131+ Fascinating Civil War Trivia Facts

Did you know that the Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history?

Over 600,000 soldiers lost their lives between 1861 and 1865. It’s a tragic period that many of us learn about in school, but the textbooks often overlook the most interesting bits.

You might think you know everything about the Civil War, but prepare to be surprised. There’s much more to discover, from bizarre battles to unexpected heroes.

In this article, we’ll share 131+ fascinating Civil War trivia facts that will shock and amaze you. Get ready to impress your friends and family with your newfound knowledge of this pivotal historical moment.

Let’s dive in and explore the untold stories of the Civil War!

Fascinating Civil War Trivia Facts

1. Q: What year did the Civil War begin? – 1861

2. Q: Where was the first battle of the Civil War fought? – Fort Sumter, South Carolina

3. Q: Who was the President of the United States during the Civil War? – Abraham Lincoln

4. Q: What was the bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War? – The Battle of Antietam

5. Q: What year did the Civil War end? – 1865

6. Q: Where did General Robert E. Lee surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant? – Appomattox Court House, Virginia

7. Q: What was the Confederacy’s capital city? – Richmond, Virginia

8. Q: What was the Union’s capital city? – Washington, D.C.

9. Q: What famous speech did President Lincoln deliver during the Civil War? – The Gettysburg Address

10. Q: What was the name of the famous Confederate submarine? – H.L. Hunley

11. Q: What was the first major battle of the Civil War? – The First Battle of Bull Run (or First Manassas)

12. Q: What was the last major battle of the Civil War? – The Battle of Appomattox Courthouse

13. Q: What was the name of General Lee’s horse? – Traveller

14. Q: What famous Union general was known as “Unconditional Surrender”? – Ulysses S. Grant

15. Q: What was the name of the Union ironclad ship that battled the CSS Virginia? – USS Monitor

16. Q: What state was admitted to the Union during the Civil War? – West Virginia

17. Q: What was the nickname given to Union soldiers? – Yankees or Bluebellies

18. Q: What was the nickname given to Confederate soldiers? – Rebels or Johnny Rebs

19. Q: What famous actress was accused of conspiring to assassinate President Lincoln? – John Wilkes Booth

20. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the capture of Fort Henry? – Ulysses S. Grant

21. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the defense at the Battle of Shiloh? – Albert Sidney Johnston

22. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the cavalry at the Battle of Winchester? – Wesley Merritt

23. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Tennessee during the March to the Sea? – William T. Sherman

24. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Ohio during the Atlanta Campaign? – John M. Schofield

25. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the James during the Siege of Petersburg?– Edward Ord

26. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Tennessee during the Vicksburg Campaign? – Ulysses S. Grant

27. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the defense of Fort Donelson? – Simon Bolivar Buckner

28. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the cavalry at the Battle of Gettysburg? – John Buford

29. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Franklin?– John Bell Hood

30. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Antietam? – George B. McClellan

31. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the defense of Fort Henry? – Lloyd Tilghman

32. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Tennessee at the Battle of Shiloh? – Ulysses S. Grant

33. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia? – James Longstreet

34. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the cavalry at the Battle of Cedar Creek? – George A. Custer

35. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Stones River? – Braxton Bragg

36. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg? – Ambrose Burnside

37. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the defense of Fort Wagner? – William B. Taliaferro

38. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga? – William S. Rosecrans

39. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia? – Richard S. Ewell

40. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Tennessee at the Battle of Chattanooga? – William T. Sherman

41. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the cavalry at the Battle of Chancellorsville? – J.E.B. Stuart

42. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Cold Harbor?– Ulysses S. Grant

43. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Chickamauga? – Braxton Bragg

44. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the cavalry at the Battle of Stones River? – David S. Stanley

45. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the defense of Fort Pillow? – James R. Chalmers

46. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the James at the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm?– Benjamin F. Butler

47. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia? – A.P. Hill

48. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the cavalry at the Battle of Mine Run? – Alfred Pleasonton

49. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the defense of Fort McAllister? – George A. Anderson

50. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House? – George G. Meade

51. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida? – P.G.T. Beauregard

52. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Perryville? – Don Carlos Buell

53. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of the Peninsula at the Battle of Seven Pines? – Joseph E. Johnston

54. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Gulf at the Battle of Baton Rouge? – Thomas Williams

55. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Trans-Mississippi Department? – Edmund Kirby Smith

56. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Stones River? – William S. Rosecrans

57. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Chancellorsville? – Robert E. Lee

58. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Mississippi at the Battle of Iuka? – William S. Rosecrans

59. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of North Carolina? – Theophilus H. Holmes

60. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of Virginia at the Second Battle of Bull Run?– John Pope

61. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of the West at the Battle of Pea Ridge? – Earl Van Dorn

62. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Chancellorsville? – Joseph Hooker

63. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of East Tennessee? – Edmund Kirby Smith

64. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Tennessee at the Battle of Corinth? – William S. Rosecrans

65. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of the Kanawha at the Battle of Scary Creek? – Henry A. Wise

66. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the Pacific? – George Wright

67. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of the Northwest at the Battle of Rich Mountain? – Robert S. Garnett

68. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Southwest at the Battle of Prairie Grove? – James G. Blunt

69. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona? – John B. Magruder

70. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Knoxville? – Ambrose Burnside

71. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Alabama and West Florida? – John H. Forney

72. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Middle Department? – Robert C. Schenck

73. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Western North Carolina? – Robert B. Vance

74. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of New Mexico? – Edward R.S. Canby

75. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Henrico? – John H. Winder

    

76. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Frontier at the Battle of Cane Hill? – James G. Blunt

77. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of Kentucky at the Battle of Mill Springs? – George B. Crittenden

78. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the South? – Quincy A. Gillmore

79. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of the Gulf? – Dabney H. Maury

80. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of Virginia and North Carolina? – Benjamin F. Butler

81. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of South Carolina? – Roswell S. Ripley

82. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Missionary Ridge? – George H. Thomas

83. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Richmond? – Arnold Elzey

84. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the Susquehanna? – Darius N. Couch

85. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Western Virginia? – William W. Loring

86. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Tennessee at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain? – James B. McPherson

87. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia? – Pierre G.T. Beauregard

88. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of Washington? – Samuel P. Heintzelman

89. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Trans-Allegheny Department? – John B. Floyd

90. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the James at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher? – Alfred H. Terry

91. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Florida? – Joseph Finegan

92. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of North Anna? – George G. Meade

93. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana? – Franklin Gardner

94. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the Gulf? – Nathaniel P. Banks

95. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Arkansas? – Thomas C. Hindman

96. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Glendale? – George B. McClellan

97. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Indian Territory? – Douglas H. Cooper

98. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of Kansas? – James G. Blunt

99. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Louisiana? – Richard Taylor

100. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Tennessee at the Battle of Atlanta? – James B. McPherson

101. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Tennessee? – Leonidas Polk

102. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the Monongahela? – William T.H. Brooks

103. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of South Georgia and Florida? – Joseph Finegan

104. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga? – William S. Rosecrans

105. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Texas? – John B. Magruder

106. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the East? – John E. Wool

107. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Southern Virginia and North Carolina? – Samuel G. French

108. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Gettysburg? – George G. Meade

109. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Trans-Mississippi Department? – Edmund Kirby Smith

110. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the Northwest? – John Pope

111. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Western Kentucky? – Gideon J. Pillow

112. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Cold Harbor?– Ulysses S. Grant

113. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Georgia? – Alexander R. Lawton

114. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of New England? – Benjamin F. Butler

115. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of North Alabama? – Jones M. Withers

116. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Shiloh? – Don Carlos Buell

117. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida? – P.G.T. Beauregard

118. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the Ohio? – Ambrose Burnside

119. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana? – Braxton Bragg

120. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chattanooga? – George H. Thomas

121. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of East Tennessee and West Virginia? – John C. Breckinridge

122. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of West Virginia? – Benjamin F. Kelley

123. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona? – Henry H. Sibley

124. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the James at the Battle of Cold Harbor? – Benjamin F. Butler

125. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Army of the Kanawha? – Henry A. Wise

126. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House? – George G. Meade

127. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of East Tennessee and Georgia? – Edmund Kirby Smith

128. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the South at the Battle of Fort Pulaski? – Quincy A. Gillmore

129. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the District of Aiken? – Nathan G. Evans

130. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Department of the Missouri? – John M. Schofield

131. Q: What was the name of the Confederate general who led the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia? – Samuel G. French

132. Q: What was the name of the Union general who led the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fort Stevens? – Horatio G. Wright

Conclusion

Exploring these fascinating Civil War trivia facts has shed light on the complex tapestry of this pivotal moment in American history.

From the unsung heroes to the pivotal battles, each piece of information adds depth to our understanding of the conflict that shaped the nation.

As we reflect on these facts, it’s essential to consider the Civil War’s lasting impact on society, politics, and culture.

The stories of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience resonate with us today, reminding us of the importance of learning from our past.

So, the next time you discuss the Civil War, share some interesting tidbits and inspire others to delve deeper into this amazing history chapter.