Robert
Alexander Spice, of Oconto, Wisconsin, belonging to
G.A.R. Post No. 74, was born in Quebec, Canada, October
7, 1844. He is the son of Thomas and Ann/Jane (Logan)
Spice. He came to Wisconsin and obtained employ in a saw
mill and as a lumberman near Oconto, where he enlisted
when he was 17, June 19, 1861, in Company H, 4th
Wisconsin Infantry for three years. The company was first
known as the Oconto "River Drivers" and on its
organization, Joseph F. Loy was made Captain. The
regiment left the state July 15th, going to Baltimore,
where they arrived on the second day after Bull Run while
the excitement was still at it's height.
They camped at the Relay House and
guarded the railroad communications for a time and were
detailed for a brief service on the eastern shore of
Virginia. They returned to Baltimore and in February,
1862, joined Butler's command and in the spring went to
Ship Island, suffering greatly from confinement on the
transports, and went thence to participate in the
bombardment of Forts St. Phillip and Jackson, and
afterwards went up the river and were engaged in the
destruction of the Jackson railroad. They went next to
Vicksburg where they were employed in the construction of
the famous "cut off." The regiment went next to Baton
Rouge to fight in that action and remained there some
time, performing military duty. They were next assigned
to the Teche expedition and went to Berwick City, and
were in camp Bisland, when Mr. Spice was taken sick,
passed about six weeks in the hospital at New Orleans and
rejoined his regiment at Baton Rouge. The reconstruction
of the regiment into cavaly had taken place and
afterwards the command was engaged in scouting, picketing
and other military duty.
In May, 1864, Mr. Spice
re-enlisted and took his veteran's furlough. He went to
Morganzia and afterwards to Clinton, where he was in
action, went back to Baton Rouge and in October and
November was again in skirmishes at Clinton. In November
he went to West Pascagoula, Miss., and returned to Baton
Rouge. He was in the cavalry movement to the vicinity of
Mobile and went thence through Alabama to Eufaula, where
information was received that the rebellion was at an
end; they returned to Vicksburg after 70 days in the
saddle. During that time they were on short rations most
of the time, receiving about a pound of meal daily and
sometimes only parched corn.
They expected to be
discharged at Vicksburg, but were sent to Texas where
they were stationed at San Antonio and Mr. Spice was sent
with an expedition against the Indians and remained in
Texas until the Spring of 1866 when he returned to
Wisconsin and received honorable discharge. While at
Olive Branch, La., he was on picket. The rebels decoyed a
squad into an ambush and Mr. Spice received a severe
fall. The locality was a mud hole and when his horse
fell, the reserve of mounted men tumbled on top of him
and he was severely injured in his back, from which he
still suffers.
On returning to Wisconsin he
located on a farm on which he built a house which was
afterwards burned. He is still a resident on the place
and was one of the charter members of the Grand Army Post
at Oconto. He was married October 17, 1866 to Emma
Collins, of Oshkosh. Their children are named Adelbert
E., Ollie, Clara, Ernie, Mary, Nellie and Laura.
The Spice Family - 1890
(L to R) Back row standing : Mary
Spice Taylor Cook, Erna Spice Fifrick, Laura Spice,
Nellie Spice Kinzinger, Emma Spice Kinzinger.
Front row seated: Clara Spice Trepanier, Robert Alexander
Spice, Molly Spice Hassenfelt, Emily Collins Spice,
Adelbert Spice.
The Spice Girls
Laura is on the end (right)
Additional photos related to
Robert Alexander Spice can viewed by clicking
here.
A special
thanks to Peggy Oberbeck and the Oconto County WIGenWeb
Project for the photos. www.rootsweb.com/~wioconto/fampg.htm
