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Precentage wise, this unit lost more troops than any regiment in the U.S. Civil war. Either side.?????

They may not have lost the most percentage-wise, but the 5th New Hampshire Infantry lost the most men during the Civil War.

The numbers vary widely from individual State records as compared to official War Department records of the Civil War, but the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery Regiment may have had the highest percentage loss of men.

WOW I left off,

"in one day"

Dang I messed that up.

Precentage wise, this unit lost more troops than any regiment in the U.S. Civil war IN ONE DAY. Either side.?????

As you change the nature of the question, I have to change my answer. The worst single day battle of the Civil War was Antietam on September 17, 1862. On that day, Gen. Hood's 1st Texas Regiment lost 186 killed and wounded out of their original strength of 226 men.

WMAcD, you are correct. Sorry about blowing that question.
I'll think up a harder one, it's bisquit time!

There have probably been more books written on the Civil War than any other conflict our country has been involved in. I used to win all the beer I could drink making bar bets about whose home was what is now Arlington National Cemetery.

That property used to (and arguably still does, though he would approve of it's use) belong to Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Damnyankees stole that, too.

I'm reading ANOTHER one now, "The Sword of Lincoln" by Jeffery D. Wert, I came across the stat on the First Texans.
Ever notice how 'John Bell Hood' and 'heavy casualties' seem to go together? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Gen. Hood was both daring and reckless. His severest critics were fellow Southern commanders. From what I have read over the years, I don't think any officer higher than the company level is worthy of worship. Field grade officers and above have the stuff needed for pompous asses, not heroes.

The Iron Brigade on the first day of Gettysburg.

Excellent choice, but the question was limited to the regiment that sustained the highest loss in one day of battle. The Iron Brigade was composed of 5 regiments, one of which was the 24th Michigan Infantry. The 24th Michigan suffered 397 casualties out of their 496 men at Gettysburg, a slightly lower percentage than the casualties of the 1st Texas at Antietam.

Still JB Hood was a poor choice in defence of Atlanta, when caution was needed, he was a go gettum no holds barred sorta general. Not afraid of a fight, he was wounded what, five times, had a limbs blown off and needed to be strapped into the saddle. All this to impress a girl, whew she musta been some shot of leg <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

True, but as for not being afraid of a fight, as much credit might be given to the horses shot out from underneath him. A far more inspiring story is that of Col. Joshua Chamberlain, Commander of the 20th Maine Volunteers, and the performance of his regiment on Little Round Top during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

He won the Medal of Honor that day and went on to fight many other battles, during the course of which, he was wounded 6 times. He was so highly regarded that Gen. Grant accorded him the honor of receiving the formal surrender from the Confederates at Appomattox.

In a show of respect to the valiant men that had heretofore been the enemy, he ordered his men to salute the defeated Confederate Army. That had to be an awe-inspiring moment for both sides.

You get no objections here - anyone that can get lost, run out of ammunition, and then bluff-charge his way out of a Confederate over-run has my vote for bravery.



Well, that and he had more class in his pinky finger than did the drunkard Grant in his whole mis-fitted, dirty, and rumpled uniform; some "general he who was still recovering - and would for the whole next day - from the effects of the preceding night's libations.



True, and granted. Chamberlain was both a soldier and a gentleman when both sides needed such and few were left among either ranks. 'Tis a shame that he, and not that drunkard, was not elected President following the war. Might have made healing the wounds of such an uncivil conflict much the easier.

You sir, sound like a gentleman in the finest Southern tradition. Glad to make your acquaintance.

And I yours, sir. 'Tis a long and proud tradition, and those of us who have inherited it are obligated to try to uphold it, and honored when we come close.

WMacD, a fellow Southerner, are ya'? Myself, I have ancestors (numerous) that fought throughout Virginia - some of whom were with Lee at Appomattox and walked home in time for dinner that night.

Re: opinions of Grant, Sherman, etc.

Some of the Yankee officers, and even a few of their generals, were gentleman. Unfortunately, and esp. late in the War of Northern Aggression, the scoundrels took the reins. Grant was a ruthless drunkard, a poor military commander who relied on sheer numbers fed into a meatgrinder to win a war of attrition - the only manner in which he could manage a victory. His strategy, and his leadership caliber, was on par with the Communist Chinese in North Korea - overmatched, and outclassed - but with the advantage of sheer numbers and the lack of consideration for his own troops and for noncombatants to use and lose those numbers in order to win.

Sherman was even worse. A thug, thief, and vicious war criminal (by the modern definition) who brutalized opposing soldiers, noncombatants, civilians, and who used his forces to burn, rape, murder, and lay waste to anything in his path - under direct orders from Grant to do so.

That said, the South had it's own reprehensible characters. N. B. Forrest, for one, who, though a brilliant military mind, was a brute racist, a murderer, and largely inconsiderate of military decorum, his troops, or the larger objectives of his superiors.

Sorry to break your bubble, but I'm a damn Yankee from Michigan. I do however, pay homage to your fine Southern tradition of honor. I am also Scottish, and if it's any consolation, many of my clansmen fought for the Southern cause, if for no other reason than we love to fight.

Guess there's no point in inviting you into the "U. S. Grant Fan Club", huh? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

While I'm inclined to agree with you regarding Grant's tactics in the 1864/65 campaigns, I think Grant's Mississippi and Vicksburgh campaigns are worthy of study. He got his men on dry ground on the east side of the river and pinned Pemberton fast while he beat Joe Johnston. Alot of folks just look at "Grant the Butcher" and forget he had some good campaigns. As to his drinking, there are a few incidents of him getting plastered, but always during bogged down times when boredom was a factor. In no way shape or form have I ever heard of this being a problem when there was an active campaign.

Can't say much for "Uncle Billy" Sherman though. Why he didn't finish Hood in Goergia is a mystery. He coulda shortened the war by a year.

I disagree about Forrest too. Although he was a slave trader prior to the war, he quit the Klan when he found out what was actually going on. As for Ft pillow, there were no charges against him that stuck, and military courts were inclined to chalk it up to overzelous troops, out of Bedford's control. Any way you cut it, you just gotta admire anyone with that much fight. He had (I think) 13 horses shot out from under him, but killed 14 yankee soldiers, thus "finishing a horse ahead". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm not saying that Grant and Forrset had no fualts, but a ballanced look at each will reveal much to be admired, just as there are many fualts.

Shreck, I got one for you now. Since we're on the subject of Antietam. At that battle the 132 PA Infantry was routed, but not from confederate fire. What forced the unorganized retreat of this regiment?
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WMacD, care to coment? I aint about to let you off that easy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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According to Bruce Catton in Mr. Lincoln's Army, they were on a farm when Confederate artillery destroyed some beehives. They were obviously Reb bees because they did a job on the troops.

Mr. Lincon's Army, is that a book on just the Army of the Potomac or the union army. The book I quoted is just about the AotP, interesting read and doubly so as it's only from the point of view of the Army of the Potomac.

It's the first volume of Catton's trilogy, The Army of the Potomac.

In terms of major catastrophic losses, Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg must rank pretty high. Of 15,000 men; 10,000 became casualties in less than an hour.

Funny you should mention Catton's trilogy. I just finished reading all three a month or so ago. Though I love reading Shelby Foote, no-one comes close to Bruce Catton, IMHO.

I'm about halfway through Catton's "The Coming Fury" right now. That's the first of another 3 parter on the whole war. I got it and "Terrible Swift Sword" off a bargain book shelf. Still gots to get the third one, "Never Call Retreat".

Blaine, while Pickett and Pettygrew suffered fearful casualties assaulting Cenetary Ridge, no-one can exactly say what the rate was. Confederate Armies were lousy book-keepers, and alot of the units had already been pretty badly chewed up in the first day's fighting. Most of what I've read give Picketts actual strength a 12,000 to 13,000 men, with about 4,500 getting back to rebel lines unscathed.

I know this will make me REAL popular with the southern board members <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. If one takes a critical look at quite a few of Lee's campaigns, you'll see some of that same "lack of consideration" for casualties that made Grant famous. Malvern Hill, Antietam, and the assault on Cemetary Ridge all cost him much more than he could afford.
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Here's an easy one and a hard one.

To Bobby Lee who were "those people"?


Who was the first American to use, succesfully, the temporary insanity defence?
Hint he has something to do with the War Between the States.

1. Northerners, i.e. oppressors

2. Gen. Sickles

Here's one for you. What is the purpose of the last rank of a regimental battle formation and what are they called?

Yep, "Those People" for Lee, refered to the Federals.

Dan Sickles shot and killed a fellow named Key. Not sure if it was F Scott Key's son or nephew now. At any rate he beat the rap by pleading "temporary insanity". IIRC, his attorney was none other than Edwin M Stanton.

And the last rank was usually called "file Closers". Their job was to keep the guys with "scared feet" in line. Unless you could show a wound, they'ed jab your butt back in the line with bayonet or pistol.

This is entirely too easy. Been reading this stuff since I ws a kid. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Here's a couple a little tougher.
At the begining of the war, it was Northern officers policy to return escaped slaves back to their master. One Union General came up with the idea of keeping them, coining the term "contraband of war". Who was this general?

Here's another I know aint in you book... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Lee's second in command throughout the war as Gen James Longstreet. Durring the war he was looked upon as a Souther hero and first rate commander. After the war, he became a social and political outcast, and was accused of commiting treason at Gettysburg.
What mortal sin did Longstreet commit that that caused his fellow Confederate Vetrans to slander him?
(cue Joepardy theme song <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />)
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HMMMM 'file closers', to fill in for the dead guy's? Although I thought there was a line of skirmisher's to the rear, perhaps to prevent guy's from running away.

I don't know the answer to the contraband question, but regarding Longstreet, I thought the criticism of him regarding Gettysburg was that he was insubordinate to Lee due to his remarks that the battle plan was doomed to fail.

After the war, he became a Republican and supported Black suffrage, which caused many Southerners to call him a traitor for those political positions.

Here's another poser:

Which Southern officer spent the first 13 months of the war without taking part in a battle or coming under enemy fire?

Regarding Longstreet, right you are. His cousin Julia Dent was married to U.S. Grant, and he and Grant were friends both before and after the war. His joining the Republican resulted in all sorts of trouble, mostly at the hands of Nelson Pendelton and Jubal Early.

If you're up on your Gettysburg Battle, you'll remember Pendelton as Lee's artillery chief. There were some guns slated to advance with and support Pickett that ended up missing. Pendelton sent them somewhere else. Early had been ordered by Marse Robert to secure Cemetary Hill back on the first day. He did nothing, allowing the Federals plenty of time to dig in and regroup.

By the time Longstreet commited this mortal sin, Lee was already dead, and the best way to avoid incriminatoin yourself is to shift the blame to someone else, so.....

That was Ben "Spoons" Butler that came up with the idea of keeping escaped slaves. About the only thing he did right throughout the war. He's best known for his own line of chamber-pots<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, and supposedly stealing silverware during the occupatoin of New Orleans. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm not 100% certain, but I think the officer you refer to was none other than Robert E. Lee himself. AKA "The King of Spades" for his being in charge of defencive works at Richmond.
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Just a guess, Braxton Bragg? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Bragg may have been a late starter (I bet his subordinates wish he had never entered the war), but Robert E. Lee is the answer.

shreck, if you're interested in reading Catton's trilogy, The Army of the Potomac, I have a set I will be happy to send to you to read. They should be read in the order in which they were written and published:

Volume 1. Mr. Lincoln's Army. The early years of the Civil War when the army was under the command of General George B. McClellan.

Volume 2. Glory Road. Covers the period from the Battle of Fredericksburg in late 1862 through the Battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863 and concludes with President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in November, 1863.

Volume 3. A Stillness at Appomattox. The account of the final year of the Civil War. This book won the Pulitzer Prize.

Here's another. Didn't know this myself until I recently read it, so extra points will be awarded. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It's a pretty wel known fact that Robert E. Lee was offered command of the union army before he joined the Confederates. What other well known and highly renouned (by Jeff Davis, at least) Confederate general was also offered the job?
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WMacD, I'll check my local library. I just today finished "The Sword Of Lincoln" and I've got, "The Eloquent President" Lincoln in his own writing as well as a paperback to get thru.
As a book just focused on the Army of the Patomic it was not bad or terribly boring. I am amazed that they didn't simply implode with all the in-fighting and back stabbing. In the end I guess nobody really wanted the job of commander, AoP, once they got it. Except Grant.

Joe Johnson, or mebby Longstreet?
I'm not goung to look this one up, I'll just stab at it.

shreck, here's the deal. I have a second set of these books (my first set are all first editions) that I would like to send to you to read. The postage at the media rate is only about $3.00 or so, which I will gladly pay. If anyone else in this forum wants to read them, you will agree to send the books on to that person, at your expense, after you have finished reading them. That person will do the same, for as long as there is someone interested in reading them. If no one wants to read them after you finish them, you send them back to me. Hopefully, I will never see them again and many more people will enjoy them.

Here's a bit of minutiae, which Union General's wife was captured by Confederates during the war?