Elliott Warren Rice
Encyclopedia
Elliott Warren Rice was a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He commanded an infantry
brigade
during the pivotal Atlanta Campaign
in the summer of 1864.
, Pennsylvania
. His family moved to Belmont, Ohio
, when Rice was an infant. He was schooled in Wheeling, West Virginia
(then Virginia), and Franklin College
in Athens, Ohio
. In 1855, he moved to Oskaloosa
, Iowa
, to study law under his brother, Samuel Allen Rice
, and graduated from the University of Albany Law School in 1858. He practiced law in Oskaloosa with Samuel until the Civil War broke out.
as a corporal. He was promoted to major on August 30, 1861. He fought at the Battle of Belmont
in November, and became regimental commander when his superiors became incapacited. There he received the first of seven war wounds. He participated in the campaigns to capture Fort Henry
and Fort Donelson
and in the Battle of Shiloh
, when he was promoted to colonel. He fought in the Battle of Corinth
(October 1862) and commanded Bethel and La Grange, Tennessee
, leading the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XVI Corps
and protected Memphis & Charleston Railroad.
As a brigade commander in the Atlanta Campaign in 1864, he fought at Resaca
, New Hope Church
, and Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia
. He received promotion to Brigadier General of Volunteers on June 22, 1864, leading the 2nd Division. He participated in the Siege of Atlanta, and then transferred to the XV Corps
, were he served through the March to the Sea
and the Carolinas Campaign
. He was appointed to the brevet
rank of major general for war service dating from March 13, 1865.
, where he remained until his death. He is interred at Floyd Cemetery, Sioux City
, Woodbury County, Iowa
.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He commanded an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
during the pivotal Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
in the summer of 1864.
Early life
Rice was born in AlleganyAllegheny, Pennsylvania
Allegheny City was a Pennsylvania municipality located on the north side of the junction of the Allegheny and Ohio rivers, across from downtown Pittsburgh. It was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His family moved to Belmont, Ohio
Belmont, Ohio
Belmont is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 532 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Belmont is located at ....
, when Rice was an infant. He was schooled in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(then Virginia), and Franklin College
Franklin College (New Athens, Ohio)
Franklin College was a college in New Athens, Ohio, founded by abolitionist John Walker, a Presbyterian minister. The college was called Alma college from 1818 until 1825, when the name was changed to Franklin College. The college ceased operation in 1919, and became associated with Muskingum...
in Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
. In 1855, he moved to Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, to study law under his brother, Samuel Allen Rice
Samuel Allen Rice
Samuel Allen Rice was born in Cattaraugus, New York. He lived in Mahaska County, Iowa where he practiced law, was county attorney, and state attorney general . In the American Civil War, he was a colonel in the 33rd regiment of Iowa...
, and graduated from the University of Albany Law School in 1858. He practiced law in Oskaloosa with Samuel until the Civil War broke out.
Civil War
On July 24, 1861, he joined the 7th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment7th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 7th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 7th Iowa Infantry was organized at Burlington, Iowa and assembled into Federal service between July 24 and August 4, 1861.The regiment was sent out on July 12,...
as a corporal. He was promoted to major on August 30, 1861. He fought at the Battle of Belmont
Battle of Belmont
The Battle of Belmont was fought on November 7, 1861, in Mississippi County, Missouri. It was the first combat test in the American Civil War for Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the future Union Army general in chief and eventual U.S...
in November, and became regimental commander when his superiors became incapacited. There he received the first of seven war wounds. He participated in the campaigns to capture Fort Henry
Fort Henry
Fort Henry is the name of:*Fort Henry , a 1646 fort near present-day Petersburg, Virginia*Fort Henry , a 1774 fort near present–day Wheeling, West Virginia...
and Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
Fort Donelson National Battlefield preserves Fort Donelson and Fort Heiman, two sites of the American Civil War Forts Henry and Donelson Campaign, in which Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Admiral Andrew Hull Foote captured three Confederate forts and opened two rivers to the Union navy...
and in the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, when he was promoted to colonel. He fought in the Battle of Corinth
Battle of Corinth
The Battle of Corinth may refer to a Roman battle, or to one of two American Civil War Battles:* The Battle of Corinth * The Siege of Corinth, Mississippi , also known as the First Battle of Corinth, during the American Civil War* The Second Battle of Corinth...
(October 1862) and commanded Bethel and La Grange, Tennessee
La Grange, Tennessee
La Grange is a town in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 136 at the 2000 census. The town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as La Grange Historic District.-Geography:...
, leading the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XVI Corps
XVI Corps
XVI Corps can refer to:*XVI Corps , active in the First and Second World Wars*XVI Corps *XVI Corps *XVI Corps , a field corps of the Indian Army...
and protected Memphis & Charleston Railroad.
As a brigade commander in the Atlanta Campaign in 1864, he fought at Resaca
Resaca
Resaca may refer to:* Resaca, Georgia* Resaca, Ohio* Battle of Resaca -- an inconclusive battle of the American Civil War fought in May 1864* Resaca , channels in the Rio Grande basin of southernmost Texas...
, New Hope Church
Battle of New Hope Church
The Battle of New Hope Church was fought May 25–26, 1864, between the Union force of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War...
, and Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the most significant frontal assault launched by Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman against the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E...
. He received promotion to Brigadier General of Volunteers on June 22, 1864, leading the 2nd Division. He participated in the Siege of Atlanta, and then transferred to the XV Corps
XV Corps (ACW)
The XV Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gens. Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. It was commanded by Sherman in the Siege of Vicksburg and then by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. ...
, were he served through the March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
and the Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
. He was appointed to the brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
rank of major general for war service dating from March 13, 1865.
Post war
After the war he practiced law in Washington D.C., until returning to Iowa, to his sister's home in Sioux CitySioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, where he remained until his death. He is interred at Floyd Cemetery, Sioux City
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, Woodbury County, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.