RICE, CHARLES H.
Rank and Organization: Coal Heaver, U.S. Navy. Born:
1843, Russia. Accredited
To: Maine. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.
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 again boarded the Wilderness and proceeded a
distance of 12 miles from shore. Less than 2 hours later the explosion took place, and the
following day, fires were observed still burning at the fort.
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