Small Talk-Trivia

What’s In A Name?

By Stephen Davis · Originally published April 2019 · pp. 39–46

Two Union generals were named for this famous explorer who “discovered” the New World in 1492. 2. Another Northern general bore the name (in Latinized version) of this Italian explorer after whom “America” was named. 3. Four Federal and two Confederate generals bore the name of this first president of the United States. 4. Another four Civil War generals carried the name of this famous Pennsylvanian, author of Poor Richard’s Almanack. 5. One Federal general was named for Napoleon Bonaparte, but surprisingly two were named for this king of Sweden (reigned 1611– 1632), credited with establishing his country as a world power. 6. Three Union generals were named for this president of

Endnotes:

David B. Parker, Alias Bill Arp: Charles Henry Smith and the South’s “Goodly Heritage” (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1991), 3-14; Richard Michael Allen, comp., The 8th Georgia Volunteer Infantry

Regiment, 1861–1865 (El Dorado Hills CA: Savas Beatie, 2018), 36. Ford Risley, ed., Dear Courier: The Civil War Correspondence of Editor Melvin Dwinell (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2018), 319 n. 2 (“he began writing satirical essays for the Courier”); Parker, Alias Bill Arp, 52-54. Bill Arp’s Scrap Book; Humor and Philosophy (Atlanta: Jas. P. Harrison & Co., 1884), 7-8. James C. Austin, Bill Arp (New York: Twayne Publishers, 1969), 19; Carole E. Scott, “Writing under the nom de plume ‘Bill Arp,’ Charles H. Smith achieved fame as the Confederacy’s jester,” America’s Civil War, May 2004, 16. Anne M. Christie, “Civil War Humor: Bill Arp,” Civil War History, vol. 2 (September 1956), 103. Parker, Alias Bill Arp, 57-58; “Bill Arp, the Roman Runagee,” Atlanta Southern Confederacy, May 29, 1864; Bill Arp’s Peace Papers (New York: G. W. Carleton & Co., 1873), 67-68. “Local Intelligence,” Memphis Appeal, June 3, 1864; “Volo,” “On the Right Wing,” Atlanta Southern Confederacy, June 22, 1864.

the United States who served 1829–1837. 7. A Confederate and a Federal general bore the name of this famed American officer whose service bridged the War of 1812 to the start of the Civil War. 8. One Federal general was named after this third U.S. president. 9. Similarly, a Union general bore the name of this sixth president of the United States. 10. Finally, let’s hear it for classical composers. A Northern general carried the name of this Austrian composer who in his lifetime (1732-1809) wrote more than a hundred symphonies. Answers found on page 46.

Christopher Columbus. The generals were Christopher Columbus Andrews (1829–1922) and Christopher Columbus Augur (1821–1898). 2. Amerigo Vespucci. The general was Americus Vespucius Rice (1835–1904). 3. George Washington, of course. The six were George Washington Cullum (1809–1866); George Washington Deitzler (1826–1884); George Washington Getty (1819–1901); George Washington Gordon (1836–1911); George Washington Custis Lee (1832–1913); and George Washington Morgan (1820–1893). 4. Benjamin Franklin. The officers were Benjamin Franklin Butler (1818–1893); Benjamin Franklin Cheatham (1820–1886); Benjamin Franklin Kelley (1807–1891); and Benjamin Franklin Potts (1836–1887). 5. Gustavus Adolphus. The namesakes were Gustavus Adolphus De Russy (1818–1891) and Gustavus Adolphus Smith (1820–1885). To be fair to the French emperor, another three Civil War generals had either “Napoleon” or “Bonaparte” as their first or second name. 6. Andrew Jackson. The three were Andrew Jackson Hamilton (1815–1875); Joseph Andrew Jackson Lightburn (1824–1901); and Andrew Jackson Smith (1815–1897). 7. Winfield Scott. The opposing pair were Winfield Scott Featherston (1820–1891) and Winfield Scott Hancock (1824–1886). 8. Thomas Jefferson. The namesake was Thomas Jefferson McKean (1810–1870). 9. John Quincy Adams. Union general Quincy Adams Gillmore was born in 1825, a week before President Adams was inaugurated. 10. Joseph (or Josef) Haydn. The officer was Joseph Haydn Potter (1822–1892).