Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-19
AaisfelIarauus.
Little Potter"
THE STORY OF BRAVE SOLDIER AND A
HERDS DEATH.


skinned, twinkling eyed young fellow was
known the regiment over as Little Pot
ter" The name came from his trade be-
fore war times, ami from the fact he was
always talking shop and examining clays
with the enthusiasm of geolOgist- He
had the faculty OF becoming interested in
anything that any other man was doing.
Standing near the picket fire, though un-
comfortable himself. he could always Jug
gest a way to make the coffee boil. aud
would gather up splinters and chips and
and pile under or about the little kettle
with the keenest enjoyment. although the
kettle belongedto the most taciturn man IN
the company. He showed this kindly in
ierest in every mans affairs. and OF course
was universally liked. In Shiloh, in the
midst OF the second days battle, Little
Potter left the company to get water for
himself and several companions. A quick
change of position, new line-of-b battle
formation, took place after his departure,
and Little Potter was seen no more for
several days.
After the rebels retreat ID he was dis
covered 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 discovering his excellence as a nurse.
would not let him return to the company.
There was a quarrel between the cap
tain and the surgeon, the former see
ing Little Potter as skulker. and
the latter seeing him as a useful man who
had made a mistake through no fault of
his own. The captain reported Potter
absent without leave, and he was court
martialed. The sentence was that he
should forfeit six months paw. The men
OF the company were indignant, but Potter
said nothing. The stoppage ofsix months
pay told sorely on him, but he weathered
the storm, and came out as serene
though he had never been court martiailed.
Much clothing was lost at Siloh, and a
list was made out OF clothing lost in battle.
The sergeant would say: "Well. Blame,
what did you lose at Siloh ?" Answer
IAN overroat and knapsack. " What
did you lose at Siloh, Potter ?' With in
describabe drollery Potter said, with sort
of lipse that was characteristic; 81 lotht
tbeventy-eight dollarth.'' This was the
only reference he made tn the court mar
tial and six months pay until the morning
of the terrible December 3lst. at Stone
river. In the hurry of the company for
nation for battle Little Potter was the
first man in place after the orderly, and
though the shortest man in the company,
held his place there in face of the rule t,
the contrary. There was sweeping
charge. That company left their dead
irrther to the front than any other regi-
ment in action that day. They were cruelty
crushed, relentlessly driven. Little Pot
for
place next to the orderly when
the company was broken, and
scattered. With a precision that would
under other circumstances have been droil,
he formed on the orderly whenever charge
was made. and while it was every man
for himself. As he was ramming home
load ball struck him in the fleshy part OF
the leg, cutting great cash and tearing
his clothes. He was advised to 90 the
rear. The reply was, IL will show them
who is a coward A shot struck him in
the shoulder. and he became deadly pale.
Still. with teeth and right hand. he man
aged to load his gun and fire. Another
shot struck him in the thigh and he fell
lie was dragged to a stump and placed so
that the rakng fire would not touch him
lie deliberately crawled round and placed
himself so as to face the rebels, and as the
company gave back in one of those almost
hand-to-hand fights Little Potter kissed
his hand TO the men nearest him and
nestled down with a sigh of relief
Days aiterward the sergeant found a pair
OF bright eyes glttering from fesloons OF
white sheet in hospital at Murfreesbory.
They belonged to Little Potter. broken
legged. broken-armed and bandaged He
could not move and could hardly speak.
But rs the fearful man bent over him he
lis. ed. I'VE wakthed them, didn't we?"
The rebels found him braced against a
stump. punching at them with his gun
held in one hand as they ran by.
He was taken to the hospital, and here,
day after day, went his old COM
rades to see him. They did more: they
wrote to General Rosecrans. telling the
simple story. They carried the letter
along the red-tape line. from brigade
headquarters to division. from division
to corps, from corps to army head
quarters and retured with an order
mOIths' pay be restored to Little
Potter; that all charges on the re-
cord be forthwith erased. and that an
order complimenling his gallantry be read
on dress-parade. and that copy be sent
to the man who had behaved so nobly.
The order was read on dress-parade. and
the document, with all its array of en-
dorsements and old Rosa's letter were
carried to Little Potter by men who could
scarcely speak. He seemed like one trans
figured as one of his old-time friends read
and re-read the order and the letter. He
held it down to his eyes so that he could
see the red lines and official signatures.
Then came his first tears. Now, BOYS.
| don't care to get we'll. It's all wiped
out. amt it? | was determined to get
well and wipe it out. you know. But now.
torn up as | am. it is better to die" And
the next morning. with the order and
Rosa's letter on his breast, Little Potter
died. And still we can hear The grizzly
old surgeons words as he came to the
cot. "Dead3 Why-God bless the boy -
Correspondent Of Inter Ocean.