- 1. A Stillness at Appomattox by Bruce Catton is a profound historical narrative that delves into the final months of the American Civil War, focusing particularly on the events leading up to the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865. Catton masterfully blends rigorous research with vivid storytelling, bringing to life the intense emotions, strategic maneuvers, and the harrowing experiences of soldiers and civilians caught in the tide of conflict. The book captures the weariness of a nation exhausted by years of war, the personal struggles of soldiers as they confront the realities of battle, and the political and social implications of the impending end of the Civil War. With poignant insights and meticulous attention to detail, Catton paints a comprehensive portrait of the pivotal moments at Appomattox, illustrating not just the military strategies employed, but also the human spirit's resilience in the face of despair. This work stands as a significant contribution to Civil War literature, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding the conclusion of one of America's most transformative periods.
What is the primary subject of Bruce Catton's 'A Stillness at Appomattox'?
A) European reactions to the Civil War
B) The beginning of the American Civil War
C) The final year of the American Civil War
D) The life of General Robert E. Lee
- 2. Which Union general is a central figure in Catton's narrative?
A) Ulysses S. Grant
B) William T. Sherman
C) George McClellan
D) Ambrose Burnside
- 3. At which battle does the book's narrative effectively begin?
A) Antietam
B) Shiloh
C) Gettysburg
D) The Wilderness
- 4. What military strategy did Grant employ against Lee in 1864-65?
A) Naval blockade only
B) Waiting for European aid
C) Guerilla tactics
D) Attrition warfare
- 5. Which Confederate general surrendered at Appomattox Court House?
A) Robert E. Lee
B) James Longstreet
C) Stonewall Jackson
D) J.E.B. Stuart
- 6. What was Grant's famous terms of surrender to Lee's army?
A) Exile to Canada
B) Soldiers could keep horses and return home
C) Forced labor for all soldiers
D) Imprisonment for all officers
- 7. What literary award did 'A Stillness at Appomattox' win?
A) Nobel Prize in Literature
B) National Book Award
C) Pulitzer Prize for History
D) Bancroft Prize
- 8. What significant event occurred at Petersburg?
A) The war's first major battle
B) A long siege that broke Confederate defenses
C) The Confederate capital relocation
D) Lee's greatest victory
- 9. How does Catton portray General Philip Sheridan?
A) As a cautious strategist
B) As an aggressive cavalry commander
C) As an incompetent leader
D) As a political general
- 10. What was the significance of Five Forks?
A) It secured Washington D.C.
B) It forced Lee to abandon Petersburg
C) It was the war's first battle
D) It ended naval blockades
- 11. What was the McLean House?
A) A Union field hospital
B) Grant's headquarters
C) Where Lee surrendered to Grant
D) Lee's childhood home
- 12. What role did geography play in the final campaigns?
A) Mountains provided strong defenses
B) Deserts hindered both armies
C) Rivers and roads determined movements
D) Oceans decided the outcome
- 13. How does Catton treat the topic of casualties?
A) As necessary sacrifices
B) As exaggerated numbers
C) As a tragic cost of the war
D) As unimportant statistics
- 14. What year does the surrender at Appomattox occur?
A) 1863
B) 1865
C) 1864
D) 1861
- 15. Which Union general failed at the Battle of the Crater?
A) Philip Sheridan
B) Ambrose Burnside
C) George Meade
D) Winfield Scott Hancock
- 16. Who commanded the Union cavalry under Grant?
A) Nathan Bedford Forrest
B) Philip Sheridan
C) George Armstrong Custer
D) J.E.B. Stuart
- 17. Which battle featured massive Union casualties in frontal assaults?
A) Bull Run
B) Shiloh
C) Antietam
D) Cold Harbor
- 18. What was Grant's rank when he took command of all Union armies?
A) Lieutenant General
B) General in Chief
C) Major General
D) Brigadier General
- 19. Which Confederate city fell before Appomattox?
A) Atlanta
B) Savannah
C) Richmond
D) Charleston
- 20. Who was Lincoln's opponent in the 1864 election?
A) Jefferson Davis
B) Stephen Douglas
C) Horatio Seymour
D) George McClellan
- 21. What ended the Petersburg siege?
A) Breakthrough at Five Forks
B) Disease outbreak
C) Naval bombardment
D) Peace talks
- 22. At which location does the book's title reference the war's effective end?
A) Appomattox Court House
B) Richmond, Virginia
C) Washington, D.C.
D) Petersburg, Virginia
- 23. Which Union corps commander was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness?
A) Winfield Scott Hancock
B) Philip Sheridan
C) George Meade
D) John Sedgwick
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