The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1872-07-11
LITTLE POTTER.
AN INCIDENT or THE hEpELLroN.

skinneu t"inknng eyed young fellow,
was known the regiment over as lit
tlc Potter" The name come from his
trade before the war times, and from
tho fact that he was always talking
shop, aud examining olays with all tho
enthusiasm OF eeologist. He had
tho. faculty Of becoming interested 10
anything that any other mao was do
ing. Standing near the picket fire.
though uncomfortable himself. he
could always suggest n way in which
to make tho coffee boil, and would
gather up title splinters aud pile uu-
der and about the little kettle with
the keenest enjoyment, altho' tho cof
fee belonged to the most taciiurn man
in the company. Ho showed bis
indy interest in every man s affair
and of course was universally liked,
At Shiloh, in tho midst of the Sc
cond day. battle Litt!o Potter left the
company to get water for himself rnd
several of his companions. A quick
change Of position, new line Of bat.
tie formation, took place, after hiS dc.
parture, aud Littlc Potter was seen
no more for several days. After the
rebels retrcatei, Eo was acting "a
nurse o. the brigade hospital. lie
couldn't find tho regiment on his re-
turn, but found the hospital, aud the
division surgeon ordered him on duty,
and discovering his excellence Us q
nurse, would not let him return to
his company.
There was quarrel be twcenl the
captain and tho surgeon, the former
seeing Little Potter rs skulkcr, and
the latter seeing him cs n useful man
who had made mistake through no
fault Of his own. The captain rcpor.
ted Potter absent without leave, and
ho was cour. martialcd. Tho sen.
tcnce was that he should forfeit six :.
months pay. Tho men Of tho com
pany were very indignant, but Pot
ter said nothing. The stoppagc OF
six months pay told sorcly on him,
but ho wcathered the storm, and
came out as serene as though he had
, never been court.martaled.
Much clothing was lost at Shiloh,
and list was made out of clothing
10 st in battle.
Tho sergeant would ask
"Woll, Blame, what did you lose at
Shiloh
Answer "An overcoat ani KNAPP
sack.'
"What did you loso at Shiloh, Pot.
ter 2"
'"With inliscribablc drollcry, Pot.
tor said with sort Of lisp tina; was
characteristics" al lotht thcveuty
eight dollarth !"
. This was the only reference be
made to the cour:-martial and the
six months pay until the morning OF
: the terrible December 81, at Stone
River. In the hurry OF the company
formation for battle, Little Potter wa,
; the first man in place, after the order
. ly, and though the shortest man in
tho company, be held his place there
in face of the rule to the contrary
there was sweeping charge. Tha
company left their dead further tc
the front than any other regiment il
action that day. They were cruelty
crushed relentlessly driven.
Little Potter was q giant 10 doing.
He kept his place next to the orderly
: when tho company was broken ant
scattered. With precision that
would under other circumstances
|, have been droll, no formed on the Or
derly Whenever charge was made
and while IL was every man for him-
self. As he was ramming. home a
load. o ball struck him 10 the feshy
part Of the leg, cutting a great cash
aud tearing his clothes. He was ad-
, visad to 60 to tho rear. The repl
was:
81 will show them who is q cow
ard"
A shot struck him in the left shoul
der, aQd he became deadly pale. Still
n with teeth and right hand he mana.
gcd to load bis gun and fire. Anoth
or shot struck him ia the thigh, aud
he fell. He was dragged to th'
} stump aud placed so that the rakine
/. fire would not touch him. no delib
erately crawled around and placed
. himself so as 10 face the rebcls, ant
a as tho company gave back in one o
d those almost hand to hand fights Lit
tie Potter kissed his hand TO the mel
10 nearest him and nestled down with