The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-07-21
Gen. 3. A. Rice.
From the o.k.looss Herald.

Z. NCh' o' "A. AAhCCs .-+.a 81 a
From the OskaIooss Herald Sab s,atE
Brig. Gen. Samuel A. Rice, whose deatt
we briefly announced last week, was ma
tive of Cattaraugus county, New York, bu
the most Of his youth was spent in Belmont
county, Ohio, whittier his parents moved
when ne was quite young. During his boy
hood he made one or more trips to New Or
leans as Q stat boat man. = The knowledge
he thus gained served him good purpose
when his regiment, . year and halt since,
was on the Sabine Pass Expedition. Having
to cross wide bayou in the lace of the EN-.
emy. the Colanel found that none of h,s
men knew how to 'scull a scow.'' Direct.
ing them to lie down out of danger, he took
the oars in bis ewn1 bands and soon landed
his men on the opposite bank. when the en-.
emy prccipitately fed. VIZ .s,s erslIsqs
He was at school for some time in Athens,
Ohio, but vas graduated at Union College,
New York. then under the presidency of the
distinguished DR.. Mott. He also attended
the law school Of this institution, and while
student in that department, he was chosen
by his fellow students to make welcoming
address to Henry Clay, who visited them
at that time. At the age of twenty-one or
twenty-five, Mr.. Rice came west. and stop.
ped for year and . half in Fairfield, in this
State. He commenced the practice of law,
occupying some of his spare time in editing
. whig newspaper. About the year Of 1852
he settled in Oskaloosa. He at once took 4
leading position at the bar, aud was soon
elected to the Office Of Prosecuting Attorney
for the county. In 1856, and again 1858,
he was elected by the people Attorney Gem
eral Of the State. The responsible duties of
this position, he discharged with suci, ahil
ity and iaithfulness, as to secure him place
in the front rank of the legal professions, and
also as aleading citizen and politician Of
the State. In the summer of 1864, he was
appointed Colonel in the volunteer service.
and proceeded at once to organize the 3ad
regiment of Iowa infantry. The earnest.
ness and zeal with which he entered upon
this work, satisfied his friends that he would
in due time, take the same high position IN
military that he had in civil life. In this
thsy were not disappointed, and his success
ful career ss an officer in the army is -iamil-
lar with our readers. His regiment was
soon organized, disciplined, and thoroughly
prepared to take the field. At Helena, Ark
Col. Rice's ability was at once recognized
by the commander of the department.. He.
was made commandant of the post. and also
of . brigade. He bore. a conspicuous part
in the battle which was foughtat Helena on
the 4th of July, 1868, his brigade doing the
heaviest Of the fighting and sustaining more
than one half of our entire loss in the engage
ment For his gallantry and judgment dis.
played in this battle, he was made a Briga.
der General. Before his appointment reach
ed him, the expedition for Little Rock set
out, Col. Rice having command of . divi-
sion. In the late expedition from Little
Rock into southwestern Arkansas, Gen
Rice had an important command, and was
conspicuous in several engagements with
the enemy. In that at Jenkins Ferry, on
the 30th Of April, he received the woun d
which caused his death. When this battle
commenced our forces were retreating Is
rapidly as possible towards Little Rocks--
Gen. Rice's command being in the rear, was
first attcked. Reinforcemeats were sent to
him, and given their places by him, SO that
he really had Command Of our entire force
in the field, which was hotly contested. The
enemy vas rspulsed with heavy loss, and
our army in Arkansas saved from dsstruc.
ton. Gen. Rice's bravery. coolasss, militia
~ judgment, and ability to command, dis
played In this battle, won the sdmiration Of
men and officers, and have been the theme
Of unqualified praise As . specimen of
this. we quote the following from 4 letter
Of an officer ia the seth Iowa 10 tt lsaI
"But above oil and oyer all stands one
name which Iowa ought end will b, proud !
TO own. | alludge to Gen. Samuel A. Rice
have never yet seen his equal. either on |
the fieid or in the camp. Brave almost to |
rashness, cool, intrepid, . discipl,nariau,
and yet. with al perfect gentlemen, alwaysl !
courteous, always kind. All admit that bis |
brigade, which is composed of the 29th and
SD Iowa, 5oth Indians. and 9th Wisconsin,
saved the army from defeat, and consequentI
destruction ct the battle of Jenkia's Perry,
which would have involved the capturs oil
this place Uittle Rock) with its vast stores,
and opened the whole State to the rebels,
"foo much credit cannot be gwen to Gen
Rice for our success in that action-wheth
or tho battle ragged the fiercest, there you
would see him in the ,hickest Of Il, arousing
tia men to = perfect frenzy Of enthusiasm
by bis heroic bearing and utter disregard
fos his personal safety. To him, not to Gen.
solomon, who is our division commander.
nor Gen. Steele, should be given the credit
and the honor Of driving back the rebels At
. time when defeat with US would have oe en-
equal to anuihilation. Iowa has many gal.
liant sons in the field, but none are more
worthy of its honor and its gratitude than
Gen. Rice.'
He received severe wound in the right
foot. He was taken TO Little Rock, where
be remained several weeks. and vas then
brought to his home, in this place. The
virus Of his wound permented his whole