Monthly Archives: June 2016

Quiz for September 27, 2016

Civil War Quiz – The Battles for Atlanta

Q#1 – What was the nickname the City of Atlanta gave itself during the middle of the 19th Century?

Q#2 – When Union general William T. Sherman began his Atlanta Campaign in May 1864, what was the name of the commanding general of the Confederate forces?

Q#3 – General Sherman’s Military Division of the Mississippi consisted of three large armies; what were their names?

Q#4 – In the spring of 1864, what shocking proposal did General Patrick Cleburne submit to increase the number of soldiers in the Confederate Army of Tennessee?

Q#5 – What tactic did Union general Sherman employ during the early stages of the campaign to avoid a frontal confrontation with the Confederate force?

Q#6 – What were the conflicting reasons that on May 19, 1864, Confederate general Johnston retreated instead of going forward with an attack at Cassville, Georgia?

Q#7 – During the last week of May 1864, three major engagements were fought continuously during that period: New Hope Church, Pickett’s Mill, and Dallas, Georgia. What name did the Union troops give to this series of battles?

Q#8 – At the June 27, 1864, Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, which resulted in a minor victory for the Confederacy, what attack tactic did Union general Sherman employ that he would never use again during the remainder of the war?

Q#9 – In July 1864, Confederate President Jefferson Davis sent what general to Atlanta to determine if General Joseph E. Johnston was planning to defend Atlanta or abandon it?

Q#10 – On July 17, 1864, what was the name of the Confederate general who replaced Joseph E. Johnston?

Q#11 – What was the name of the battle fought on July 20, 1864, which marked the first battle of the Confederate Army of Tennessee under its new commander?

Q#12 – What was the name of the only commander of a Federal army to die in the Civil War?

Q#13 – What was the name of the highest ranking Union prisoner of war who was captured in July 1864 attempting to free the Union prisoners at the Confederate Andersonville prison?

Q#14 – What was the reason Union general Sherman authorized a bombardment of the City of Atlanta beginning on August 9, 1864?

Q#15 – What were the contents of the telegram sent by Union general Sherman to his superiors in Washington after the surrender of Atlanta on September 2, 1864?

Meeting of August 20, 2016

Jim Rhetta on “The Federal Blockade—Its Overlooked Impacts on the Confederate War Effort”

Jim Rhetta

Jim Rhetta

The blockade was one of the three strategic objectives of the Federal war effort against the Confederacy. Civil War readers and historians still debate its effectiveness, with some citing the fact that blockade running ships still got through to a Southern port in the last days of the conflict as proof that it was not very effective.

What is overlooked is that the blockade produced secondary and indirect impacts to the Confederate war effort that are often not attributed to the blockade. These secondary impacts had a combined effect that seriously weakened the Confederate war effort and made the blockade more effective than most readers realize. Jim’s presentation described the Federal effort to build and operate a blockade force and the counter-efforts by blockade runners. It also identified the blockade impacts that crippled the economy, restricted transportation, reduced military effectiveness, and lowered social morale in the Confederacy.

Meeting Minutes August 2016

Quiz for August 20, 2016

Civil War Quiz: Brother Against Brother – The War Begins

Q#1 – What were the five main provisions of the Compromise of 1850?

Q#2 – Who were the other three candidates on the ballot for President in the election of 1860 in addition to Lincoln?

Q#3 – Why was Hannibal Hamlin chosen as Abraham Lincoln’s Vice Presidential running mate in 1860?

Q#4 – The attack on Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861, was not the first Union fort to be taken. What were the names of three Union facilities taken by the Confederates in January 1861?

Q#5 – In April 1861, were the organized territories of Nebraska, Washington, Kansas, Utah, and New Mexico in favor of slavery or opposed to it?

Q#6 – How many hours did the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter last: 25? 30? 33? 40? 42?

Q#7 – What reason did President Lincoln give for bypassing Congress when on April 15, 1861, he called for 75,000 militiamen for the Army?

Q#8 – In late April, 1861, proposing an army of 80,000 men, George McClellan submitted two plans to Winfield Scott that McClellan stated would “bring about the destruction of the Southern Army.” What were the plans?

Q#9 – What was the name of the first Union officer to die in the Civil War?

Q#10 – What was the name of the first general to die in the Civil War (Hint: He was a Confederate)?

Q#11 – The Battle of Big Bethel occurred on June 10, 1861, with Union forces led by Benjamin Butler. What was the name of the Confederate commander Butler faced in the battle?

Q#12 – What Union general’s military actions in June/July 1861 eventually secured West Virginia’s entry into the Union?

Q#13 – At the Battle of First Bull Run, each side had an army of about 35,000 men. However, not all these were actually engaged in the fighting. Approximately the same number of soldiers on each side was actually involved in combat. What was the number?

Q#14 – During the Battle of First Bull Run, what was the name of the Confederate general who gave Thomas Jackson his name of “Stonewall”?

Q#15 – What were the approximate total number of casualties for both Union and Confederate forces at the Battle of First Bull Run?

Meeting of July 26, 2016

Bob Burch on “Californian U.S. Volunteer Units, Part 3: Infantry”

This is the fourth of a twelve-part series on California and the American Civil War, and the third on the state’s Volunteer Regiments. The first regimental presentation provided an overview of the mustering process used by Union states to generate new regiments with an emphasis on its application in California. The second presentation focused on the two California volunteer cavalry regiments and one battalion. The third presentation will highlight the Infantry regiments.

California contributed eight infantry regiments and several battalions to the Union war effort. Time prevents discussion of each of the eight infantry regiments. However, the breadth of the California Infantry experience can be gleaned by concentrating on the first four regiments. Each unit history includes a historical summary, commander’s biography, and map detailing duty locations. These soldiers served across the entire Western United States from Idaho to Arizona Territories, and as far east as Wyoming Territory and Texas. They checked Secessionist activities in southern California, repelled a Confederate invasion of New Mexico, protected mail routes across the West, and conducted numerous campaigns against hostile Indians, including the famous Battle of Apache Pass. Also discussed is the authorized, but never organized, 9th California Infantry Regiment intended for a possible war with France in 1865.

Drawing from extensive original and secondary historical sources and photographs, Bob’s presentation provides the most exhaustive history of these regiments available. This presentation will put to rest the notion that California did not actively participate in the Union war effort and highlight the contributions of the Californians Volunteers.

Bob Burch is a native Californian, born and raised in Santa Clara County. He is also a lifetime student of the Civil War. He had the opportunity to visit many Civil War sites from Florida to Pennsylvania to New Mexico during his 30 year military career. Like many California CWRT members, he desires to understand his home state’s role in the war. He started collecting material for this presentation ten years ago and initiated a serious study 15 months ago. This series documents his research in great detail. Time allows only a few key points from each slide to be presented. Numerous period photographs and magazine drawings are included for visual effect with the intent of comprehending California’s role in the Civil War.

Meeting Minutes July 2016