Story of Isaac Rice, Civil War POW, buried at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC

Short clip telling the story of Isaac Rice, Civil War soldier from Bedford County, PA. Isaac served in the 101st PA Infantry Regiment, with his twin brother Abraham. Isaac died as a POW in Charleston, SC, and his remains are buried in an unidentified grave at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC.

Washington Crosses the Delaware - And Changes The Rice Family History!

In the early morning of December 26, 1776, George Washington and his colonial troops crossed the Delaware River. We all remember that from our American history classes, right? The details are even more interesting – determined to hold his army together (which was slowly disintegrating) and attack the Trenton garrison of 1,500 German (‘Hessian’) mercenary enemy garrison, General Washington’s men used sixty-foot Durham freight boats to cross. A furious storm of rain, sleet and snow slowed their progress, but George Washington’s gamble changed American history…as well as the history of the Rice Family.

Painting by Mort Kunstler

When Washington’s troops reached the NJ side of the Delaware, they marched overnight to Trenton. The Americans achieved their goal – the complete surprise of the Hessian garrison, which slumbered in the early morning hours of a post-Christmas celebration. The Americans routed the Hessians, capturing over 1,000 Hessians plus over 100 wounded or killed. The victory was complete.

Flag of Von Lossberg Regiment

Christian Ludwig Mueller of Hesse Castle, Germany, was almost certainly asleep in the Trenton garrison, in a foreign land, on that morning of December 26, 1776. As a member of Von Lossberg’s Fusilier Regiment, Mueller arrived in American in the first division of Hessian troops. His regiment fought with distinction in Long Island, White Plains, and Fort Washington. He had almost certainly enjoyed the German Christmas celebration the day before, and Mueller looked forward to a quiet winter quarters. Instead, later on that morning after Christmas, he stood in the ranks with his fellow German soldiers, in front of General Washington; Christian Mueller was now a captured prisoner of war.

The Hessian soldiers were later quartered as POWs in Carlyle, PA. Legend has it that they built the guard house there.

Postcard of Hessian Guard House, Carlyle, PA

Following the war, Christian Mueller and the Hessian prisoners were stranded – the British government would not pay for their return to Germany. The German monarchy, which had hired out the mercenaries to the British, was embarrassed by their soldiers’ lack of success, and abandoned the men.

Ultimately, Christian Mueller swore an oath to support the new United States of America, becoming an American. He eventually migrated to Clearville, in Bedford County, PA. Christian Mueller became a Pennsylvania farmer.

He’s my fifth great-grandfather – as a new American, Christian eventually changed his name to Miller. His grand-daughter, Elizabeth, married Jacob Rice (ie, my 3^rd great grand-parents). Elizabeth and Jacob had five sons who served in the Civil War, including twin sons, Isaac and Abraham, who were captured in Plymouth, NC and were confined in the infamous Andersonville Prison. And, my 2^nd great-grandfather, Nicholas Cornelius Rice, served in Nashville, TN on garrison duty. The basics of that American Civil War story are told in my video done at Shreves Chapel cemetery in Clearville, PA.

So, our ancestor fought in the Revolutionary War – on the British side! And, he was captured by the Americans. Then, their great-grandsons fought in the Civil War – and were captured by the Confederates!

Christian Ludwig Miller (1750 - 1828)
5th great-grandfather
Jacob J (Joseph) Miller (1781 - 1853)
son of Christian Ludwig Miller
Elizabeth Miller (1805 - 1891)
daughter of Jacob J (Joseph) Miller
Nicholas Cornelius Rice (1836 - 1918)
son of Elizabeth Miller
Simon Cornelius Rice (1868 - 1956)
son of Nicholas Cornelius Rice
Jacob Glenn Rice (1898 - 1981)
son of Simon Cornelius Rice
Thomas C Rice (1929 - 1983)
son of Jacob Glenn Rice
James Michael Rice

-          Jim Rice, December 26, 2017

Isaac and Abraham Rice - Two of the Civil War's Plymouth Pilgrims

My 2nd Great grand-uncles, Isaac and Abraham Rice, twins and teachers, enlisted in 1861 among Bedford County, PA's Civil War volunteers in the 101st PA Volunteer Infantry Regiment. After capture in Plymouth, NC, both were held in the infamous Andersonville Prison in Andersonville, SC.

After being moved from Andersonville Prison, Isaac died as a prisoner of war in Charleston, SC on September 21, 1864 and was buried there in an unmarked grave. Later his remains, with approximately 200 others, were moved to the National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC. A memorial table there lists the names (Isaac's is incorrectly listed as D.L. Rice). A ceremony honoring these men by the black population of Charleston, SC on May 1, 1865 is often cited as the first Memorial Day. See (see http://www.theguardian.com/…/who-held-the-first-memorial-da…).

A memorial marker for Isaac is also at Shreves Chapel Cemetery in Bedford County, PA, alongside his parents' and several siblings' gravestones. Isaac's twin brother Abraham survived the war, as did three other Rice brothers who served.

Over half of the 1861 Bedford County volunteers in Company D of the 101st passed away during the Civil War, many in captivity under horrendous living conditions.

There are many, many other American stories like this one. Lets pause and remember our heroes' service and sacrifice on this Memorial Day.

The family link...

Isaac Rice (1834 - 1864) and Abraham Rice (1834 -1895)

are your 2nd great grand uncles

Jacob Rice (1799 - 1874)

father of Isaac Rice

Nicholas Cornelius Rice (1836 - 1918)

son of Jacob Rice

Simon Cornelius Rice (1868 - 1956)

son of Nicholas Cornelius Rice

Jacob Glenn Rice (1898 - 1981)

son of Simon Cornelius Rice

Thomas C Rice (1929 - 1983)

son of Jacob Glenn Rice

James Michael Rice

You are the son of Thomas C Rice

Did any of the Bedford Co Rice's Serve in the Civil War?

Nicholas Cornelius Rice, born in Bedford County, PA on November 11, 1836, is my great-great paternal grandfather. Here is how we are related:

Nicholas Cornelius Rice (1836 - 1918)

is your 2nd great grandfather

 

Simon Cornelius Rice (1868 - 1956)

Son of Nicholas Cornelius

 

Jacob Glenn Rice (1898 - 1981)

Son of Simon Cornelius

 

Thomas C Rice (1929 - 1983)

Son of Jacob Glenn

 

James Michael Rice

You are the son of Thomas C

 

 Nicholas Cornelius served as a Private in the Union Army's 78th Pa Volunteers Company K. The 78th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and mustered in for a three year enlistment on October 12, 1861 under the command of Colonel William Sirwell. Cornelius Rice (who often did not use 'Nicholas'), mustered into the Regiment on February 28, 1865, and completed his service on September 11, 1865. See http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/78th/78thcoknew.html. Cornelius served in Nashville, TN, where the 78th was assigned to Garrison duty. From Regimental records, it appears that Cornelius's Company K was a replacement unit when 'old veterans' completed their 3 year enlistment in October 1864.

For a complete record of the 78th Volunteers service, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/78th_Pennsylvania_Infantry. Interestingly, there are several books about veterans of the 78th Volunteer;, one is titled The Life and Times of Kimber M. Snyder: A Soldier in the 78th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.  Could Kimber Snyder be related to my Aunt Leona Snyder Rice (married to Archie Rice, my father's older brother)? We shall see.

Now, why did Cornelius not serve until so late in the Civil War? My guess is as follows - and this is the most interesting part of the Rice Civil War story:

Cornelius had 3 older brothers - 1 died before the Civil War, and 2 served starting in 1861. He had 3 younger brothers - 2 served starting in 1861 (I will try to highlight all of the brothers in a later blog report, an amazing story!), and one was only 14 at the start of the Civil War. Think about this - Cornelius's father, Jacob, was a farmer, and ALL his sons 'of age' left to serve in the Civil War! Somebody had to stay behind and help Jacob at the farm at the beginning of the Civil War. I believe it was Cornelius, until 1864, when he was either drafted (into a replacement company) or finally enlisted.

Also, Cornelius married Jane Layton on May 9, 1864 - before he served in the Civil War. Did their marriage plans affect his military service?

Can you imagine how Jacob and Elizabeth, Cornelius's parents, felt with FIVE sons serving in the Union Army? Just amazing.

What Does the 'C' Stand For in Thomas C Rice?

My father's name is Thomas C. Rice (1929-1983). Our family has always wondered, 'What does the 'C' stand for? Why didn't my father's birth certificate have a full name? Here is an educated guess, with the facts first:

Tom's grandfather's name was Simon C. Rice (1868-1956). I've attached a photo of his gravestone, which is at Stevens Chapel in Mattie, PA (Bedford County, PA). Hmmm,  what does the 'C' stand for?

Tom's great-grandfather's name is Nicholas C. Rice (1836-1918). Hmmm, what does the 'C' stand for? Did Pap name my Dad after Pap's father or grandfather?

Well, looking at the census and other records, Nicholas used his middle name all his life and dropped 'Nicholas' . And his middle name was...Cornelius (see his Civil War Registration, Number 7 on the document, as an example). And Nicholas gave his son the name Simon Cornelius Rice!

So, did Pap and Gram name their son Thomas Cornelius Rice? My educated guess is 'yes'. But why make it only 'C' on his birth certificate? And why did my father never provide any indication that he had the family name 'Cornelius'?

My guess - Gram didn't like the name Cornelius! I cannot yet find that name anywhere in the Pennell family history. I'm guessing Gram reluctantly said 'ok' to Pap, but I'm sure she was in charge of filling out the birth certificate. And I'm willing to strongly suggest that Pap knew Gram didn't like it, and this strong willed couple agreed not to make a big deal of it, and that was the end of 'Cornelius'.

One other note - perhaps Tom found out at some point that C stood for Cornelius, and really didn't like it. So, he too went with the 'C'.

Any other thoughts?

Welcome Rice and Pennell Family!

Welcome Rice and Pennell Family! The purpose of this blog is to post and collect historical stories about the Rice Families and Pennell Families originating in Bedford County, PA. I am James M. Rice, son of Thomas C. Rice, son of Jacob Glen ('Pap') Rice. And on from there. Because Pap married Ina Mae ('Gram') Pennell, Gram's ancestors will also be featured prominently in this blog. I hope stories will come from my own research, and more importantly, your contributions. I also hope that we can use this to collaborate regarding the Rice and Pennell Family history!

Enjoy and contribute!