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Quiz about Weapons and Equipment of the Civil War

Weapons and Equipment of the Civil War Quiz

Test your knowledge on the weapons and equipment used during the Civil War.

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

Author
jkgregg

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
114,887

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
3978

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 83 (4/10), Guest 24 (10/10), Guest 166 (6/10).

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. What were "shoddies?" Hint

blankets issued to the Union Army

nickname the Union Army gave the shoes issued to them

poorly made uniforms produced by Northern clothing contractors

rifles were so poorly made that they often misfired

NEXT>

2. What was the largest cannon used during the Civil War? Hint

20-inch smoothbore gun designed by Thomas Rodman

Columbiad cannon

Armstrong cannon

Coehorn smoothbore gun

NEXT>

3. What was the color of JEB Stuart's capes lining and what kind of feather did he wear in his hat? Hint

gold-lined cape and turkey plume

brillant purple-lined cape and peacock plume

red-lined cape and ostrich plume

gray-lined cape with a black raven feather

NEXT>

4. What Civil War weapon was called the "Old Wristbreaker?" Hint

1860 Colt revolver

Spencer repeating carbine

1840 cavalry saber

1855 Colt repeating rifle

NEXT>

5. What was a soldier's "housewife?" Hint

daily food rations

small sewing kit

small pouch where they kept their small belongings

army cooks

NEXT>

6. What was the Stonewall Jackson Medal? Hint

bullet wound from Jackson's troops

nickname for the lemon peels Jackson discarded

2-inch medal bearing the image of Jackson

a demerit given at the Virginia Military Institute

NEXT>

7. What Union general invented a breech-loading carbine before the Civil War? Hint

George Stoneman

George McClellen

Ambrose E. Burnside

Oliver O. Howard

NEXT>

8. Instant coffee was first used during the Civil War.

True

False

NEXT>

9. What did it mean to "worm a bullet?" Hint

to practice firing into a target

to load a firearm

to unload a firearm

to borrow a bullet form another soldier

NEXT>

10. What kind of cartridges were used in the Sharp carbines? Hint

either linen or paper

silver

bronze

cotton

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Most Recent Scores

Sep 15 2023 : Guest 83: 4/10
Sep 07 2023 : Guest 24: 10/10
Sep 05 2023 : Guest 166: 6/10
Sep 04 2023 : Guest 174: 9/10
Aug 29 2023 : Guest 162: 7/10
Aug 24 2023 : Guest 24: 10/10
Aug 18 2023 : Guest 172: 0/10
Aug 18 2023 : Guest 73: 8/10
Aug 13 2023 : Guest 73: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What were "shoddies?"

Answer: poorly made uniforms produced by Northern clothing contractors

At the beginning of the war, the Union Army contracted with a number of Northern manufacturers who produced poorly made uniforms out of wool scraps. They would often fall apart during the hard marches and pouring rain.

2. What was the largest cannon used during the Civil War?

Answer: 20-inch smoothbore gun designed by Thomas Rodman

The smoothbore gun designed by Thomas J. Rodman was cased at Fort Pitt in Pittsburg. The large cannon weighed 117,000 pounds and used 125 pounds of powder to fire. It was only fired four times during the war.

3. What was the color of JEB Stuart's capes lining and what kind of feather did he wear in his hat?

Answer: red-lined cape and ostrich plume

JEB Stuart, calvary general in the CSA, was known for his flamboyant style. He wore a bright red-lined cape with a black ostrich plume in his hat.

4. What Civil War weapon was called the "Old Wristbreaker?"

Answer: 1840 cavalry saber

The "Old Wristbreaker" was a heavy Model 1840 cavalry saber. It was nicknamed that by the soldiers forced to use it.

5. What was a soldier's "housewife?"

Answer: small sewing kit

Commonly carried by both sides, a "housewife" was a small sewing kit.

6. What was the Stonewall Jackson Medal?

Answer: 2-inch medal bearing the image of Jackson

A medal manufactured bearing the image of Jackson was to be presented to members of the Stonewall Brigade; however none were ever awarded and they remained in crates in a West Indies port at the war's end.

7. What Union general invented a breech-loading carbine before the Civil War?

Answer: Ambrose E. Burnside

Before the war, Union General Ambrose Burnside invented the breech-loading carbine. It was originally produced by his Bristol Firearms Company. Most of the 55,567 Burnside carbines bought by the Federal government during the war were manufactured by the Burnside Arms Company.

8. Instant coffee was first used during the Civil War.

Answer: True

Instant coffee was widely used and came in a paste form. The coffee was mixed with cream and sugar and distribued to the Union soldiers who tried to disolve it in hot water to make a cup of coffee.

9. What did it mean to "worm a bullet?"

Answer: to unload a firearm

To "worm a bullet" was to unload an unfired bullet from a muzzle-loading rifle. A soldier would use a screw-type device called a "worm" to his rifle ramrod, insert it downt he gun barrle, screw it into the soft lead then remove it.

10. What kind of cartridges were used in the Sharp carbines?

Answer: either linen or paper

During the Civil War the cartridges were linen or paper. After the war metallic cartridges were used.

Source: Author jkgregg

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