clarissa Harlowe Barton, better known as Clara Barton, is the best known nurse of the war. Beside the nickname 'the Angel of the Battlefield', she is also known by the nickname 'the American Nightingale', an allusion to British nurse Florence Nightingale who is the founder of modern nursing. Barton was not initially allowed to work on the front lines, this would not happen until August 1862.

Despite this, she still did everything she could to help treat the wounded.

Answer: Meagher

General Thomas Francis Meagher was born in Waterford, Ireland August 3, 1823. An Irish nationalist, Meagher became one of the members of the Young Ireland movement. It would be while a member of the movement that Meagher would give his now famous Sword speech for which he would earn his nickname Meagher of the Sword. Following the failed Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848 Meagher would be one of the Younger Irelanders arrested for sedition and sentenced to death by hanging.

This sentence was commuted to banishment to Van Diemen's, present day Tasmania. Meagher would escape to the U.S. in the early 1850s.