Lieutenant Bruce B. Rice
Allegany Bridge (Eldred)
Company I, "McKean County Rifles", BUCKTAILS
1st Rifle Regiment, P.R.V.C.
42nd Regiment, 13th Reserves, Kane's Rifles

Wounded: June 8, 1862
Battle of Cross Keys, Virginia
Died of Wounds: June 14, 1862

Lieutenant Rice was an original volunteer of the "Bucktails" that organized in Smethport in April 1861. He was the son of Almon (1800 - 1878) and Almira (1813 - 1903) Rice, of Eldred.
(both buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Eldred)

Report of Capt. Hugh McDonald, Kane Rifle Battalion,
The Battle of Cross Keys. CAMP NEAR PORT REPUBLIC, VIRGINIA
June 9, 1862.

DEAR SIR: In obedience to orders I yesterday morning reported with my command to Brigadier-General Stahel, commanding First Brigade, General Blenker's division, and was by him detailed to support Captain Buell's battery of his brigade, and accordingly I accompanied it to the front, where one of our batteries had already engaged the enemy. After waiting for a short time under cover of a wood the rattle of small-arms in advance showed us where our infantry had engaged them, and directly we were ordered to cross the strip of woods on our right and engage the enemy. The movement was executed promptly, and immediately upon our emerging from the wood we attracted the attention of the enemy, who threw a few shot and shell at us, one of which struck Private John McElhaney, of Company C, inflicting a severe wound in the leg; another struck a member of Company A, Twentyseventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (which was deployed along a fence in advance of us), blowing him to fragments.

Fortunately our coarse led us down into a ravine under cover, and another hollow at right angles with it enabled the battery to advance across the entire field and take up a position with their caissons well under cover. I placed my command in the first-mentioned hollow, and ordered the men to lie down, which was done in good order, but a few minutes' observation convinced me that I was too far to the right and too nearly in the range of our guns for safety. Accordingly I moved the command more to the left and down the hollow, and again ordered them to lie down. Most of the shells flew over us, but one burst right in our midst, wounding Private Edmond Debeck, of Company G, and tearing the pants of Lieut. T. B. Winslow, of same company. In the mean time tbe rattle of musketry steadily advancing toward our position told me that the enemy were gaining ground upon the other side of the wood, and presently orders came to fall back and bring ott' the battery.

The Twenty-seventh formed in column by division and I formed in line of battle upon their left, in which positions we advanced into the wood at a double-quick, and owing to a high fence which we had to clamber over entered it in some confusion, the Twenty-seventh still on my right and the battery coming up on my left. We found it already occupied by the enemy, and received a volley, which killed 1 and wounded 5 of Company I, of my command. We immediately opened upon them, driving them out of the wood at the point of the bayonet. The battery also unlimbered two pieces and double-shotted them, bat so eager were the men and so rapid the firing that I could not rally the men in time to allow the guns to play without endangering onr own men. So soon as possible I rallied my command, and the Twenty-seventh having also retired in rear of the guns, we waited to give them a taste of grape, but the brush was too dense to allow us to see tbem, and we came on.

Upon emerging from the wood we were opened upon by our own batteries, who had retired and taken up a position some distance in the rear. The prompt display of the flag of the Twentyseventh Regiment soon put a stop to that, with the loss of one or two horses by the battery, and we came in bringing in our wounded. Where all behaved so well it would be invidious to mention names, and hoping that we may always acquit ourselves as well in future, I have the honor to subscribe myself yours,

respectfully, HUGH McDONALD, Captain, Commanding Kane Rifle Battalion.
Brigadier-General BAYARD, Commanding Brigade.