Monthly Archives: April 2021

Meeting of May 25, 2021

Robert O’Connor on “Mrs. Slater — The Missing Lincoln Conspirator”

This mysterious lady who always wore a mourning veil over her face was a confidant of John Surratt, Jr. She was a courier of messages between Richmond and the Confederate Secret Service office in Montreal. She is mentioned by several witnesses in the Lincoln Conspiracy trials, but there is a lot of confusion about their testimony. No one can describe her. She is arrested and questioned, but released and disappeared. Her story is interesting.

Robert O’Connor is an historian, researcher, and the author of 18 Civil War books who lived in Charles Town, WV. Is now retired and writes full-time. Writes about subjects or characters not widely known in the field. Has been named finalist four times in national book competitions. www.boboconnorbooks.com

Quiz for May 25, 2021

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Connection of the American Civil War to Other Wars?

Revolutionary War

Q#1 — Robert E. Lee’s father, Henry Lee III, commanded Lee’s Legion during the revolutionary war. What was his nickname?

Multiple

Q#2 — He was a general in the War of 1812, The Mexican-American War and the Civil War. Who was he?

Q#3 — This confederate general’s grandfather was lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the American War of Independence and brigadier general in the War of 1812, and his father was an officer of dragoons in the War of 1812, and an aide to General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. Name him.

Mexican-American War

Q#4 — What key role did Robert E. Lee play in the US victory at the Battle of Cerro Gordo?

Q#5 — In the Battle of Chapultepec, brevet major James Longstreet was wounded in the thigh while charging with his regimental colors. Who did he hand the colors to?

Q#6 — Jefferson Davis commanded the Mississippi Rifles at two Mexican American war battles. Name them.

Q#7 — During the Battle of Buena Vista, General Taylor was alleged to make a statement regarding then Captain Braxton Bragg. What was the statement?

Spanish-American War

Q#8 — This Confederate cavalry commander served as major general of volunteers in the Spanish-American war. Name him.

Q#9 — As Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders charged Kettle and San Juan Hills, on their left, the 10th Cavalry, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, charged beside them. The commander of D Troop was the son of a Union general. Who was he?

Q#10 — This Civil War general, also famous as an Indian fighter, was Commanding General of the United States Army in 1895 during the Spanish–American War. Name him.

Spanish Civil War

Q#11 — US volunteers formed a battalion of the XV International Brigade to fight for the republic during the Spanish Civil War. It was named after an American Civil war figure. What was the name of the battalion?

WWI And WWII

Q#12 — This Civil War general was defeated by Nathan Bedford Forest at Brice’s Crossroads. His son was a WWI general and his grandson a WWII general. Who was he?

WWII

Q#13 — In 1943, the commander of the 84th Infantry Division was killed in action. His name has a connection to the Civil War. What was his name?

Q#14 — Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr., had surrendered to Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Fort Donelson during the Civil War. What was his connection to WWII?

Q#15 — This man was the first US general to be killed in the war in Europe. He was the great-grandson of a Civil War general. Who was he?

Vietnam

Q#16 — The Battle of the Ia Drang documented in the book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young involved a regiment created during the Civil War. What was the regiment?

Meeting of April 27, 2021

Dana Lombardy on “Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Building a Navy, Building a Book”

Dana Lombardy is back with another interesting talk, this one about his work editing Neil Chatelain’s book on Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861-1865 (published by Savas Beatie in 2020). Using a slide presentation created by the author, Dana will reveal the challenges and surprising discoveries that he and Chatelain uncovered while preparing this book for publication.

Dana Lombardy was an Associate Online Editor for Armchair General and now does research, writing and design through LombardyStudios.com. Dana is known for his nearly twenty television appearances, including multiple episodes of The History Channel’s “Tales of the Gun” series. He has contributed as an editor, cartographer, graphic artist,  and designer on many books, games, and magazines, was publisher of Napoleon Journal from 1996 to 2000 and published nine issues of World War One Illustrated.

Quiz for April 27, 2021

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About Money During the Civil War?

Q#1 – What was the nickname given to US Government paper money?

Q#2 – The Confederate States dollar was backed with what?

Q#3 – There were two forms of US paper money – what were they?

Q#4 – What was the nickname given to Confederate Government paper money?

Q#5 – Before the Civil War, what was the only form of money issued by the United States?

Q#6 – What was the redemption phrase that was printed on Confederate money?

Q#7 – What was the name of President Lincoln’s first Secretary of the Treasury?

Q#8 – What was the name of President Davis’s first Secretary of the Treasury?

Q#9 – What were the interest rates offered by Northern banks when the Lincoln Administration initially sought loans at the beginning of the Civil War?

Q#10 – Which two Confederate states came up with their own form of redemption for Confederate paper money?

Q#11 – For Union paper money, what were the three denominations other than $1, $2, $5, $20, and $50 issued?

Q#12 – Confederate paper money was issued in the exact same denominations as Union paper money with one exception – what was that exception?

Q#13 – Which two Union states defied the Legal Tender Act of 1862, which authorized the US Congress to issue $150 million in paper currency that was not backed with gold or silver?

Q#14 – Why did Confederate paper money printers have to lift by offset or lithographic process scenes that had been used on whatever notes they had access to?

Q#15 – For Union paper money that was not backed by any assets, at the end of the Civil War, how many paper dollars did it require to purchase $100 in gold?