The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-15
Little Potter.

A short, little, Square-built, dark-skinned,
twinkliug eyed young fellow was known
the regiment over us "Little Potter" The
name came from his trade before war times,
and from the fact that he was always talking
shop and examining clays with all the eutlli-
siaSm of geologist. He had the faculty OF
becoming interested in anything that any
other man was doing. Standing near the
picket-tire, though uncomfortable himself,
he could always suggest 4 way III wh,"li
to Nuke the coffee boil, and would gu ''f
up little splintcrs and pile them. under q"
about the little kettle with the kccnr~
enjoyment, although the coffee belonged /:
the most taciturn man in the company.
He showed this kindly interest in every
mans affairs, aud OF course Iyils universally
liked. At Shiloh, in the midst of the second
days battle, Little Potter left the company to
get water for himself and several Of his
companions. A quick change Of position, q
hew line of battle formation took place after
his departure, and Little Potter was seen 10
more for several days. After the rebels re-
treated he was acting as nurse at the brigade
hospital. He couldn't find the regiment on
his return, bnt found the hospital, and the
division surgeon ordered him on duty, and,
discovering his excellence as nurse, would
not let him return to the company. There
was a quarrel between the captain and the
surgeon, the former seeing Little Potter rs
skulker, and the latter seeing him us 4 USE
full man, who had made a mistake through
no fault of his own. The captain reported
Potter absent without leave, and he was
contaminated. The sentence was that he
should forfeit six months pay. The men
of the company We're very indignant, bat
Potter said nothing. The stoppage of six
months pay told sorely on him, but he wea-
thered the storm, and came ont rs serene as
though he had never been court-Martialed
Much clothing was lost at Shiloh, and list
was made out of clothing lost in battle. The
sergeant would ask, " We'll, Blame, what did
YOU lose at Shiloh!" Answer: IAN over
coat and knapsack." "What did you lose at
Shiloh, Potter" With indescrbable drolery
POKER said, with sort OF lisp that Vas cha
,ac4sristic, Il lotht theyenty.eight dol
larthw This was the only reference he
made to the cOnrt-martial and the six
months pay until the morning of the
terrible December 81, ut Stone river. In
the hurry of the company formation for
battle Little Potter was the first man in
place, after the orderly, and though the
shortest man in the company he held his
place there in face Of the rule to the contrary.
There was sweeping charge. The company
left their dead further to the front than any
other regiment in action that day. They
were cruelty crushed, relcnthssly driven.
Little Potter was q giant in doing. He kept
his place next to the orderly when the COM
pany was broken and scattered. Witha pre-
cision that would under other circumstances !
have been droll, he formed on the orderly |
whenever charge was made and while
i vas every man for himself. AS he
mas famming home load a ball struck
him In the feshy part of the leg, |
clothes. BE was advised to go to the rear.
The reply Ras: Twill show them who IL Il |
coward. "A shot struck him in the left
shoulder. and he became deadly pale. Still
Nifb teeth and right hand he managed to
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