Description:

James C. Rice
"Before Yorktown, Va.", April 23, 1862
Future Brig. Gen. J.C. Rice ALS with Yorktown Content and a Map - He Was KIA at Spotsylvania
ALS

James C. Rice ALS with Siege of Yorktown content. 3p.; 7.75" x 9.75"; "Before Yorktown, Va."; April 23, 1862. Then a lieutenant colonel, Rice writes to a Major Richardson during the height of the Siege of Yorktown. Fantastic content describing both Union and Confederate forces, as well as a detailed map of the Union forces, including their picket lines and entrenchments before the Warwick Line. Recipient's filing docket on verso. Clean paper with bold ink. Light soiling on the last page with docket. An exceptional contemporaneous account by a future general.

From the collection of Larry Berra, son of baseball legend Yogi Berra.

Rice's description of the Siege reads: "We are hard at work carrying on the siege of this place. 20000 thousand shovels, spades & pick axes have been employed night& day for the last ten days at entrenchments, parallels, boyaux, roads, bridges &c. This is to be the greatest conflict of this war. I wish you might see our magnificent army… All is excitement and we are all becoming familiar with the sound of the enemys shells and balls which he is ever throwing about us night & day. Gen'l McClellan is proceeding with great skill & prudence in carrying on the siege. He will certainly secure a great victory to our arms. It will be a great artillery conflict and our forces number 120,000, and our artillery 500 pieces. I do not think that Genl McClellan will be ready to open the works of the enemy before the 1st of May…"

Rice's careful rendering fills half a page. The map presents the Confederate Warwick Line from the Federal perspective, showing the fortified front stretching across the Peninsula between the York River and the Warwick River, with creeks, swamps, and roads carefully rendered to emphasize the strength of the position. A cross-hatched battery near Yorktown and a continuous line of works highlight the enemy defenses, while accompanying notes estimate approximately 300 artillery pieces and suggests a troop strength of 100,000, reflecting the common Union practice of overestimating Confederate numbers. The works are noted as extending roughly nine miles.

Rice's vivid description captures exactly what Union officers believed in late April 1862: that they were on the verge of a massive, decisive artillery assault under George B. McClellan. However, the outcome was far less dramatic. Despite the enormous effort Rice describes, the expected grand bombardment and climactic assault never occurred. Before McClellan could open his batteries in early May, Confederate forces under John B. Magruder, reinforced by Joseph E. Johnston, quietly evacuated Yorktown on the night of May 3–4, 1862, withdrawing intact up the Peninsula.

James C. Rice (1840-1864) was a New York-born Union officer whose Civil War career was marked by steady advancement and distinguished service. He was commissioned into "B" Company in the 39th New York Infantry ("Garibaldi Guard") on May 28, 1861. He was transferred to the 44th New York Infantry later that year in September, where he rose to command. Rice served with distinction at the Battle of Gettysburg, contributing to his promotion to brigadier general in February 1864. He subsequently commanded a brigade in the V Corps, Army of the Potomac, and was mortally wounded during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, dying of his wounds on May 10, 1864.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 9.75" x 7.75"
  • Medium: ALS

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