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Civil War Battles

Are you a Civil War buff? See how much you remember about the battles from the War Between the States.

1. At what battle did Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson receive his nickname?
   • Battle of Antietam
   • Battle of Bull Run
   • Battle of Shiloh
   • Battle of Gettysburg

   Battle of Bull Run

   Bull Run is also known as First Manassas. Jackson was known for mercilessly drilling and disciplining his Virginia brigade. Because of his drilling, his brigade proved crucial at Bull Run. Upon seeing the steadfast group of men led by Jackson, Confederate Brig. Gen. Barnard Bee, Jr. was reported to have said, “There stands General Jackson like a stone wall … Rally behind the Virginians!”

2. Shiloh battlefield gets its name from what landmark?
   • Shiloh Creek
   • Shilioh Farm
   • Shiloh Church
   • Shiloh Courthouse

   Shiloh Church

   During the war, Shiloh church was used as a hospital for thousands of wounded troops.

3. What battle saw an estimated 23,100 casualties in one day, making it the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history?
   • Battle of Antietam
   • Battle of Shiloh
   • Battle of Chancellorsville
   • Battle of Fort Sumter

   Battle of Antietam

   The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was tactically inconclusive. However, Lincoln felt it was a victory, and its outcome gave him the confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

4. Which battle saw the major fighting happen its “Hornet’s Nest”?
   • Battle of First Manassas
   • Battle of Appomattox
   • Battle of Sharpsburg
   • Battle of Shiloh

   Battle of Shiloh

   The Hornet’s Nest was a position on a sunken road established by Union soldiers. The Union held the Nest for seven hours and against several Confederate charges. However, coordination in the Nest was an utter disaster, and after the loss of the commander of the largest unit, it was utter chaos. After an assembly of 50 Confederate canons tore through it, the Union surrendered.

5. What battle in Virginia was fought on a field that contained an area called “The Field of Lost Shoes?”
   • Battle of Manassas
   • Battle of Lynchburg
   • Battle of New Market
   • Battle of Appomattox

   Battle of New Market

   The night before the Battle of New Market, in New Market, Virginia, the battlefield was drowned by a torrential downpour. The next day the recently plowed wheatfield was a rain-soaked mess. The Confederate line tried to move forward, but the mud was making it impossible—they kept losing their shoes and socks in the sucking muck.

6. What is considered to be the last official battle of the Civil War?
   • Battle of Appomattox
   • Battle of Columbus
   • Battle of Rich Mountain
   • Battle of Five Forks

   Battle of Columbus

   The Battle of Columbus took place on April 16, 1865, one week after after General Robert E. Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. Telegraph lines and other communications were hopelessly disrupted, and as a result, Wilson’s raiders were not aware of Lee’s surrender. In addition, Confederate General Johnston’s army had not yet conceded defeat. The Battle of Columbus was a Union victory.

7. In which state was the Battle of Gettysburg fought?
   • Virginia
   • Massachusetts
   • Pennsylvania
   • New Jersey

   Pennsylvania

   The Battle of Gettysburg marked the northernmost infiltration by the Confederate Army.

8. How many soldiers died during the Battle of Fort Sumter?
   • 0
   • 1
   • 100
   • 5,000

   0

   Although there were no casualties during the bombardment, two men did die during the ceremony of surrender. During the 100-gun salute, a spark set off a pile of cartridges, killing Private Daniel Hough instantly and mortally wounding Private Edward Gallway; these two men were the first casualties of the Civil War.

9. What battle was fought by men of the Orphan Brigade on a field with areas nicknamed Hell’s Half Acre and The Slaughter Pen?
   • Battle of Chattanooga
   • Battle of the Wilderness
   • Battle of Lexington
   • Battle of Stones River

   Battle of Stones River

   The Battle of Stones River was exceptionally brutal. With 23,000 casualties out of only 76,000 who fought, the Battle of Stones River had the highest percentage of deaths of any major battle in the Civil War.

10. What Tennessee battle had Ulysses S. Grant demanding that “No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted”?
    • Battle of Chattanooga
    • Battle of Fort Donelson
    • Battle of Vicksburg
    • Battle of Fredericksburg

    Battle of Fort Donelson

    Fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, the Battle of Fort Donelson was a huge win for the Union. It also elevated Ulysses S. Grant from relative obscurity to the status of Major General and earned him the nickname “Unconditional Surrender Grant.”