INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Horrors of the American Civil War
After Bull Run in 1861, a reporter surveying the aftermath witnessed some of the horrors of war
which included men who were found side by side, each with their bayonets in the other.
In two days at the Battle of Shiloh, more men died than all previous American wars combined.
At Cold Harbour, in one 20 minute span, 7,000 men died.
The Confederate Constitution
The Confederate constitution was very similar to the United States
constitution but it did explicitly protect slavery and focused more on states rights. Interestingly enough,
one other difference is that it did outlaw international slave trading.
What Goes Around
In July of 1863, during the American Civil War, Union Brig. Gen.
Edward H. Hobson captured Confederate Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan and took him to the Ohio State Prison. Morgan
escaped from prison and less than a year later, he and his men captured a group of Federal troops in Cynthiana,
Kentucky. Their commander was Edward H. Hobson.
Full Circle
In July of 1861, Wilmer McClean was a retired wholesale grocer living near a little town called
Bull Run in Virginia. That month, as the Union Army marched towards the Confederate capital, Richmond, they
found themselves nose-to-nose with Confederate troops in nearby Mannassas leading to the first major battle of
the Civil War. Due to its convenient location, Wilmer McLean's house became the headquarters of the
Confederate army. After the battle was over, McLean decided it might be best for his business (and his
family) if he were to move further away from the Union lines so he packed up and moved about 120 miles
Southwest.
Four years later as Lee's exausted and starving army fled West through Virginia, Grant's
army caught up to them and proposed a meeting to discuss possible terms of surrender. Lee accepted
and chose the spot for the meeting.... in a small town called Appomatox Courthouse... at the new home
of Wilmer McClean. It has been been said that McLean would tell people "the war began in my front yard
and ended in my front parlor".
INTERESTING BOOKS ABOUT
THE CIVIL WAR
More Civil War Curiosities: Fascinating Tales, Infamous Characters, and Strange
Coincidences
Civil War Trivia and Fact Book: Unusual and Often Overlooked Facts About America's
Civil War
The Everything Civil War Book: Everything you need to know about the conflict that
divided a nation (Everything Series)
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