Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-10-05

short, little, square-built, dark.skinned,
twinkling eyed young fellow was known the
regiment over as 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 the enthusiasm of
geologist He had the faculty of becoming
interested in any thing that any other man
was doing Standing near the picket fire,
though uncomfortable himself, he could al
ways suggest a way in which to make the cof-
fee boil, and would gather up splinters and
chips and pile under or about the little kettle
with the keenest enjoyment, although the
coffee belonged to the most taciturn man in
the company. He showed this kindly inter
est 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 to get water for himself and several
companions. A quick change of position, a
new line of battle formation, took place after
his departure, and Little Potter was seen no
more for several days. After the rebels re-
treated he was discovered acting as nurse at
the brigade hospital He couldn't find the
regiment on his return, but found the hospi-
tai, and the Division surgeon ordered him on
duty, and, discovering his excellence as a
nurse would not let him return to the COM
pany. There was a quarrel between the cap.
tain and the surgeon, the former seeing Little
Potter as a skulker and the latter seeing him
as 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 pay. The men
of the company were indignant but Potter
said nothing. The stoppsge Of six months
pay told sorely on him, but he weathered the
storm and came out as serene as though he
had never been court-martisled.
IL; L. - ~, IL
was made out Of clothing lost in battle The
sergeant would ask "Well, Blaine, What did
you lose at Shloh2" Answer-"An overcoat
and knapsaok. "WhAt did you lose at Shiloh,
Potter ?" With an indescribAble drollery Pot
ter said, with a sort of lisp that wes charsct-
eristic II lotht theventy eight dollarth."
This was the only reference he made to the
court martial and six months pay until the
morning OF the terrible Dec. 81, at Stone
River. In the hurry of the company forma.
tion for battle Little Potter was the first one
in place after the orderly, and, though the
shortest man in the company, ne held his
place there in face of the rule to the contrary.
There was a sweeping charge. The company
left their dead further to the front than any
other regiment in action that day. They
we're cruelty crushed, relentlessly driven.
Little Potter was giant in doing. He kept
his place next TO the orderly when the COM
pany was broken and scattered With pre-
| els ion that would under other circumstances
have been droll, he formed On the orderly
| whenever charge was made, and while it
was every man for himself As he was ram
ming home a load a ball struck him in the
Aeshy part of the leg, cutting great cash and
| tearing his clothes He was advised to go to
the rear. The reply was, 81 will show them
| who is O coward" A shot struck him in the
shoulder, and he became deadly pale. Still,
with teeth and right hand, he managed to
| load his gun and fire. Another shot struck
him in the thigh, and he fell.
He was dragged to a stump and placed 30
that the rsking fire would not touch him. He
deliberately crawled around and placed him
self 30 as to face the rebels and as the COM
pany 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 sfterward the sergeant found a pair
of bright eyes glittering from festoons of
| white sheet in the hospital at Murfreesboro.
They belonged to Little Potter, broken -legg.
ed, broken armed, and bandaged He could
| not move and could hardly speak But as the
fearful men bent over him, he lisped 1--WE
wakthd them, didn't ?" The rebels found
him braced against the stump, punching at
them with mis- gun held in one hand as they
| D1s ne WAS ldhtu " lub uObpllAl, huu
there, day after day went his old comrades
to see him. They did more they wrote to
Gen. Rosecrans, telling the simple story.
They carried the letter along the ed.tspe line
from brigade headquarters to division, from
division to corps, from corps to army head
quarters, and returned with an order from
Rosecrans himself directing that the six
months pay be restored to Little Potter, that
all charges on the record be erased, and that
an order complimentng 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 doc
ument with all its array of endorsements and
Old Rosa's letter. were carried to Little Pot
ter by men who could scarcely speak. He
seemed transfgured as one of his old-time
friends read and reresd the order and letter.
He had it held down TO his eyes so he could
see the red lines and official signature. 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 to wipe it out, you
know. But now, torn up as am, it is better
tc die" And the next morning, with the or
der and Old Rosa's letter on his breast, Little
Potter died And still can we hear the grizzly
old surgeons words, as he came to the cot
Dead Why-God bless the boy !"-Chi
cdgO Inter Ocean.