Edmund Rice (Medal of Honor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edmund Rice
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| Born | December 2, 1842 Brighton, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | July 20, 1906 (aged 63) Wakefield, Massachusetts, US |
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1903 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit |  19th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Edmund Rice (born December 2, 1842 – died July 20, 1906) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He earned the Medal of Honor, which is America's highest award for military bravery. He rose through the ranks to become a Brigadier General.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Edmund Rice was born in Brighton, Massachusetts. His parents were Moses Maynard Rice and Eliza (Damon) Rice. When he was 13, he started studying at Norwich University in Vermont. He stayed there for two years.
After leaving college, Edmund had an exciting adventure. He became an apprentice on a clipper ship called Snow Squall. This fast sailing ship left Boston in September 1858 and sailed all the way to Shanghai, China. After ten months at sea, he returned to New York City. Later, he worked as a surveyor, helping to map land for his father's building projects.
Fighting in the Civil War
In August 1861, when he was 18, Edmund Rice joined the army. He became a captain in the 14th Massachusetts Infantry. Soon after, he moved to the 19th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment to lead Company F.
He fought in many important battles during the Civil War. These included Ball's Bluff, the Siege of Yorktown, and the Seven Days Battles. He was promoted to major in September 1862. He then fought at Antietam and the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Medal of Honor at Gettysburg
Edmund Rice showed incredible bravery at the Battle of Gettysburg. During a famous attack called Pickett's Charge, he helped defend against the enemy. For his heroic actions, he received the Medal of Honor in 1891.
He continued to fight, becoming a lieutenant colonel in 1864. He led his regiment in battles like the Battle of the Wilderness and Laurel Hill. At the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, he was wounded and captured by the enemy.
A Daring Escape
While being taken as a prisoner, Edmund Rice made a daring escape. He cut a hole in the door of a moving freight train and jumped out! He traveled for 23 days to reach his own army's lines near the Ohio River. He was promoted to colonel in July 1864.
He rejoined his unit and fought in more battles, including the Battle of Weldon Railroad. He was also in command of Fort Stedman near Petersburg, Virginia. He was present when the Confederate States Army surrendered at Appomattox Court House. He left the army in June 1865, having been wounded three times. Just a year later, he rejoined the United States Army.
Life After the Civil War
In August 1866, Edmund Rice married Annie Clark Dutch in Charleston, South Carolina. He commanded military posts in places like Hilton Head, South Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Mississippi.
Military Inventions
After the Civil War, Edmund Rice also became an inventor! He created several useful tools for soldiers. These included the Rice Trowel Bayonet, which was a bayonet that could also be used as a small shovel. He also invented the Rice Stacking Swivel and a knife entrenching tool. He even supervised the making of his trowel bayonet at the Springfield Armory.
Sadly, his wife Annie died of tuberculosis when she was only 20 years old. Their daughter, Corrine, was then raised by Edmund's mother and siblings.
Indian Wars and Later Service
In 1874, Rice led an expedition against the Ute tribe in Colorado. He also volunteered for a campaign against the Sioux in Montana in 1876. This was after the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn. Buffalo Bill Cody worked as a scout to help his company find the Sioux.
Rice spent many years at forts in the western United States, like Fort Keogh in Montana and Fort Totten in North Dakota. He was promoted to captain in 1883. He also served as a military envoy, representing the U.S. Army in England and Russia.
In 1881, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Huntington. His daughter Corrine came to live with them in the West, but she later returned to the East Coast.
Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars
From 1897 to 1898, Edmund Rice served as a U.S. military representative in Tokyo, Japan. When the Spanish–American War began, he asked to return to active duty. He was promoted to colonel and commanded the 6th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment. This unit saw action in both Puerto Rico and Cuba.
In July 1898, President William McKinley appointed Colonel Rice to a very important role in the Philippines. He commanded the 26th Infantry Regiment and fought against local rebels. In 1899, he became the Military Governor of the Island of Panay.
As governor, he did many important things. He helped set up public schools, took a census (counted the population), and helped over 60,000 Filipinos take an oath of loyalty. He served until April 1901, when a Filipino general took over as the first Civil Governor of Panay.
Rice returned to the United States in July 1901 because he was suffering from fever and heart problems due to the tropical climate. The Philippine–American War was his last war. He retired from the army in 1903.
Retirement and Legacy
Edmund Rice retired on August 14, 1903, as a brigadier general. He was a member of many military and historical groups, including the Medal of Honor Legion. He served as a Grand Marshal at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904.
He died suddenly of heart failure on July 20, 1906, in Wakefield, Massachusetts. His body lay in state at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. He was buried with his wife, Elizabeth, in Arlington National Cemetery. His grave is marked by a large rock with a bronze sculpture of the Medal of Honor.
Other Military Awards
Besides the Medal of Honor, General Rice also received these military awards:
- Civil War Campaign Medal
- Indian Campaign Medal
- Spanish Campaign Medal
- Philippine Campaign Medal
Images for kids
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Colonel Edmund Rice on a horse, from a book about the 6th Massachusetts Regiment.
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U.S. BAYONET MODEL 1873 TROWEL, an invention by Edmund Rice.
