Wilson Rice

**Wilson Rice** (June 6, 1842 - May 4, 1914) served as a corporal in Company E, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.

## Personal life

Wilson Rice was born about 1843 in Madison County, North Carolina to William and Malinda (Wardrop) Rice. He married first Hannah Emeline Watts (1842-1902) with whom he had at least eight children. He married second Rhoda [last name unknown]. He may have also married a woman named Rachel [last name unknown]. Rice apparently never divorced his second wife or simply had an additional wife.

## Civil War service

Rice enlisted as a private in Company A, 64th North Carolina Infantry on May 10, 1862 in Madison County and was mustered in the same day at Marshall, North Carolina for three years or the duration of the war. He deserted January 15, 1863 from camp at Big Creek Gap, Tennessee. Rice returned to the regiment on January 20, 1863. Rice was captured with nearly all of the 64th North Carolina Infantry on September 9, 1863 at Cumberland Gap and sent to the Louisville Military Prison. He changed his allegiance rather than be sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois, and was officially discharged as a prisoner of war on September 24, 1863.

Rice enlisted as a private in Company E, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry on September 24, 1863 in Greeneville, Tennessee for a period of three years and mustered in October 28, 1863 at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. He was appointed corporal on October 28, 1863.

He is described as 20 years old, 5' 6" tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a farmer.

Rice is listed as present for duty until September 22, 1864 when he was captured at Blue Springs, Tennessee. He was sent from Lynchburg, Virginia to Richmond, Virginia on October 16, 1864. Rice was sent to Cox's Wharf, Virginia on February 5, 1865 for prisoner exchange. He reported to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio on February 27, 1865 and was given a 30 day furlough.

Rice mustered out with the regiment on September 5, 1865 at Knoxville. He had last been paid to June 30, 1864, owed $33.32 to the government for clothing, owed $1.00 for transportation, had been paid a $25 bounty, and was owed a $75 bounty.

## Post-war life

Rice applied for an invalid's pension on May 18, 1866. Rhoda Rice applied for a widow's pension on November 26, 1890; she was living in North Carolina at that time. Rachel Rice applied for a widow's pension on March 31, 1904, which became a contested widow's claim; she was living in Tennessee at that time.

On August 30, 1904, Hensley Rice, one of Wilson's sons, found "a sum of money" which was allegedly lost by his brother Joe. A quarrel about the money ensued. Henry Rice, another brother, got between Hensley and their father and was "instantly shot to death" by Hensley. Hensley escaped and his fate is unknown.

Rice died May 4, 1914 in Asheville, North Carolina. Where he is buried has not been identified.

## Notes

1. ↑ 1880 U.S. Census, Township No. 3 [Bull Creek Township], Madison County, North Carolina.
2. ↑ Acquiring his pension record may sort out all of these marriages.
3. ↑ How he was discharged as a prisoner of war on the same day he enlisted in the 13th Tennessee Cavalry, several hundred miles away from Louisville is not explained in the official records.
4. ↑ The charge for his transportation was from Cincinnati, Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky on February 24, 1865 while he was on furlough.
5. ↑ *The Franklin Press* (Franklin, North Carolina), August 31, 1904, p. 3.