A Buff Looks at the American Civil War

Each side had a different way of naming a battle: the Confederates named a battle after the nearest town, while the Federals named it after the closest river or creek. For example: what the South called the Battle of Sharpsburg, after Sharpsburg, MD, the North called the Battle of Antietam, after Antietam Creek, which ran nearby. The Arizona Rangers (CSA) under John R. Baylor, briefly occupied Tucson. They pulled out when a strong Union force under James H. Carleton came out of California. Carleton became the first governor of the newly created Arizona Territory. The Philadelphia Brigade, the 69th, 71st, 72nd, and the 106th Pennsylvania, were financed by the State of California and were originally designated the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th California. Colorado Territory formed four infantry regiments and one brigade of light artillery. Their only Civil War engagement was at Glorieta Pass. Dakota Territory (present-day North and South Dakota) formed two cavalry companies but neither saw action in the war. They were created to replace Regular Cavalry who were brought east. Their mission in the area was to guard against raids by Lakota tribes. Delaware was a Slave state. It took the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to abolish the practice there. In what would become the State of Oklahoma, there was a civil war within a civil war as the Five Civilized Tribes (Choctaw, Creek Cherokee, Seminole, and Chickasaw) split over their tribal leaders pledge to join the Confederacy. Some members of these tribes owned slaves. The Cherokees switched loyalties and freed their slaves in 1864. There was a 1st Nebraska Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Shiloh. A Confederate flag flew briefly over Virginia City, Nevada. The silver out of the Comstock Lode, however, went into the Federal Treasury. As in the Dakota Territory, Nevada formed units to replace Regular troops who were pulled to serve in the East. Nevada became a state on 31 October 1864 (which is why the words “Battle Born” appear on the Nevada state flag). Oregon created ten cavalry companies, but was only used in the state, and even that was supported by California troops. Utah Territory’s involvement was limited to protecting the Overland Mail route and telegraph lines. Washington Territory had to worry more about Shoshoni raids than any possible Confederate incursion. The nation’s westward mail was served by the Pony Express from 1860 to 1861. One of the largest news agencies that would report on the Civil War, the Associated Press, had already been in existence since 1848. One of the greatest naval battles of the Civil War did not take place in US waters, but in the English Channel. (USS Kearsarge vs. CSS Alabama) Contrary to popular belief, the Gettysburg Address was not written on an envelope during the train ride to Gettysburg. The rattle of the rail cars over the tracks would have prevented smooth writing. Most known drafts were written on Executive Mansion stationary. The nation’s tax system had its genesis in the Internal Revenue Act of 1864. The income tax died after the war, but was revived thanks to the 16th Amendment in 1913. On top of a 3% tax on income, there were taxes on liquor, cigars, pipe tobacco, jewelry, licenses, and even inheritances.