Benjamin Brice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin W. Brice
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Maj. Gen. Benjamin Brice
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| Born | November 30, 1809 Harrison County, Virginia |
| Died | December 4, 1892 (aged 83) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial |
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
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| Allegiance |  United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1829-1832; 1847-1849; 1852-1872 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Unit | 3rd U.S. Infantry |
| Commands held | Paymaster General of the U.S. Army |
| Battles/wars | Indian Wars
Mexican-American War American Civil War |
Benjamin William Brice (born November 30, 1809 – died December 4, 1892) was an important American soldier and lawyer. He served in the United States Army during the Black Hawk War and the Mexican–American War. Later, he became the Paymaster General for the Union Army during the American Civil War and after the war. When he retired in 1872, he had reached the high rank of brevet major general.
Contents
Early Life and Army Start
Brice was born in what is now Harrison County, West Virginia. In 1825, he started at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Some of his classmates later became famous generals in the Civil War. He graduated in 1829 and became a second lieutenant.
He served with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In 1831, he took part in the Black Hawk War against the Sac Indians.
Leaving and Rejoining the Army
In 1832, Brice left the Army and moved to Ohio. He became a lawyer and later, in 1846, a judge in Licking County, Ohio. He was also appointed Adjutant General of the state militia.
In 1847, Brice rejoined the Army to fight in the Mexican–American War. President James K. Polk made him a major and a Paymaster for the U.S. Army. A Paymaster is an officer who handles money and pays the soldiers. He served in places like Camargo, Monterrey, and Fort Brown, Texas.
After the Mexican War, Brice's group was disbanded. But he was reappointed as a Major in 1852. He continued to work in the Pay Department in different locations. These included Fort Fillmore, New Mexico, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Fort Bliss, Texas. In 1859, he became Paymaster of the Western Department at Fort Leavenworth, Missouri. He stayed there until the Civil War began.
Civil War Service
When the Civil War started, Benjamin Brice became the Paymaster General for the District of Kansas. In 1862, he took charge of the pay district covering New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. His office was in Baltimore, Maryland.
Improving the Pay Department
At the start of the war, the Army's pay department was not working well. It was very disorganized. Many paymasters in the field were chosen for political reasons, not because they were good at the job. They often wanted a safer job away from the fighting.
In 1863, the War Department started to check if paymasters were suitable. They had to pass physical exams and tests for their mental and moral fitness. When Brice took over in 1864, he made sure new rules were put in place. These rules included exams for new candidates. These tests checked their writing, math, and accounting skills.
Under Brice's leadership, the Pay Department became much more efficient. It handled over $1.1 billion (a huge amount back then!) with very few mistakes. The cost of paying the troops was less than one percent of the total money paid out.
General Brice was very proud of this achievement. In 1865, he said that no other army had ever managed such a big task so quickly and accurately. He believed their system was the best for paying soldiers quickly and safely, while also preventing theft.
Recognized for His Work
Brice was one of many skilled officers in Washington D.C. who worked behind the scenes. These officers often get forgotten by historians today. President Abraham Lincoln chose very smart people for his team. Later, General Ulysses S. Grant also made sure the best officers, like Brice, were in charge of important departments.
On December 12, 1864, President Lincoln nominated Brice to be a brevet brigadier general. This was a special honor for his excellent service. The United States Senate confirmed this appointment in February 1865. Later, in March 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Brice for the rank of brevet major general. This was another high honor for his work.
After the War
In 1866, Brice was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army. He continued to lead the Pay Department in Washington D.C. until 1872. That year, he retired from active duty.
Brice died in 1892 and was buried at the Soldier's Home National Cemetery in Washington. His brother-in-law was Bvt. Maj. Gen. William Scott Ketchum.
