Monthly Archives: June 2013

Meeting of June 25, 2013

Walter Day on “The Red River Fiasco”

Walter Day

Walter Day

In March 1864, David Dixon Porter boldly started up the Red River with an overpowering naval force. Two frustrating months later, the Union admiral was lucky to re-emerge with any of his prized warships.

Walter Day is a microwave engineer who has worked in the Bay Area for 45 years. He has served as President of the Peninsula CWRT and is presently their Program Chairman. He has studied the Civil War since he was a teen and has researched his Great-Grandfather’s service with the Army of Northern Virginia. Having served as an officer in the U.S.Navy he has a more than passing interest in Naval actions of the Civil War.

Meeting Minutes June 2013

Quiz for June 25, 2013

Based on “The Long Arm of Mr. Lincoln’s Army” by Dana Lombardy

Q#1 – What famous European general did all West Point students study?

Q#2 – At Gettysburg, what was the ratio of cannons to troops?

Q#3 – During the Civil War, what was the average number of troops required to operate a cannon?

Q#4 – What was the name of the British artillery engineer who invented case shot?

Q#5 – What was the shape of the shell used in a civil war rifled artillery cannon?

Q#6 – What was marked on each paper fuse plug used in Civil War artillery?

Q#7 – What phrase was used to describe the volume of artillery smoke that covered a battlefield?

Q#8 – At the battle of Gettysburg, what weapon caused the most casualties?

Q#9 – At the beginning of the Civil war, where did the Confederates get the majority of their cannons?

Q#10 – What was the tactical advantage to having more batteries with fewer cannon in each?

Q#11 – What was the number of cannon Union General Henry Hunt positioned along Cemetery Ridge in advance of Pickett’s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg?

Q#12 – During the Confederate artillery barrage that proceeded Pickett’s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg, what event E. Porter Alexander observe that made him advise General Longstreet to commence Pickett’s Charge?

Q#13 – On July 1, the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, how many more cannons did the Confederates have when compared to the Union?

Q#14 – What was the term used when one side has more artillery than the other side?

Q#15 – Why was there no artillery reserve in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia?