Terry, the Red Rovers was initially an independent Home Guard artillery company formed in late summer 1861. Its captain was Joel Rice, and first lieutenant was Hiram Rice. Its armament consisted of two small cannon that had been used in 4th of July celebrations prior to the war. Its original moniker was Rice's Independent Louisiana Red Rovers (Louisiana, Pike County, Missouri). Its personnel came from the Two Pikes--Pike County, Missouri, and Pike County, Illinois. This independent company was attached to the Pike County Home Guard and saw a fair amount of service in northeast Missouri in the fall of '61. The troops, belonging to an artillery unit, wore the red stripe of artillerymen on their pants for the duration of the war, as opposed to the yellow stripe of cavalrymen, even long after they were absorbed into the Missouri State Militia Cavalry (Company K, 3rd MSM Cavalry also were trained as artillery and wore the red stripe on their pants).

When the Missouri State Militia was authorized for formation in December 1861, Rice's Independent Louisiana Red Rovers transitioned into an independent company in that organization, with Hiram Rice taking over command of the company. This small independent unit played a large role in events that transpired in NEMO in the summer of 1862. Sometime shortly after Kirksville, the Red Rovers were absorbed into the 10th MSM Cavalry, which was also primarily a Pike County unit. The Independent Red Rovers was redesignated Company I, 10th MSM at this time, but continued being called the Red Rovers for another year and a half or so, by which time it had taken on a new nickname.

In early 1863 the 10th MSM was transferred to Southeast Missouri, shortly after which the regiment had three companies of the 12th MSM Cavalry integrated into it and was redesignated the 3rd MSM Cavalry (New). Two months later the entire regiment was moved to Patterson where it absorbed the initial blow during Marmaduke's 1863 raid. With the regiment escaping north, Hiram Rice was detailed to move to the rear and to blunt the attack of the 5000 Confederates that was moving to annihilate the 3rd MSM Cavalry. Rice, with the Red Rovers and Company E, made his stand at Stony Battery. This rearguard took heavy casualties, but bought the regiment enough time to escape. Nineteenth century historian Daniel M. Carr credited this rearguard as blunting the attack of thousands of Confederates "and by their work saved the regiment."

With its manpower severely depleted due to Stony Battery, the Red Rovers played a much less prominent roll during the rest of the war. It was still quite active in garrisoning SEMO towns and in sending out patrols, however. By 1864 it was no longer being referred to as the Red Rovers, and had taken on the moniker Kill-Devils.

Note that Confederate veteran and author Joseph Mudd spoke highly of Hiram Rice in his book, "With Porter In North Missouri."

For a bit more of an overview on the Red Rovers and Pike County Federal units generally, go here--http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/mocwmb2/webbbs_config.pl?read=13154