Small Talk-Trivia

Small Talk — August 2017

By Stephen Davis · Originally published August 2017 · pp. 37–45

Small Talk By Stephen Davis This month, let’s talk about major captures of artillery in single events during the war. 1.

On July 9, 1863, Port Hudson, La., surrendered, giving to Federals 51 pieces of artillery. Who was the Confederate general capitulating? This fort, guarding the river approaches to New Orleans, surrendered to Union forces on April 28, 1862, with its 52 guns. An earlier Spanish fortification, San Felipe, had been built there. What was its Civil War name? After a month of siege operations by McClellan, Confederates at Yorktown abandoned their works, leaving “53 guns in good order,” a Federal reported. Confederate commander who had held the Yankees at bay was Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder. What was his nickname? Shy’s Hill and the Granny White Pike figured on the battlefield of this engagement, in which Hood’s army lost 54 field pieces. What battle? Grant captured 65 cannon when Fort Donelson surrendered

in February 1862. Confederate commander John B. Floyd shirked his duty and handed responsibility to his next ranking officer, who also fled before delegating to Simon B. Buckner. Who was second-in-command at Donelson? Of the war’s half-dozen biggest battles, this was the only one in which Confederates outnumbered Federals on the field. They won, capturing 66 Northern cannon. Which engagement? Federals surrendering here (with 73 guns) comprised the largest capitulation of U.S. armed forces until Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. Where? 8. When this American fort was completed in 1832, it was named for the then-U.S. president. (Confederates surrendered 74 guns in it.) Name? 9. Federal forces’ largest capture of Confederate artillery during the war (172 guns) occurred where? 10. The biggest artillery capture of the entire war, by either side, occurred where? See page 45 for answers. Steve Davis is the Civil War News Book Review Editor. He can be contacted by email at [email protected]

1. Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner 2. Fort St. Philip 3. “Prince John” 4. Nashville, Dec. 15-16, 1864 5. Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow 6. Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 19-20, 1863 7. Harpers Ferry, Va., Sept. 15, 1862 8. Fort Jackson, La. 9. Vicksburg, Miss., July 4, 1863 10. Gosport Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va.—1,195 cannon of all calibers, taken by Virginia State Troops on April 21, 1861