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National Park Quiz 11: Blue and Gray

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Confederate dead on the Miller Farm along the west side of the Hagerstown Pike. What has this to do with question #12? National Park System photo by Alexander Gardner.

1. A lengthy siege was required to gain the Union victory commemorated at
a. Vicksburg National Military Park
b. Tupelo National Battlefield
c. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
d. Shiloh National Military Park

2. James Walker’s 13 x 33 ft. painting “Battle of Lookout Mountain” is exhibited in one of the visitor centers at ______, the national park that provides visitors access to the place where the battle occurred.
a. Vicksburg National Military Park
b. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
c. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
d. Shiloh National Military Park

3. The Battle of the Crater, which took place on 30 July 1864 at a site now preserved in the
______, is depicted near the beginning of the 2003 hit movie “Cold Mountain.”
a. Richmond National Battlefield Park
b. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
c. Tupelo National Battlefield
d. Petersburg National Battlefield

4. Commemorated at Richmond National Battlefield Park, the Battle of ______ was Gen. Robert E. Lee’s last major victory over federal troops in a general engagement before his army was immobilized in trenches defending the last rail lines serving Richmond. Even by Civil War standards, this battle was exceptionally bloody.
a. Perryville
b. Seven Pines
c. Cold Harbor
d. Brandy Station

5. While at Gettysburg National Military Park, a visitor can stop at ______ and see where Gen. Robert E. Lee’s troops assembled for Longstreet’s Assault (better known today as “Pickett’s Charge”) on the Union center.
a. Missionary Ridge
b. Cemetery Ridge
c. Seminary Ridge
d. Culp’s Hill

6. Confederate troops under Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston had badly punished Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Union army that early April day. The battle had cost Gen. Johnston his life, but the Confederates (now under Gen. P.G.T Beauregard) were poised to deliver a knockout punch on day two of the battle. Grant was nevertheless confident that his troops would turn the tide. When the smoke cleared on the second day, they had done exactly that, and it was the Confederates who retreated. To walk the ground where this epic battle occurred, you need to visit
a. Shiloh National Military Park
b. Tupelo National Battlefield
c. Fort Donelson National Battlefield
d. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

7. Pecos National Historical Park commemorates
a. a decisive Confederate victory in Texas
b. a decisive Union victory in New Mexico
c. the only Civil War battle fought on Mexican soil
d. the westernmost battle of the Civil War

8. Each of the following statements about historic events at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is true except one. Which is the FALSE statement?
a. The largest surrender of Union troops in the entire Civil War occurred at Harpers Ferry.
b. Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times during the Civil War.
c. Robert E. Lee commanded the U.S. Marines who captured John Brown at Harpers Ferry.
d. The Arsenal at Harpers Ferry continued to produce weapons throughout the Civil War.

9. About 1,000 Cherokee and Choctaw-Chickasaw Indians fought on the Confederate side in the battle commemorated at
a. Stones River National Battlefield
b. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
c. Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield
d. Pea Ridge National Military Park

10. On April 27, 1865, at least 1,800 people died when a boiler exploded on the Mississippi River paddlewheeler Sultana and the ship went down. Tragically, hundreds of the victims were Union veterans who had been imprisoned at Camp Sumter, the remains of which are preserved at
a. Andersonville National Historic Site
b. Fort Larned National Historic Site
c. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
d. Cane River Creole National Historical Park

Extra credit

11. John Wesley Powell, the man who commanded the first party of boats ever to traverse the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, had only one arm, the other having been amputated when he was wounded at the Battle of _____. Union General Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur, also fought in this battle, but escaped with limbs intact.
a. Chancellorsville
b. Shiloh
c. Antietam
d. Fredericksburg

Super bonus question

12. Matthew Brady gets all the press, but it was Alexander Gardner who first displayed photos of Civil War dead at his gallery. These first-ever photos depicting Civil War KIAs on the field of battle were taken two days after the Battle of ______, the bloodiest one-day battle ever fought on American soil.
a. Antietam (Sharpsburg)
b. Bull Run (First Manassas)
c. Cold Harbor
d. the Wilderness

Answers: (1) a (2) b (3) d (4) c (5) c (6) a (7) b (8) d (9) d (10) a (11) b (12) a

Grading: 9 or 10 correct, rest on your laurels; 7 or 8 correct, pretty darn good; 6 correct, passably fair; 5 or fewer correct, nothing to brag about.

Comments

Hey Bob--

GREAT quiz! I really enjoyed taking it.

Just one thing--the designation for Harpers Ferry is not Military Park, it's Historical Park. Lots of other history happened there in addition to the Civil War which the Park Service wants to recognize.

Thanks!

[Ed. Thanks for the kind words. Nice catch of that typo in item #2. As you can see, we do know the difference and had the correct designation in item #8.]


Thanks for the quiz, didn't do too bad, however question # 7 about Pecos National Historical Park is very misleading. The Battle of Glorietta Pass was fought there, but the battle field was only added to the park in the early 1990's, access to the battlefield has been limited ( the Park has been trying to get a highway realigned for safer visitor access (at least that's what I had heard several years ago). The battle ground was held by the Confederacy, it was the separate action when the Union destroyed the CSA supply lines that lead to the CSA withdrawing back to Texas. So the correct answer is at best misleading. The Pecos park also preserves the remains of an Indian pueblo and Spanish Mission. Well worth the visit when in the Santa Fe area.


Anon: The decisive Union victory occurred in New Mexico, and that is what the quiz item states. There isn't room in a quiz item to deal with every nuance. I don't dispute your facts.


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