Oddities of the War

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Railroad mileage in the United States increased by almost 13 percent during the War, despite the destruction of many of the lines in the South.

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When the last brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia completed laying down its arms at Appomattox, the escorting Union troops, hitherto silent, are said to have offered three lusty cheers for the Rebels.

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The Union's Casco class monitors were so badly designed that they could not be completed as intended; had their turrets been mounted they would have sunk.

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So impressed was Union Col. John T. Wilder by the new Spencer repeating rifles that, when the War Department refused to issue them to his troops, he convinced the men of his command to pledge $35 apiece, stood surety for a note to cover the costs, and went out and bought several thousand, so that his brigade became the first in history to be completely equipped with repeaters, with devastating effect in action.

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When Pickett's Charge had been beaten off on the third day of Gettysburg, Union Col. Arthur F. Devereaux of the 19th Massachusetts was found to have four Confederate colors draped over his arm.

During a raid into a Rebel-held area of eastern Virginia during December of 1863, a black infantry regiment marched 60 miles in 40 hours, a feat rivaling that of "Jackson's Foot Cavalry" at its best.

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When Cpl. Mike Scannel of the 19th Massachusetts displayed some reluctance to carry the flag at Cold Harbor, his regimental commander said, "I'll make you a sergeant on the spot!" to which Scannel replied, "That's business," grabbed the colors, and led the troops forward.

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Confederate Brig. Gen. William N.R. Beall, who was captured in July of 1863, had perhaps the most unusual imprisonment of the war; released on parole, he spent over a year in an office in New York City supervising the procurement of supplies for Confederates held as prisoners-of-war, with funds provided by the sale of cotton which was passed through the lines under a special convention.

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At the height of the war about 90,000 letters passed through Washington each day and another 90,000 through Louisville, all bound to or from Union troops in the field.


Since both the Union and Confederate armies relied heavily upon horse transport, at any given time for every three animals used by the cavalry, artillery, or supply columns, an additional pair were required each week merely to transport fodder.

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The biggest "jump" in rank ever awarded in the Confederate Army went to 27-year-old Capt. Victor J. B. Girardey, whom Lee promoted to brigadier general on 30 June 1864, as a result of his heroic service during the battle of the Crater; Brig. Gen. Girardey was killed soon after, on 16 August.

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The death of Stonewall Jackson inspired at least 47 poems and musical odes.

There were 39 Missouri regiments at the siege of Vicksburg, 22 in blue and 17 in gray.