Civil War Vocabulary

Question 1

border state

Answer 1

Slave-owning states that did not secede from the Union: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri.

Question 2

casualty

Answer 2

A person killed, wounded, captured or missing during the war.

Question 3

Confederacy or CSA

Answer 3

The alliance of 12 southern states to form then Confederate States so America.

Question 4

Union

Answer 4

The collection of 23 northern states which fought the rebellious Confederacy during the Civil War. Also called the United States of America.

Question 5

Dixie

Answer 5

Slang term for the Confederacy, also a popular southern song.

Question 6

Rebel, Confederate, Butternt, Grayback, Johnny Reb or Reb

Answer 6

A slang term for a soldier fighting for the South.

Question 7

recruit

Answer 7

A soldier who has just signed up to be a soldier and has no battle experience.

Question 8

secede

Answer 8

To withdraw from the Union, as 11 Southern states did in 1860-1861.

Question 9

Yank, Blue, Federal, Billy Yank

Answer 9

Slang term for a soldier who fought for the Union.

Question 10

Desertion

Answer 10

To leave one’s military post, or to run away from battle - often punishable by death.

Question 11

Deploy

Answer 11

To spread out armies to create a battle line.

Question 12

drill

Answer 12

The process of instructing recruits how to march and practice the military arts as a unit.

Question 13

main attack

Answer 13

The big, concentrated attack against the enemy’s weakest or critical point.

Question 14

envelopment

Answer 14

An attack against the flanks of an enemy’s army, in hopes of eventually encircling it.

Question 15

cavalry

Answer 15

Soldiers mounted on horseback, fighting as a unit.

Question 16

infantry

Answer 16

Foot soldiers marching and fighting together. The vast majority of Civil War soldiers were infantry.

Question 17

artillery

Answer 17

Large, powerful weapons such as cannons and mortars

Question 18

salt pork

Answer 18

The most common meal ration during the war, along with hardtack and coffee. The pork was salted to preserve it.

Question 19

rank

Answer 19

Military leadership in order of importance and decision-making responsibilities.

Question 20

emancipation

Answer 20

The formal release of slaves from bondage - January 1863

Question 21

forage

Answer 21

To search for food by soldiers, often at the expense of farmers in the battle area.

Question 22

greenback

Answer 22

Paper money used in the North during the Civil War.

Question 23

sutler

Answer 23

Dry goods salesman who traveled with the Northern armies. (Considered necessary for the provision of extra items for the soldiers, sutlers often cheated and overcharged military customers.)

Question 24

Zouave

Answer 24

Soldiers in colorful uniforms patterned after the French infantry soldiers, and who specialized in precision drilling.

Question 25

Assassination

Answer 25

The murder of a prominent person such as President Abraham Lincoln

Question 26

battle

Answer 26

Large scale combat between two armed forces (skirmishes and engagements are smaller scaled and more brief)

Question 27

strategy

Answer 27

The art of military command as to an overall plan of war. (How to deploy troops are components of strategic planning.)

Question 28

turning movement

Answer 28

A military tactic. Sending one’s troops around the enemy’s flank (side) to attack his line of communication in the rear of his battle line.

Question 29

battery

Answer 29

A unit of four or six cannons or a fortified position on which they are placed.

Question 30

blockade

Answer 30

The closing off, using naval forces, of a city r other area closed to traffic and communication.

Question 31

picket

Answer 31

One or more soldiers responsible for guard duty, always watchful for enemy approach

Question 32

ironclad

Answer 32

A ship covered with iron plates and used in the Civil War. The famous battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack in 1862 was the first naval battle between ironclads.

Question 33

torpedo

Answer 33

Civil War term for an underwater mine that exploded. Used on rivers to defend against enemy ships.

Question 34

rifled musket

Answer 34

The standard infantry weapon used in war. Usually .58 or .77 caliber, the rifle forced a minie ball through the spiral grooved barrel, spinning the bullet for more velocity and accuracy.

Question 35

cartridge box

Answer 35

A leather box in which the soldier carried his rounds or bullets.

Question 36

minie ball

Answer 36

The standard rifle bullet used in the war.

Question 37

hardtack

Answer 37

A quarter-inch or half-inch thick hard cracker eaten by Civil War soldiers. Also known as biscuits, crackers or army bread.

Question 38

haversack

Answer 38

Cloth bag used by soldiers to carry rations and food.

Question 39

rations

Answer 39

Military term for food

Question 40

tactics

Answer 40

The art of maneuvering troops on the battlefield.

Question 41

flanks

Answer 41

The sides of an army’s line of battle. A flanking movement is attacking the sides.

Question 42

chloroform

Answer 42

The liquid drug used to anesthetize (put to sleep) wounded soldiers in the war.

Question 43

contraband

Answer 43

Goods illegally traded during wartime. Slaves were sometimes called contraband during the war.

Question 44

Copperhead

Answer 44

A northern democrat who agreed with southern secession and clamor end for peace during the war.

Question 45

draft or conscription

Answer 45

The selection of citizens for military service.

Question 46

dysentery

Answer 46

An often fatal disease of the human intestines, usually caused by the unsanitary conditions of military camps or battle sites.

Question 47

Abolitionist

Answer 47

A person who wanted to abolish or get rid of slavery.