11. What notable event took place in Richmond on April 2, 1863?
12. Langdon Cheves constructed the “silk dress balloon,” the only balloon ever used by the Confederacy for observation during a battle. At what 1862 battle was it employed?
13. At the time the Civil War began, cadets were required to spend five, rather than four years at West Point before graduating. What U.S. Secretary of War had established this policy?
14. Confederate Col. Turner Ashby habitually carried what musical instrument with him into battle?
15. (Two point question) Who was the first man to hold the post of Chief Signal Officer in the U.S. Army?
Answers to the questions for Week 3 will be due by 6 PM EDT on Saturday, September 3.
12. At Gaines Mill - Porter Alexander, later Lee's artillery chief, observed from above.
13. The 5 year curriculum at West Point was first established in 1854 under Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (while Robert E. Lee was Superintendant of the Academy). In October 1858, it was returned to the 4 year scheme, but six months later it was changed again to 5 years (theses 2 changes coming during the tenure of John Buchanan Floyd as Secretary). In June 1860 Congress appointed a commission to investigate the 5 year curriculum and report on its success. Senator Jefferson Davis served as president of the commission which recommended retention of the 5 year course. After the war began, the 4 year course was re-instituted.
14. A fox-hunting horn
15. Albert J. Myer
__________________ -
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
11. What notable event took place in Richmond on April 2, 1863?
The bread riots involving mostly starving women. Jefferson Davis dispersed them by threatening to fire upon them
12. Langdon Cheves constructed the “silk dress balloon,” the only balloon ever used by the Confederacy for observation during a battle. At what 1862 battle was it employed?
Actually made of dress silk and not silk dresses, the second Confederate balloon was used over the Seven Days campaign. Captured days later when the CSS Teaser, which was carrying it ran aground. The first balloon used was a varnish covered cotton hot air contraption flown by John Bryan on April 13, 1862 over Yorktown INCORRECT
13. At the time the Civil War began, cadets were required to spend five, rather than four years at West Point before graduating. What U.S. Secretary of War had established this policy?
Jefferson Davis
14. Confederate Col. Turner Ashby habitually carried what musical instrument with him into battle?
A French horn INCORRECT
15. (Two point question) Who was the first man to hold the post of Chief Signal Officer in the U.S. Army?
Albert James Myer
Answers to the questions for Week 3 will be due by 6 PM EDT on Saturday, September 3.
Good luck![/quote]
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
I think a clarification may be in order in regard to question # 12.
According to my source, the silk dress balloon was employed in only one specific battle. Please be sure that your answer names just one battle, unless you have a source that names more than one specific battle where it was used.
Those who have already sent in their answers may, if you choose, send in another post with a revised answer to question # 12, as long as you do so before the 6 PM Saturday deadline.
I'm not entirely convinced on 13 and 14. I made an educated guess on 13, but haven't been able to pin it down. Guess I'll end up at the bottom of Division 1 this time!
11. The Richmond Bread Riot
12. The Silk Dress Balloon was made during the spring of 1862 in Savannah, Ga., by Captain Langdon Cheeves out of dress silk in purchased by the bolt. The Confederate balloon saw action in Mechanicsville and during the rest of the Seven Days Battles. (See note) The “silk dress balloon” was being carried (deflated) aboard the CSS Teaser when it ran aground in the James River on July 4, 1862 and was captured by Union naval forces. The vessel and the balloon became an easy prey to the mobile and well-armed Federal ironclad Monitor. A second balloon remained in service until the summer of 1863 when it was lost during the siege of Charleston. INCORRECT
__________________ Mark W. Swarthout, Esq.
GGGrandson of Pvt. John W. Swarthout, Company E, 148th NYVI - Wounded at Cold Harbor.
GGGGrandson of Pvt. Henry Stephens, Company D, 137th NYVI - Wounded at Culp's Hill, Gettysburg.
Hoosier is getting slick with us, as these are the hardest dang questions, ever! The challenge keeps it fun, even though I think I'm gonna get some of the answers wrong.
11. a bread riot, as citizens demanded bread form a bakery wagon and then wrecked nearby stores.
12. The Battle of Mechanicsville during the Seven Days Campaign INCORRECT
13. Jefferson Davis (I'm not sure at all on this one but he is my 'educated guess' due to his being the only West Point graduate of the 4 Secretaries of War who served prior to the war)
14. a Bugle INCORRECT
15. Major Albert James Myer
I'm looking forward to seeing the answers to these!
11. Richmond Bread Riot
12. Gaines Mill
13. Jefferson Davis
14. A Bugle INCORRECT
15. Makor Albert J. Mayer
__________________ F. S. Powers
Union Ancersor: Pvt Arnuah Norton, 60th Ohio. (G-G-G Grandfather) Died at Salisbury NC, November 3, 1864
Confederate Ancestors: Captain Thomas A. Morrow, 29th Texas Cavalry (G-G-G- Uncle) and 2LT George W. Morrow, 31st Texas Cavalry (G-G-G Grandfather). Both survived the war
11- In Richmond, 2 Apr, 63 occurred the Bread Riots, led by Richmond women unable to purchase supplies and keep up with the rapidly spiralling inflation of Confederate money;
12- Confederate ballonist Capt John R Bryan sketched Union positions while aloft at the siege of Yorktown; INCORRECT
13- US Secy of War in Pres Pierce's administration- gool old Jefferson Davis;
14- Ashby & a bugle, at least the only thing i could find on him, a dirge called Ashby by A L Peticolas; INCORRECT
15- First US Chief Signal Officer- Dr Albert James Myer, Major of the Signal Corps. Dr Myer was a physician who had formulated a sign language for deaf mutes.
Is it just me or is hoosier nailing us with tougher questions?? Anyway, the whole trivia game is very well done. Kudos to hoosier!!
__________________ 'It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag'
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Trivia Game # 33 - Week 3 
The challenge keeps it fun, even though I think I'm gonna get some of the answers wrong. 
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