Why General Rice was called "Old Crazy"

[Nathan Stuart]

A followup to a previous trivia post (replies now closed) on Union General James Clay Rice

At Gettysburg, Colonel Rice led the 44th​ New York, which was part of Colonel Vincent's brigade defending Little Round Top.

Apparently Rice was known as "Old Crazy" in the ranks due to his perceived over-excitability in battle which it was thought affected his good judgement. The brigade standard bearer, Pvte. Oliver W. Norton, claimed Colonel Rice was called "Old Crazy" because "he is brave enough, but in a fight too excitable to do anything right". (Pfanz, H. W., Gettysburg: The Second Day, Page 230).

At Little Round Top he proved capable under fire though. After Colonel Vincent fell, Rice led the brigade for the rest of the battle. His actions were creditable enough to earn him a promotion to Brigadier General shortly afterwards.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

He must have gotten over that. The first day of the Battle of Spotsylvania, he encouraged brigade as it waited to charge Laurel Hill for the first time by riding up and down the line, telling his men, "God will protect you." It was a significant moment - at least four men from 147th New York recorded it in their writings.

This was two days before he was hit and uttered the line that several mentioned in the trivia contest.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

After they were reformed, General Rice—the commanding officer—came riding back towards our line, meeting an officer in front of our regiment. He requested him to tell General Cutler, commanding the division, that there was a gap between his brigade and the brigade on his right and wished him to send a regiment forward and close it. All this time that battery off on our left was keeping up a constant fire, some of their shell bursting uncomfortably close.

Although I was very much interested in the battery and wished it was a hundred miles from there, yet at the same time there was something about General Rice that attracted my attention. I do not know whether it was the fine form of the man, for he was a splendid looking officer, or the beautiful charger that he rode, or whether it was the tone of his voice in which he delivered his message that attracted my attention most and caused me for a time to forget the battery, or whether after events caused me to remember the last time I saw General Rice alive, I do not know.

The tone in which he spoke was not a commanding one such as I often heard used while in battle or on the march, but as one man will speak to another when asking a favor. He seemed depressed as if he had a premonition that he was going into his last battle. After delivering his message he turned his horse and rode in the direction of his brigade, soon disappearing in the forest beyond. A few minutes later I saw off to our left four men running with a man in a blanket and behind them trotted the black horse belonging to General Rice without any one leading him.

The sight of that riderless horse told plainer than words the fate of his master, and it was a touching sight to see him follow his wounded master from the field.

Source:

Chapter 11—“The charge will not be made tonight”

The 10th at Laurel Hill. We move forward to attack the enemy. Lying within a few feet of a shell, unpleasant sensation. Death of General Rice. We advance into the wood and attack the enemy. Exposed…

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