AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN F. LACEY 407 



through our line. One could easily have walked over 

 that part of the line stepping only on the bodies of the 

 dead. 



After this battle General F. Steele came up from 

 Vicksburg, ordered by his old classmate, Grant, to or- 

 ganize an expedition against Little Rock. Steele recog- 

 nized in Rice a man capable of commanding and so as- 

 signed the various regiments as to make Rice the ranking 

 colonel of a division of three brigades and so I found 

 myself promoted to be the assistant adjutant-general of 

 a division, in which capacity I served during the Little 

 Rock campaign. There was but little fighting in this 

 campaign, for General Steele by a most masterly move- 

 ment placed his cavalry on the south side of the Arkan- 

 sas, and Price had to fight with the chance of being 

 cooped up in the works or else had to retire, which latter 

 alternative he selected and withdrew, leaving Steele in 

 control of the line of the Arkansas River. 



Rice in the meantime was appointed brigadier-gen- 

 eral, and at once recommended me for the position of 

 captain and assistant adjutant-general of United States 

 volunteers. 



In March, 1864, began our march towards the south- 

 west. I will not give the details of that severe and bloody 

 campaign. General Rice carried himself with honor and 

 lost his life in battle. His staff was exposed with him 

 constantly and received at the hands of the army due 

 credit for duty well done. 



Rice was wounded at Jenkins Ferry April 30th and 

 died of his wounds July 6th following. Captain Town- 

 send, an aide on his staff, was killed. Major Duncan, 

 another aide, and Lieutenant Baylis of his staff each had 

 a horse killed under him, and I had a beautiful horse 

 killed under me by a shell at the battle of Prairie d 'Anne 

 April 10th. The strong hold that Rice and his staff had 



