The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-07-16
Little Potter.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REBELLION.

was known the regiment over as Lit
tie Potter The name came from his
trade before the war times, and from
the fact that he was always talking
shop and examining clays with all the
enthusiasm of q geologist. He had
the faculty of becoming interested in
anything that any other man was do
ing. Standing near the picket fire,
though uncomfortable himself, he
could always suggest way in which
to make the coffee boil, and would
gather up little splinters and pile
under and about the little kettle, with
the keenest enjoyment, although the
coffee belonged to the most taciturn
man in the regiment. He showed his
kindly interest in every mans affairs,
and of course was universally liked.
AT Shiloh, in the midst of the
second days battle Little Potter left
the company for water for himself and
several of his companions. A quick
change of position, new line of bat
tie formation, took place after his de-
parture, and Little Potter was seen no
more for several days. After the
rebels retreated, he was acting as nurse
at the brigade hospital. He couldn't
find the regiment on his return, but
found the hospital, and the division
surgeon ordered him on duty and dis
covering his excellence as a nurse
would not let him return to his COM
pany.
There was a quarrel between the
captain and the surgeon, the former
seeing Little Potter as a skulker, and
the latter seeing him as useful man
who had made mistake through no
fault of his own. The captain report
ed Potter absent without leave, and
he was court martialed. The sentence
was that he should forfeit six months
pay. The men Of the company were
very indignant, but Potter said moth
ing. The stoppage Of the pay told
sorely OH him, but he weathered the
storm, and came out as serene as
though he had never been court mar
tailed.
Much clothing was lost at Shiloh,
and list was made out Of clothing
lost in battle.
The sergeant would ask:
"Well, Blame, what did you lose at
Shiloh p
Answer-"An overcoat and KNAPP
sack"
"What did you lose at Shiloh, Pot
ter?"
With indiscribable drollery, Potter
said with Il sort of lisp that was char
acteristic: Il lotht theventy-eight
dollarth p
This was the only reference he made
to the court martial and six months
pay until the morning of the terrible
December 31st, at 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 a
sweeping charge. That company left
their dead further to the front than
any other regiment in action on that
day. They were cruelty crushed, re
lentlessly driven.
Little Potter was q giant in doing
He kept his place next to the orderly
when the company was broken ant
scattered. With procession that would
under other circumstances have beer
droll, he formed on the orderly when
ever charge was made, and while il
was every man for himself. AS he was
ramming home load a ball struck
: him in the feshy part of the leg, cut
ting great cash, AMI tearing hi
clothes. He was advised to go to thu
rear. The reply was:
81 will show them who is a coward.
{ A shot struck him in the left sho oul
der, and he became deadly pale. Still
: with teeth and right hand he manageC
to load his gun and fire. Anothe
S shot struck him in the thigh and h,
; fell. He was dragged to stump anC
placed so that the raking fire woulC
5 not touch him. He deliberatel,
crawled round and placed himself S,
: as to face the rebels, and as the com
!, pany gave back in one of those almos
y hand to hand fights, Little Potte
r kissed his hand to the man neares
= him and then nestled down with
= sigh of relief.
Days afterwards the sergeant founo
}. pair of black eyes glistening iron
festoons of white sheets in hospita
at Murfreesboro. They belonged t
Little Potter; broken-legged, broken
armed and bandaged. He could no
move and could hardly speak. Blu
as the fearful men bent over him h
lisped: "We wakthd them, didn'
d Ye?"
st The rebels found him braced u
against the stump, punching at ther
with his gun held in his one hand, a
they ran by. He was taken to tn
hospital, and here day after day hi
- old comrades went to see him. The
: did more; they wrote to General Rose