THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR FINAL EXAM MASTER Name 1. Name the opposing Generals at the following battles: North South Seven Pines MCCLELLAN JOHNSTON Second Manassas POPE LEE Vicksburg GRANT PEMBERTON Chickamauga ROSECRANS BRAGG Spotsylvania MEADE LEE Atlanta SHERMAN HOOD 2. Name the three fighting branches of the armies of both sides. INFANTRY, CAVALRY, ARTILLERY 3. List the two aspects of Scott s Anaconda Plan. CONTROL THE MISSISSIPPI, BLOCKADE ALL PORTS 4. Name the most widely used weapon in the US army in the Civil War and list its three main attributes? 1861 SPRINGFIELD RIFLED MUSKET RANGE, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY 5. What rank usually commanded an infantry regiment? COLONEL 6. What was the nickname given Jackson s forces after the Valley Campaign? FOOT CAVALRY 7. A famous naval battle was fought in Hampton Roads that delayed the Union s campaign on the Peninsula. Name the two combatants. USS MONITOR, CSS VIRGINIA (FORMERLY THE USS MERRIMAC) 8. What did Lee rename the Confederate army after he took command? ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA (ANV)
9. Who were the two wing commanders in Lee s army at Antietam? JACKSON, LONGSTREET 10. Lee s Lost Order 191 was a turning point in the Antietam Campaign. Why? IT GAVE MCCLELLAN LEE S PLANS 11. The Battle of Antietam was in three distinct parts. Name those parts using features of the terrain. CORNFIELD, SUNKEN ROAD (BLOODY LANE), BURNSIDES BRIDGE 12. Union success at Antietam resulted in what important political document? EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION 13. What best describes the Battle of Stones River for the South (circle the correct one)? a. Strategic Offensive, Tactical Offensive, Strategic Defeat. b. Strategic Offensive, Tactical Defensive, Strategic Victory. c. Strategic Defensive, Tactical Offensive, Strategic Defeat d. Strategic Defensive, Tactical Defensive, Strategic Victory 14. What river separated the two armies at Fredericksburg and what logistics snafu delayed the Union general crossing that river? RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER, THE ENGINEERS WERE LATE ARRIVING WITH PONTOON TRAINS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE AT THE COMMAND LEVEL IN WASHINGTON 15. What were the three prongs of MGen Henry Halleck s concentration in time strategy in late 1862? (include the objective and the general) a. VICKSBURG - GRANT b. CHATTANOOGA - ROSECRANS c. LEE S ARMY (ANV), RICHMOND - HOOKER 16. Name three Confederate commerce raiders. CSS SHENANDOAH, CSS VIRGINIA, CSS FLORIDA, CSS SUMTER 17. The Confederate commander at Vicksburg got contradictory orders about how to handle the Union offensive. Describe those orders and who gave them. DAVIS TOLD PEMBERTON TO HOLD THE TOWN JOHNSTON TOLD PEMBERTON TO GIVE UP THE TOWN AND ATTACK GRANT
18. The Southern commander at Chancellorsville and the Northern commander at Vicksburg ignored a prime maxim of military strategy. What was it? DO NOT DIVIDE YOUR FORCES WHEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE ENEMY 19. Some say Chancellorsville was a pyrrhic victory for the South. Why? GEN JACKSON WAS KILLED ALONG WITH MANY DIVISION AND REGIMENTAL COMMANDERS CAUSING A LEADERSHIP VACUUM 20. Who were the three Corps commanders for the South at the Battle of Gettysburg? LONGSTREET, HILL, EWELL 21. The Confederate commander fought Gettysburg virtually blind to the movements of the AoP. Why? (Name names) JEB STUART WAS GONE WITH THE CAVALRY ON A GLORY RIDE AROUND THE AoP 22. Name four important terrain features on the Union left flank that figured prominently in the second day s fighting at Gettysburg. PEACH ORCHARD, WHEAT FIELD, DEVILS DEN, LITTLE ROUND TOP 23. The famous Southern charge on the third day at Gettysburg was doomed before it began. Why? What is the popular name for it? PICKETT S CHARGE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MEN TO CARRY THE UNION POSITION 24. What rare maneuver did Northern troops achieve that helped break the Southern attack on the third day at Gettysburg? DOUBLE ENVELOPMENT 25. From a leadership standpoint, what made the difference at Gettysburg, comparing the two sides? THE UNION CORPS COMMANDERS SERVED MEADE WELL, THE CONFEDERATE CORPS COMMANDERS FAILED TO SERVE LEE WELL 26. What nickname did Union MG Thomas get at the Battle of Chickamauga? THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA 27. What was Grant s overall strategy for beating the South in 1864 (three things)? MEADE AND THE AoP WOULD ATTACK LEE/RICHMOND SHERMAN WOULD ATTACK ATLANTA FARRAGUT WOULD ATTACK MOBILE BAY
28. What was the main political concern for the Lincoln administration in 1864? REELECTION 29. What Constitutional Amendment passed in 1865 and what did it do? THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT ABOLISHED SLAVERY 30. What was the Confederate salient at Spotsylvania called? THE MULESHOE OR THE BLOODY ANGLE 31. Where was the final battle of Grant s overland campaign in Virginia in 64? How many casualties did the Union suffer in the attack? COLD HARBOR, 7000 32. What river did the Union engineers cross in 1864 with the longest temporary bridge in the history of warfare up to WWII? How long was the bridge? THE JAMES RIVER, 2100 FEET 33. Which political party nominated Lincoln for the Presidency in 64? THE NATIONAL UNION PARTY (NUP) 34. Who were the two men nominated to run against Lincoln in 64 and what party nominated them? RADICAL REPUBLICANS NOMINATED FREEMONT DEMOCRATS NOMINATED MCCLELLAN 35. What three victories assured Lincoln s reelection in 64? FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY, SHERMAN AT ATLANTA, SHERIDAN IN THE VALLEY (BELLE GROVE/CEDAR CREEK) BATTLES ONLY ARE NECESSARY HERE 36. What two prominent Union generals made war on the civilian population in the South in 64 65? SHERMAN, SHERIDAN 37. The Battle of Nashville was preceded by a disastrous charge by the Confederate army when five Confederate generals were killed. Where did that take place? FRANKLIN, TN
38. Who was the Confederate general commanding at the Battle of Nashville and who commanded the Union army? CONFEDERATE GEN HOOD, UNION GENERAL THOMAS 39. What three terms for peace did Lincoln offer the Confederate commissioners at Hampton Roads in February, 65? REUNION, SLAVERY ABOLISHED, END OF HOSTILITIES AND DISARMAMENT 40. How many months did the siege of Petersburg last? 10 41. The final Confederate offensive in the siege of Petersburg was against what Union position? FT STEDMAN 42. What Confederate Corps commander was killed on the final day of the siege of Petersburg? What was he wearing? AP HILL, HIS RED BATTLE SHIRT 43. Where was the largest battle during the Appomattox campaign? SAYLOR S CREEK 44. Who owned the house that was the site of the surrender of the ANV? Why was this significant? WILMER MCLEAN. THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE WAR, FIRST MANASSAS, WAS FOUGHT AROUND THE HOUSE HE LIVED IN AT THE TIME. HE MOVED TO APPOMATTOX TO GET AWAY FROM THE WAR. 45. Who was the Union commander that cut off Lee s line of retreat at Appomattox Court House? SHERIDAN 46. What is the significance of the final sentence in the surrender document between Lee and Grant? IT BASICALLY PARDONED ALL CONFEDERATES WHO SURRENDERED, INCLUDING LEE
47. Who were the two generals, North and South, who presided over the surrender ceremony at Appomattox on April 12? UNION GENERAL CHAMBERLAIN, CONFEDERATE GENERAL GORDON 48. Name four conspirators in Lincoln s assassination plot besides Booth. MARY SURRAT, JOHN SURRATT, POWELL/PAINE, HEROLD, ATZERODT, MUDD, O LAUGHLIN, SPANGLER, ARNOLD 49. What was the religious significance of the day Lincoln was assassinated? GOOD FRIDAY 50. Who were the other two targets (besides Lincoln) of the assassination plot and who was assigned to attack those targets? ATZERODT WAS TO KILL VP JOHNSON, PAINE WAS TO KILL SEC OF STATE SEWARD Optional Bonus Questions: BONUS #1 (5 pts): Where was the final battle of the Civil War fought and who won? PALMITO RANCH, CONFEDERATE VICTORY BONUS #2 (10 pts): Contrast and compare the leadership qualities of Generals Grant and Lee. Include in your discussion (a) their pre-war experience, (b) their wartime successes and failures, (c) their style of command, and (d) their ability to work with political leaders. (a) GENERAL LEE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AT WEST POINT, WAS A HERO OF THE MEXICAN WAR, SERVED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP INCLUDING COMMANDANT OF WEST POINT, WAS LTCOL IN TEXAS AND WAS OFFERED COMMAND OF ALL UNION TROOPS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CW BUT TURNED IT DOWN TO SERVE VIRGINIA. (a) GENERAL GRANT HAD A LACKLUSTER CAREER AT WEST POINT, SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN THE MEXICAN WAR, RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION DUE TO DRUNKENESS. HE WAS GIVEN COMMAND OF A ILLINOIS REGIMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR. (b) GENERAL LEE WON MANY VICTORIES FOR THE SOUTH: THE SEVEN DAYS, SECOND MANASSAS, FREDERICKSBURG, & CHANCELLORSVILLE (HIS GREATEST). HE LOST BATTLES AT ANTIETAM AND GETTYSBURG AND FAILED TO STOP GRANT/MEADE/AoP DURING THE SUMMER OF 64 WHEN HE WAS FORCED INTO A SIEGE AT
PETERSBURG/RICHMOND. ALTHOUGH LEE WAS CONSIDERED AN AUDACIOUS GENERAL, THIS TRAIT DID NOT SERVE HIM WELL AT GETTYSBURG, HIS WORST DEFEAT. LEE HAD THE ABILITY TO SEE THROUGH THE FOG OF BATTLE. (b) GENERAL GRANT WON A STRING OF VICTORIES: FTS HENRY AND DONELSON, SHILOH (NARROWLY), VICKSBURG (BRILLIANTLY), CHATTANOOGA (MISSIONARY RIDGE), AND WAS MADE COMMANDER OF ALL UNION FORCES (4-STARS) IN 64, FORCED LEE INTO THE TRENCHES AT PETERSBURG, AND AUTHORED THE STRATEGY THAT DEFEATED THE SOUTH. HE WAS CONSIDERED A BUTCHER FOR THE SUMMER 64 CAMPAIGN AGAINST LEE BECAUSE OF THE CASUALTIES, BUT WAS OVERALL A RATIONAL, CALCULATING LEADER. HE UNDERSTOOD AN ARMY HAD TO ACT QUICKLY AND DECISIVELY TO WIN BATTLES. (c) GENERAL LEE WAS A SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN, ISSUED ORDERS THAT WERE AT TIMES VAGUE, AND RARELY SPOKE HARSHLY TO SUBORDINATES. HE DELEGATED AUTHORITY AND STRINGENTLY CLUNG TO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. HE URGED SUBORDINATES BUT RARELY GAVE PEREMTORY ORDERS. HIS GRASP OF STRATEGY WAS LIMITED TO VIRGINIA AND HE DID NOT TAKE SOUTHERN STRATEGY ELSEWHERE INTO ACCOUNT EXCEPT WHERE IT IMPACTED HIS OWN ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA UNTIL VERY LATE IN THE WAR WHEN IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING. (c) GENERAL GRANT WAS A DEMANDING COMMANDER, ISSUED STRICT AND SPECIFIC ORDERS, AND EXPECTED HIS SUBORDINATES TO OBEY WITHOUT QUESTION. WHEN THEY DID NOT, HE DEMOTED OR SENT THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. HE WAS A BRILLIANT STRATEGIST AND FORMULATED THE MOVES THAT EVENTUALLY DEFEATED THE SOUTHERN ARMIES AFTER SO MANY FAILED. (d) GENERAL LEE MANAGED HIS AFFAIRS WITH LITTLE REGARD FOR THE POLITICAL LEADERS IN RICHMOND. HE BASICALLY DID WHAT HE WANTED UNTIL AFTER HIS DEFEAT AT GETTYSBURG, WHEN HIS POWER DECLINED. HE OFTEN ASKED FOR APPROVAL OF TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC MOVEMENTS AFTER HE HAD ALREADY ORDERED THEM TO PROCEED. (d) GENERAL GRANT ALWAYS CONSIDERED HIMSELF SUBORDINATE TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND WORKED UNDER HIS DIRECTION EVEN WHEN LINCOLN SADDLED HIM WITH INCOMPETENT POLITICAL GENERALS. HE SUCCEEDED IN SPITE OF POLITICAL INTERVENTION BUT AFTER VICTORIES AT ATLANTA AND MOBILE BAY AND FORCING LEE INTO THE TRENCHES, MOST POLITICIANS STOPPED QUESTIONING HIS DECISIONS.
BONUS #3 (5 pts): Why did the North win? THE NORTH HAD LINCOLN, THE SOUTH DID NOT While this seems simplistic, I have hammered at this all semester and it must be part of any answer. As long as the answer has this, it does not matter what else is written.