in the Union Army, whom he claimed would waylay anyone they met, high or low: Rice reported that few of these men were ever punished, mostly due to lack of evidence or the reluctance of fellow soldiers to testify against them (often from fear of reprisal). Philosophical ruminations In a letter to his wife dated 7 May 1864, Private Rice recorded his own thoughts on the Federal cause, what a Confederate victory would mean for the nation, and the rampant corruption in governmental and economic circles: In a letter written on the occasion of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, Rice makes it clear that he did not consider Lincoln himself to be anything other than "the greatest statesman ... its most silent and sharpest legislator: one who possessed coolness, firmness and a just knowledge with the courage to enforce it which no other man in the length and breadth of this land possesses." Commanders Captain Allen C. Waterhouse - promoted to major. Captain John A. Fitch - promoted to major. Captain Orrin W. Cram - Mustered out with the battery. Assignments and service Organizational assignments Organized at Chicago, Ill., and mustered in December 19, 1861. Moved to Cairo, Ill., February 13, 1862. Attached to District of Cairo, Ill., to March, 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., to November, 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, District [1037] of Memphis, Tenn., Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, November, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., 13th Army Corps, to December, 1862. Artillery, 8th Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to December, 1863. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, Sturgis' Expedition, June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, Detachment Army of the Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. Artillery Reserve, Dept. of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, Tenn., to July, 1865. Engagements and service Duty at Paducah, Ky., till March, 1862. Expedition from Paducah to Tennessee River and operations about Crump's Landing, Tenn., March 8–14. Expedition to Yellow Creek, Miss., and occupation of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 14–17. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6–7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., via Lagrange, Grand Junction and Holly Springs, June 1-July 21. Duty at Memphis, Tenn., till November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, November