Civil War Trivia Q&A

Battle of Gettysburg: First Day of Battle

Choose an answer from the three choices offered after each question and then  "Check Your Answers" at the end of the quiz.

1. When Brig. Gen. J. Johnston Pettigrew's troops approached Gettysburg on June 30, they noticed Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Buford arriving south of town. Pettigrew returned to Cashtown without engaging them. He report the sighting to his corps commander, Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill. However, he did send a “recon in force” on July 1, 1883 to gather information on the Union forces. Buford set up his division on the ridges west of town. What in NOT a ridge used by Buford?

• Showalter Ridge
• McPherson Ridge
• Seminary Ridge

2. About what time did Heth’s troops first run across Union skirmish lines. The start of the Battle of Gettysburg.

• 7:30 AM
• 12:30 PM
• 7:30 PM

3. The initial contact was with what kind of Union troops?

• Infantry
• Artillery
• Cavalry

4. Early in the fighting, while I Corps Maj. General Reynolds was directing troop and artillery placements just to the east of the woods, he fell from his horse, killed by a bullet, which struck him behind the right ear. Who took command of I Corps?

• Maj. General Abner Doubleday
• Maj. General Tom Campbell
• Maj. General Cliff Sample

5. Pettigrew’s North Carolina Brigade came on line, they flanked the 19th Indiana and drove the Iron Brigade back. The 26th North Carolina (the largest regiment in the army with 839 men) lost heavily. At the end of the first day how many men did they have to fight?

• 212 men
• 412 men
• 612 men

6. By early afternoon, the Federal line ran in a semi-circle west, north, and northeast of Gettysburg. Around 2:00 p.m., Maj. Gens. Robert E. Rodes and Jubal Early divisions assaulted and out-flanked the Union I and XI Corps positions north and northwest of town. What Confederate Corps out-flanked the Union line?

• First Corps
• Second Corps
• Third Corps

7. Gen. Howard ordered a retreat to the high ground south of town, where he had left the division of Brig. Gen. Adolph von Steinwehr as a reserve. What was the name of the hill that the Union troops fell back too?

• Pepper Hill
• Cemetery Hill
• Seminary Hill

8. Who assumed command of the battlefield, sent by Meade when he heard that Reynolds had been killed. The commander of the II Corps and his most trusted subordinate, was ordered to take command of the field and to determine whether Gettysburg was an appropriate place for a major battle.

• Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock
• Maj. Gen. Phillip S. Sherman
• Maj. Gen. Ira Hayes

9. Gen. Lee understood the defensive potential to the Union if they held this high ground. He sent orders to Ewell a certain high ground that Cemetery Hill be taken "if practicable." Ewell chose not to attempt the assault; this decision is considered by historians to be a great missed opportunity. What was the highest hill?

• Pepper Hill
• Cemetery Hill
• Seminary Hill

10. The first day at Gettysburg, more significant than simply a prelude to the bloody second and third days. About one quarter of Meade's army (22,000 men) and one third of Lee's army (27,000) were engaged. What did the first day rank in battle by number of troops engaged?

• 23rd biggest battle
• 55th biggest battle
• 100th biggest battle

Check Your Answers

1. Showalter Ridge is correct.
2. 7:30 AM is correct.
3. Cavalry is correct.
4. Maj. General Abner Doubleday is correct.
5. 212 men is correct.
6. Second Corps is correct.
7. Cemetery Hill is correct.
8. Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock
9. Cemetery Hill is correct.
10. 23rd biggest battle