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The Union army's primary objective during the American Civil War was to conquer the Confederate states and establish a new federal government over them.
Answer: False
The Union army's primary objective was the restoration and preservation of the United States as a functional republic, not to establish a new federal government over conquered states.
Beyond the permanent regular army, the Union army was significantly bolstered by temporary volunteer units and conscripted soldiers.
Answer: True
The Union army was composed of the regular army, significantly augmented by temporary volunteer units, and included conscripted soldiers.
The total casualties for Union soldiers during the American Civil War, including killed, wounded, and missing, exceeded 600,000.
Answer: False
The total casualties for Union soldiers, including killed, wounded, or missing, were 596,670, which is less than 600,000.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, the U.S. Army was a large, well-concentrated force ready for immediate deployment.
Answer: False
At the outbreak of the war, the U.S. Army was small and its units were widely dispersed, mostly in the West.
President Lincoln's initial call for 75,000 troops for three months indicated an expectation that the Civil War would be a prolonged conflict.
Answer: False
President Lincoln's initial call for troops for only three months indicated an expectation that the war would be short-lived, not prolonged.
The General-in-Chief held supreme command and control over the Union army, with the President serving in an advisory role.
Answer: False
The U.S. President held supreme command and control as commander-in-chief, with the General-in-Chief directing field operations below him.
From March 11 to July 23, 1862, President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton directly controlled the army, assisted by an unofficial 'War Board' that provided military advice.
Answer: True
During this period, President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton directly controlled the army, receiving military advice from an unofficial 'War Board'.
According to James M. McPherson, Union soldiers primarily fought to preserve the United States and became convinced that this goal necessitated confronting slavery.
Answer: True
James M. McPherson states that Union soldiers primarily fought to preserve the United States and became convinced that this goal was unattainable without confronting slavery.
What was the primary objective of the Union army during the American Civil War?
Answer: The restoration and preservation of the United States as a functional republic.
The primary objective of the Union army was the restoration and preservation of the United States as a functional republic.
Which of the following best describes the composition of the Union army beyond the regular army?
Answer: It was significantly augmented by numerous temporary units of dedicated volunteers and included conscripts.
Beyond the permanent regular army, the Union army was significantly augmented by numerous temporary units of dedicated volunteers and included conscripts.
Who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Union army in 1865 after Abraham Lincoln's assassination?
Answer: Andrew Johnson
President Andrew Johnson served as Commander-in-Chief in 1865 after Lincoln's assassination.
Which of the following individuals was NOT a Commanding General of the United States Army during the Civil War period?
Answer: General William T. Sherman
The Commanding Generals during the Civil War period included Winfield Scott, George B. McClellan, Henry W. Halleck, and Ulysses S. Grant. William T. Sherman was a prominent Union general but not a Commanding General of the entire U.S. Army during this period.
What was the initial state of the U.S. Army at the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861?
Answer: It was small and its units were widely dispersed, mostly in the West.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, the U.S. Army was small and its units were widely dispersed, with most stationed in the West.
How did President Lincoln's initial call for troops in 1861 reflect the early expectations of the war?
Answer: He called for 75,000 troops for three months, indicating an expectation of a short war.
President Lincoln's initial call for 75,000 troops for only three months indicated an expectation that the war would be short-lived.
Who held supreme command and control as commander-in-chief of the Union army?
Answer: The U.S. President
The U.S. President held supreme command and control as commander-in-chief of the Union army.
Who replaced Simon Cameron as Secretary of War in January 1862?
Answer: Edwin Stanton
Edwin Stanton replaced Simon Cameron as Secretary of War in January 1862.
What was the role of the unofficial 'War Board' established in March 1862?
Answer: To provide military advice and coordinate military policy for President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton.
The unofficial 'War Board' provided military advice and helped coordinate military policy for President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton during a period without a General-in-Chief.
According to James M. McPherson, what was a primary motivation for Union soldiers fighting in the Civil War?
Answer: To preserve the United States, which also led them to confront slavery.
According to James M. McPherson, Union soldiers primarily fought to preserve the United States, and this goal led them to confront slavery.
Approximately 20% of the 1,108 commissioned officers in the U.S. Army at the start of the war resigned to join the Confederate army.
Answer: True
Approximately 20% of the 1,108 commissioned officers, mostly Southerners, resigned to join the Confederate army.
The Union army's major geographical organizational units were primarily Regiments, Brigades, and Corps.
Answer: False
The Union army's major geographical organizational units were Military Divisions, Departments, and Districts.
A Military Division in the Union army was a collection of Departments reporting to a single commander, akin to a modern 'Theater' of war.
Answer: True
A Military Division was indeed structured as a collection of Departments reporting to a single commander, functioning similarly to a modern 'Theater' of war.
An 'Army' in the Union forces was primarily an administrative unit responsible for federal installations within a specific geographical region.
Answer: False
An 'Army' was the fighting force, typically commanded by a major general, and usually assigned to a District or Department, not primarily an administrative unit for federal installations.
The fundamental basis of military organization for the United States Army during the Civil War was the company, not the regiment.
Answer: False
The fundamental basis of military organization for the United States Army during the Civil War was the regiment.
A Corps in the Union army was typically commanded by a Brigadier General and consisted of 2-6 divisions.
Answer: False
A Corps was commanded by a Major General, not a Brigadier General.
A Brigade in the Union army was typically commanded by a Major General and comprised 2-12 regiments.
Answer: False
A Brigade was commanded by a Brigadier General, not a Major General.
Regular army personnel, despite their small numbers, were crucial in training volunteers and setting high standards for performance in battle.
Answer: True
Regular army personnel formed an important foundation for the Union army, training volunteers and setting high standards in battle.
Commissioned officers in the Union army were categorized into general officers, field officers, and company officers.
Answer: True
Commissioned officers were indeed categorized into general officers, field officers, and company officers.
Company officers in the volunteer forces were often elected by their company members, a system that sometimes initially led to less capable commanders.
Answer: True
Company officers in volunteer forces were often elected, a system that, influenced by political patronage, sometimes resulted in less capable commanders.
A Colonel in the Union army was primarily responsible for commanding a single company and maintaining its daily records.
Answer: False
A Colonel was the commanding officer of a regiment, not a single company.
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) were primarily responsible for strategic planning and intelligence gathering within the Union army.
Answer: False
NCOs were crucial for maintaining order and alignment during marches and battles, and for training individual soldiers, not strategic planning or intelligence gathering.
What percentage of commissioned officers in the U.S. Army resigned to join the Confederate army at the start of the Civil War?
Answer: Approximately 20%
Approximately 20% of the 1,108 commissioned officers in the U.S. Army resigned to join the Confederate army at the start of the war.
Which of the following were the major geographical organizational units of the Union army?
Answer: Military Divisions, Departments, and Districts
The Union army was organized geographically into Military Divisions, Departments, and Districts.
How was a 'Military Division' structured within the Union army?
Answer: It was a collection of Departments reporting to a single commander.
A Military Division was structured as a collection of Departments reporting to a single commander, akin to a modern 'Theater' of war.
What was the typical command structure and composition of an 'Army' in the Union forces?
Answer: Commanded by a Major General, typically containing between one and eight corps.
An 'Army' was typically commanded by a Major General and could contain between one and eight corps.
What was the fundamental basis of military organization for the United States Army during the Civil War?
Answer: The regiment
The fundamental basis of military organization for the United States Army during the Civil War was the regiment.
Who typically commanded a 'Corps' in the Union army?
Answer: A Major General
A Corps in the Union army was typically commanded by a Major General.
How many brigades typically comprised a 'Division' in the Union army?
Answer: Two to six (averaging three for infantry)
A Division in the Union army comprised 2–6 brigades, averaging three for infantry.
What was the authorized strength of a 'Regiment' in the Union army?
Answer: 1,000 soldiers
A Regiment in the Union army had an authorized strength of 1,000 soldiers.
How did regular army personnel contribute to the Union war effort, despite being a small minority?
Answer: They formed an important foundation, training volunteers and setting high standards in battle.
Regular army personnel formed an important foundation for the Union army, training volunteers and setting high standards in battle.
Which of the following was NOT a category of commissioned officers in the Union army?
Answer: Warrant officers
Commissioned officers in the Union army were categorized into general officers, field officers, and company officers; warrant officers were not a category.
What was a primary responsibility of a Colonel in the Union army?
Answer: Recruitment, organization, and training of a regiment.
A Colonel was the commanding officer of a regiment, responsible for its recruitment, organization, and training.
What were the key duties of a Captain in the Union army?
Answer: Commanding a company, administering it, and selecting NCOs.
A Captain commanded a company, was responsible for its administration, and selected and trained non-commissioned officers.
What was a crucial role of Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in the Union army?
Answer: Maintaining order and alignment during marches and battles, and training individual soldiers.
NCOs were crucial for maintaining order and alignment during marches and battles, and for training individual soldiers.
Over the course of the Civil War, approximately 8.4% of the 2,128,948 men who enlisted in the Union army were colored troops.
Answer: True
Of the 2,128,948 men who enlisted, approximately 8.4% (178,895) were colored troops.
The American public generally held a positive view of standing armies before the Civil War, seeing them as essential for national defense.
Answer: False
Before the Civil War, the American public generally held a negative view of standing armies, viewing them as a threat to democracy.
An estimated 10,000 white soldiers from Confederate states served in Union army units or pro-Union guerrilla groups.
Answer: False
An estimated 100,000 white soldiers from Confederate states, known as 'Southern Unionists,' served in Union army units or pro-Union guerrilla groups.
The majority of white men who served in the Union army were foreign-born immigrants.
Answer: False
Native-born White Americans constituted roughly two-thirds of the Union army, while about 25% of white men who served were foreign-born.
The Union army encouraged loyalty among immigrant soldiers by appointing generals from their communities and allowing ethnically specific regiments.
Answer: True
To foster immigrant enthusiasm and loyalty, the Union army appointed generals from immigrant communities and allowed the formation of ethnically specific regiments.
The 'Garibaldi Guard' was a nickname for an Irish regiment known for its distinctive green uniforms and Gaelic motto.
Answer: False
The 'Garibaldi Guard' was the 39th New York Infantry Regiment, composed primarily of Italian and other European volunteers, known for wearing red shirts and bersaglieri plumes, not green uniforms or a Gaelic motto.
African Americans were immediately welcomed into federal service at the start of the Civil War due to the Union's anti-slavery stance.
Answer: False
Initially, African Americans were barred from federal service due to prejudices and President Lincoln's concerns about angering Northern whites and Border States.
African American soldiers in the Union army received equal pay to white soldiers from the beginning of their enlistment.
Answer: False
African American soldiers were paid less than white soldiers ($10 vs. $16 per month) until Congress approved equal pay in June 1864.
Women primarily contributed to the Union army by serving as official vivandières and commanding regiments in disguise.
Answer: False
Women contributed in many ways, including disguising themselves as men to enlist, serving as unofficial camp followers, nurses, and spies, but not primarily as official vivandières or commanding regiments in disguise.
Approximately how many men enlisted in the Union army over the course of the Civil War?
Answer: 2,128,948 men
Over the course of the war, 2,128,948 men enlisted in the Union army.
What was the general public perception of standing armies in America before the Civil War?
Answer: They were generally viewed negatively as a threat to democracy.
Before the Civil War, the American public generally held a negative view of standing armies, seeing them as a threat to democracy.
Approximately how many white soldiers from Confederate states, known as 'Southern Unionists,' served in Union army units?
Answer: 100,000
An estimated 100,000 white soldiers from Confederate states served in Union army units or pro-Union guerrilla groups.
What percentage of white men who served in the Union army were foreign-born?
Answer: About 25%
About 25% of the white men who served in the Union army were foreign-born.
How did the Union army encourage loyalty and enthusiasm among immigrant soldiers?
Answer: By appointing generals from immigrant communities and allowing ethnically specific regiments.
The Union army encouraged loyalty among immigrant soldiers by appointing generals from their communities and allowing the formation of ethnically specific regiments.
What was the 'Garibaldi Guard' known for?
Answer: Its members, primarily Italian and other European volunteers, wearing red shirts and bersaglieri plumes.
The 'Garibaldi Guard' was the 39th New York Infantry Regiment, known for its Italian and other European volunteers wearing red shirts and bersaglieri plumes.
When did Congress authorize official Black enlistment in the Union army?
Answer: In late 1862, after initial prohibitions.
Congress authorized official Black enlistment in late 1862, after initial prohibitions against African Americans serving in federal service.
What form of discrimination did African American soldiers face regarding pay in the Union army?
Answer: They were paid less than white soldiers until Congress approved equal pay in June 1864.
African American soldiers were paid less than white soldiers until Congress approved equal pay in June 1864.
The Adjutant General's Department (AGD) was primarily responsible for the procurement and distribution of all army ordnance and related equipment.
Answer: False
The Adjutant General's Department was primarily responsible for military correspondence, recruitment administration, and personnel records, while the Ordnance Department handled ordnance.
Colonel Lorenzo Thomas served as Adjutant General throughout the entire Civil War, maintaining direct control from Washington.
Answer: False
While Colonel Lorenzo Thomas was named Adjutant General, Assistant Adjutant General Colonel Edward D. Townsend effectively acted as the AG in Washington from March 1863 onward after Thomas's reassignment.
The Bureau of Military Justice (BMJ) was created to provide relief to Black freedmen and white refugees during the war.
Answer: False
The Bureau of Military Justice was created to conduct courts-martial, codify military laws, and review court-martial records, not to provide relief to freedmen and refugees.
The most significant contribution of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (Freedmen's Bureau) was providing education to many Black individuals and poor whites.
Answer: True
The Freedmen's Bureau's most important contribution was providing education to many Black individuals and poor whites during the Reconstruction era.
Before and during the Civil War, the Corps of Engineers was solely focused on military engineering, such as fortifications and harbor defenses.
Answer: False
Before and during the Civil War, the Corps of Engineers was involved in both military engineering (fortifications, harbor defenses) and civil engineering (canals, bridges).
The Corps of Topographical Engineers was merged with the Corps of Engineers in March 1861, early in the Civil War.
Answer: False
The Corps of Topographical Engineers was merged with the Corps of Engineers in March 1863, not March 1861.
At the beginning of the Civil War, the Inspector General's Department (IGD) was a strong, centralized department with standardized policies.
Answer: False
At the start of the Civil War, there was no formal Inspector General's Department; inspections were conducted ad-hoc, and a permanent office was established later in January 1863.
The Army Medical Department (AMD) was responsible for caring for sick and wounded soldiers, operating hospitals, and acquiring medical supplies.
Answer: True
The Army Medical Department was indeed responsible for caring for sick and wounded soldiers, operating hospitals, and acquiring and distributing medical supplies.
The Ordnance Department (ORDD) faced minimal challenges early in the war, as it was well-prepared to arm the rapidly expanding Union army.
Answer: False
The Ordnance Department faced significant challenges early in the war, struggling to arm the rapidly expanding Union army, exacerbated by the transfer of arms to Southern arsenals before the war.
Secretary of War John B. Floyd's actions before the war strengthened the Ordnance Department by consolidating arms in Northern arsenals.
Answer: False
Secretary of War John B. Floyd's actions before the war weakened the Ordnance Department by ordering the transfer of arms from Northern to Southern arsenals and selling federal arms to Southern states.
Despite payment delays of up to eight months, the Pay Department's challenges never led to widespread mutiny in the Union army.
Answer: True
Despite payment delays of up to eight months, the Pay Department's challenges never led to widespread mutiny.
The Quartermaster's Department (QMD) was the Union army's smallest department, focused solely on providing clothing and tents.
Answer: False
The Quartermaster's Department was the Union army's most extensive department, with responsibilities far beyond just clothing and tents, including transportation, horses, fuel, and managing military railroads.
Early challenges of fraud and inefficiency in the Quartermaster's Department were overcome by requiring quartermasters to file a $10,000 bond, making them personally liable for supplies.
Answer: True
The requirement for quartermasters to file a $10,000 bond, making them personally liable for supplies, contributed to overcoming early challenges of fraud and inefficiency.
Albert James Myer was an army surgeon who developed the 'wigwag' system of military signals, crucial for coordinating Union army actions.
Answer: True
Albert James Myer, an army surgeon, developed the 'wigwag' system of military signals and led the Signal Corps, which was instrumental in coordinating Union army actions.
President Lincoln frequently expressed concerns about the inefficiency and disorganization of the Subsistence Department.
Answer: False
President Lincoln famously remarked on the Subsistence Department's smooth operation, stating, 'Your department we scarcely hear of; it is like a well-regulated stomach, works so smoothly we are not conscious of having it.'
What was a primary responsibility of the Adjutant General's Department (AGD) during the Civil War?
Answer: Handling military correspondence and administering recruitment.
The Adjutant General's Department was primarily responsible for handling military correspondence and administering recruitment.
Who effectively acted as the Adjutant General in Washington from March 1863 onward?
Answer: Assistant Adjutant General Colonel Edward D. Townsend
Assistant Adjutant General Colonel Edward D. Townsend effectively acted as the Adjutant General in Washington from March 1863 onward.
What was a key function of the Bureau of Military Justice (BMJ)?
Answer: Conducting courts-martial and codifying military laws.
A key function of the Bureau of Military Justice was to conduct courts-martial and codify military laws.
What was the most significant contribution of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (Freedmen's Bureau)?
Answer: Providing education to many Black individuals and poor whites.
The most significant contribution of the Freedmen's Bureau was providing education to many Black individuals and poor whites.
When was the Corps of Topographical Engineers merged with the Corps of Engineers?
Answer: March 1863
The Corps of Topographical Engineers was merged with the Corps of Engineers in March 1863.
When was a permanent Inspector General's office established in Washington to centralize control and standardize policies?
Answer: In January 1863.
A permanent Inspector General's office was established in Washington in January 1863 to centralize control and standardize policies.
Which of the following was NOT a responsibility of the Army Medical Department (AMD) during the Civil War?
Answer: Administering recruitment for new regiments.
Administering recruitment was a responsibility of the Adjutant General's Department, not the Army Medical Department.
What was the principal mission of the Ordnance Department (ORDD) during the Civil War?
Answer: Developing, procuring, storing, and distributing all army ordnance and related equipment.
The principal mission of the Ordnance Department was the development, procurement, storage, distribution, and repair of all army ordnance and related equipment.
What was the impact of Secretary of War John B. Floyd's actions on the Ordnance Department before the war?
Answer: He ordered the transfer of arms from Northern to Southern arsenals, creating a crisis for the ORDD.
Secretary of War John B. Floyd's actions before the war created an immediate crisis for the Ordnance Department by ordering the transfer of arms from Northern to Southern arsenals.
What was a significant challenge faced by the Pay Department during the Civil War?
Answer: Payments sometimes delayed by as much as eight months.
A significant challenge faced by the Pay Department was that payments were sometimes delayed by as much as eight months.
What was a key success of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (PMGB)?
Answer:
What was a key success of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (PMGB)?
Answer: Bringing over one million men into the Union army more efficiently and returning over 76,500 deserters to duty.
A key success of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau was bringing over one million men into the Union army more efficiently and returning over 76,500 deserters to duty.
Which of the following was NOT a responsibility of the Quartermaster's Department (QMD)?
Answer: Developing new military signal systems.
Developing new military signal systems was the responsibility of the Signal Corps, led by Albert James Myer, not the Quartermaster's Department.
How did the Quartermaster's Department overcome early challenges of fraud and inefficiency?
Answer: By implementing a system where quartermasters filed a $10,000 bond, making them personally liable for supplies.
The Quartermaster's Department overcame early challenges by implementing a system where quartermasters filed a $10,000 bond, making them personally liable for supplies.
What was Albert James Myer's significant contribution to the Union army?
Answer: He developed 'wigwag,' a system of military signals, and led the Signal Corps.
Albert James Myer developed 'wigwag,' a system of military signals, and led the Signal Corps, a significant contribution to the Union army.
How did President Lincoln describe the Subsistence Department's operation?
Answer: As a well-regulated stomach, working so smoothly it was scarcely heard of.
President Lincoln famously described the Subsistence Department's operation as 'a well-regulated stomach, works so smoothly we are not conscious of having it.'
The introduction of rifled muskets in the Civil War reinforced traditional linear tactics, making offensive charges more effective.
Answer: False
The introduction of rifled muskets challenged traditional linear tactics, as their longer effective range led to predictions that defensive positions would gain a significant advantage.
Union cavalry tactics primarily involved large-scale mounted charges with sabers, similar to European counterparts.
Answer: False
Union cavalry tactics evolved to involve dismounting a portion of troopers for firefights with repeating firearms, while a mounted portion charged with revolvers and sabers, differing from European traditions.
The New York Draft riots of 1863 were primarily carried out by African Americans protesting discriminatory draft policies.
Answer: False
The New York Draft riots of 1863 were primarily carried out by Irish immigrants and targeted African Americans and anti-slavery activists.
The New York Draft riots were eventually quelled through peaceful negotiations and political compromise.
Answer: False
The New York Draft riots were eventually quelled by the Union army, which was deployed after the victory at Gettysburg, sometimes opening fire on rioters.
How did the introduction of rifled muskets challenge traditional Union army tactics?
Answer: It led to predictions that defensive positions would gain a significant advantage, potentially rendering linear tactics obsolete.
The introduction of rifled muskets, with their longer effective range, led to predictions that defensive positions would gain a significant advantage, challenging traditional linear tactics.
How did Union cavalry tactics evolve under commanders like Philip Sheridan?
Answer: They involved dismounting a portion of troopers for firefights with repeating firearms, while a mounted portion charged with revolvers and sabers.
Union cavalry tactics evolved to involve dismounting troopers for firefights with repeating firearms, while a mounted portion charged with revolvers and sabers.
Which of the following was a primary cause of desertion in the Union army?
Answer: Daily hardships, delayed pay, and war-weariness.
Primary causes of desertion included daily hardships, forced marches, thirst, heat, disease, delayed pay, and war-weariness.
What was the estimated 'real' rate of desertion in the Union army during the Civil War?
Answer: Between 9-12%
Historians estimate the 'real' rate of desertion in the Union army to be between 9-12%.
What was the potential fate of a 'bounty jumper' if caught?
Answer: Execution, though many were reprieved by President Lincoln.
If caught, 'bounty jumpers' could face execution, though President Lincoln often reprieved those sentenced to death.
Who were the primary targets of the New York Draft riots of 1863?
Answer: African Americans and anti-slavery activists.
The primary targets of the New York Draft riots of 1863 were African Americans and anti-slavery activists.
What was a key reason for Irish immigrants' participation in the New York Draft riots?
Answer: Opposition to abolitionism and fear of job competition from freed Black people.
Irish immigrants participated in the New York Draft riots due to opposition to abolitionism and fear of job competition from freed Black people.
How were the New York Draft riots eventually suppressed?
Answer: By the Union army, which was deployed after the victory at Gettysburg, sometimes opening fire on rioters.
The New York Draft riots were eventually suppressed by the Union army, which was deployed after the victory at Gettysburg, sometimes opening fire on rioters.