Henry Rice Letters

Collection

Identifier: Midwest-MS-Rice H

Staff Only

Scope and Content of the Collection

Six letters written by Henry Rice to his family during the Civil War, 1862, and one envelope with a patriotic vignette addressed to Amory Rice, Lewistown, Fulton County, Illinois.

Henry Rice wrote to his family during the month when he stayed at Camp Peoria, waiting to go into active service. During that time, he discusses religion at camp, illness, deserters, uniforms, food, guard duty, and equipment, or lack thereof. He seems proud of his fellow soldiers and impatient to fight, or at least, get paid.

Dates

Creation: 1862

Creator

Rice, Henry, 1843-1863 (Person)

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Henry Rice Letters are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 5 folders at a time maximum, and items in each folder will be counted before and after delivery to the patron (Priority I).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Henry Rice Letters are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of Henry Rice

Henry Rice was a Civil War soldier in Company H of the 103rd Illinois Infantry Regiment.

At age 19, Henry Rice left his home in Lewistown Illinois, a farm on which he lived with his father Amory, his mother, Martha, and a brother, Oliver, to enlist as a private on August 12, 1862. After waiting eagerly for a month at Camp Peoria, Illinois, he was finally mustered in on October 2, 1862. Letters do not chronicle the rest of his experiences, but he served until February, 1863, when he died of disease in Jackson, Tennessee.

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet (7 items in 1 box)

Additional Description

Abstract

Six letters, Sept. 14-Oct. 15, 1862, from Camp Peoria in Peoria, Ill., from Henry Rice of the 103rd Illinois Infantry to family in Lewistown, Ill., describing military life in the camp. Included with the letters is an envelope addressed to "Mrs. Amory Rice, Lewistown, Fulton County, Illinois," illustrated in red and blue with the seal and motto of the United States