Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About Union General Daniel E. Sickles?

Q#1 – Daniel E Sickles’ parents were Susan Marsh Sickles and George Garrett Sickles. What was Sickles’ father’s occupation?

Q#2 – Sickles’ official birthdate is October 20, 1819. His year of birth is sometimes given as 1825, and Sickles was known to have claimed as such – why did Sickles give people different dates for his birth?

Q#3 – As a young man, what trade did Sickles learn?

Q#4 – In 1847, what was the first political office that Sickles was elected to?

Q#5 – On September 27, 1852, at the age of 32, Sickles married Teresa Bagioli against the wishes of both families. How old was his bride?

Q#6 – While being a member of the New York State Assembly, why did this governmental organization censor Sickles?

Q#7 – On February 27, 1859, in Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House, Sickles shot and killed Philip Barton Key II, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the son of Francis Scott Key. What was the motive that led Sickles to shot Key?

Q#8 – In the 1850s, Sickles had received a commission in the 12th Regiment of the New York Militia; what rank did Sickles eventually attain with this unit?
 
Q#9 – At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sickles was appointed colonel of one what military unit?

Q#10 – While in command of his military unit, what non-battle related action did Sickles perform that won for him the approval of the influential Committee on the Conduct of the War?

Q#11 – For a variety of reasons, Sickles missed significant actions at the Battle of Williamsburg and the Second Battle of Bull Run. What was the reason Sickles missed the Battle of Antietam because the III Corps, to which he was assigned as a division commander.?

Q#12 – How did Sickles become the only Union corps commander without a West Point military education?

Q#13 – At the Battle of Chancellorsville. What two sets of advice did Sickles provide to Army of the Potomac Commander, Joseph Hooker, that Hooker ignored, that historians of the battle believe could have caused the battle to turn out very differently for the Union if Hooker had heeded Sickles’ advice?

Q#14 – What two factors played into Sickles’ decision to move his Third Corp west off the lower part of Cemetery Ridge?

Q#15 – Despite his one-legged disability after being wounded at the Batlle of Gettysburg, Sickles remained in the army until the end of the war. Who prevented Sickles from returning to a combat command?