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Coal Heaver · U.S. Navy

Charles Rice

Coal Heaver Charles Rice, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 23, 1864

Coal Heaver Charles Rice, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Agawam. Rice was about 24 years old.

8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Fireman Second Class.

Rice was born in 1840 in Russia, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.

Rice is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Agawam as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 23 December 1864. The powder boat, towed in by the Wilderness to prevent detection by the enemy, cast off and slowly steamed to within 300 yards of the beach. After fuses and fires had been lit and a second anchor with short scope let go to assure the boat's tailing inshore, the crew boarded the Wilderness and proceeded a distance of 12 miles from shore. Less than two hours later the explosion took place, and the following day, fires were observed still burning at the fort.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. 1840
    Born in Russia, Maine
  2. December 23, 1864
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 24. U.S.S. Agawam
  3. May 12, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented

Biography

Charles Rice (1840 - 9 September 1895) was a Russian-born fireman, second class (E-2 rank) of the United States Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. On 23 December 1864, Rice was part of a volunteer crew that guided and exploded a powder boat near Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The raid was successful, setting the fort ablaze for at least one day. Rice was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the raid on 31 December 1864, and was presented with the award on 12 May 1865 aboard the USS Agawam.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles Rice (fireman)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on December 23, 1864

CB Charles James Bibber Gunner's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 DC Dennis Conlan Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 William Garvin Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 CH Charles Hawkins Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WH William Hinnegan Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 RM Robert William Montgomery Captain of the Afterguard · Navy Civil War · 1864 JN John Neil Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 JR James Roberts Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864

Same unit

JS James Sullivan Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Maine

WD William Dunn Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 FH Frank W. Haskell Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1862 MH Moses C. Hanscom Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 ET Edward Parsons Tobie Jr. Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1865 CS Charles H. Smith Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1862 Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.