The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-05-01
RecOllectI0ns OF POtter'S Raid.
BY REV. W. ". MOOD.

strange surroundings found General Pot
ter's address, l felt sure now that I'll OBJ
tain Lieutenant Waterman's, who had
acted as q brother toward me and mine the
night this negro army spent in Manning,
April s, 1865.
General Potter, however, did not reply,
and, after waiting several weeks, | wrote
again, even more urgently than before,
and then after some time wrote again.
But heard nothing from him. l could do
no more, I remember about that time on
entering my Sunday-school room (Marlon
street, Columbia) that our watchful
superintendent, John \. Elkins, said to
me: Come, speak to several new scholars" ;"
and this always gave him the greatest
pleasure. who are they The Water
man sisters, relatives of Gov. r. h. Scott,
and one of the Governors children" Speak
ING to them l told them I'D call to see
their parents the next day" My purpose,
too, was to, ii possible, find out through
these something about my friend Water
man. Mrs. Waterman and a lady relative
received me very kindly and expressed
much pleasure at the reception OF the
children at the Sunday. school, and re-
quested me to call on her brother, the
Governor. l did not hesitate to make IN
quiry for my friend, telling them some
thing Of the circumstances. 1t Interested
them, but [ could learn nothing. Mrs.
Waterman said "she was from the North
west, and had no near relative in the
United States army" There were, how
ever, many questions, very many, asked
by them, and in the course of the con-
versation they asked if all the officers in
st =
negroes mo all the commissioned were
white but one; he was blight mulatto
from Massachusetts" Did YOU See him p
town, but see him very frequently on the
streets, and he IS now member OF the
State Senate" 1t was further developed
that they knew him and he was q guest at
their home. This was q revelation to me.
But can't allow my pen to dwell upon
this mu!atto Lieutenant Of Potters army,
and the part he has taken in the politics
of South Carolina.
1t was now several months since l had
Grst written to General Potter, and l de-
SPARED of hearing from him. / certainly,
if had had the means, would have gone
to him. Meeting Mr.. c, II. Baldwin on
the street asked him ''if he'd serve me?"
eyes, Mr.. NJ, am willing to serve yon in
any way I can" I told him then-going
up into his office-in what way that per-
haps be might secure reply from General
Potter, giving him the particulars. This
reminds me, Mr. NJ, of when this city was
in the hands of General Sherman, and that
one of his army corps Generals took pos
session of my dwelling with his staff, and
that before retiring from Columbia he
asked to see Mrs Baldwin, and told her
that he could not consent to occupy her
elegant home without relmbursing her,
and he left fifty dollars of shining gold.
On my return home | resolved on return
ing it and to thank him for the protection
be had given Mrs. 3. and the children. Il
cost me some trouble to find him, having
to 90 to Washington and search the army
records; but, finding him, l went to his
city, to his street, and to his house. I rang
the bell, was invited into his parlor, and
there I thanked bim, and returned him the
same gold he had left with my wife. know
something Of your feelings, and appreciate
my being called on to assist you in finding
this officer. will write at once to General
Potter, and if in reasonable time be does
not reply, I'll go to his town and to his
house" He assured me that he'd do
everything he could for me il finding ".
In the meantime my appointment from
the conference was at Cheraw, and had
heard nothing from General Potter. /
gave it all up, though l could never forget
Lieutenant Waterman.
To my great surprise and pleasure re-
ceived from Mr.. Baldwin letter dated
April II, 1872, inclosing letter from Gen
u Do<k loEa Ea1N
1872, saying that he had not yet ascer-
tained the address Of Lieutenant Water
man. 1T is extremely difficult to find the
residences of officers, as they are so
widely scattered. l have not IN long
time net Major Place, who commanded
the detachment Of engineers at the time
you refer to. l may possibly succeed IN
securing hearing from Colonel Hale,
who commanded the regiment. II should
do so. and if Colonel Hale knows OF
Lieutenant Waterman, I will at once let
you be informed. Please make my excuse
to your friend for not having answered his
letter. The cause was my inability to give
him the desired information. Yours truly,
Edward E. Potter"
There was some satisfaction IN receiving
this letter, and though it gave me two
names of prominent officers Of his army,
it did not give their address, and while
was no nearer finding W., yet somehow 1t
intensified my desire to find him.
I saw in the Charleston News. and
Courier, from one of its correspondents at
Washington, very full notice Of Gen
eral Marcus j. Wright, Agent for War De-
partment, Publication Office War Records
lS6l-65s The thought struck he to write
to General Wright From him l received
promptly tie following War Depart
ment, Publication Office War Records
1S6l-65," March 80, 1880. (My readers
will observe that it was now more than
eight years since had heard from General
Pottery My Dear Sir; Your letter of the
Goth instant reached me just on the eve OF
my departure OF a trip OF twenty days on
business. will be here By the 25th OF
April. and if you will write to me then fullyln
regard to the matter You are so anxious to
hear about will take great pleasure in
giving you such aid us can. Very truly,
Marcus j. Wright.
wrote then fully to him his letter, so
very kind, leading ME to believe he'd as
remembered him, not by any means a
EoOunI 1uetD, SilSAuS Ol u uIA ttl tUS
foot of my bed, l feared in these years
he may have passed away, perhaps was
killed the next day after we parted at the
fight at Dingles Mill, a short distance from
the town of Sumter, S. e.
The reply to this came promptly: Rev.
Mr.. M-My Dear Sir: inc!ose you a note
from Mr. J. w. kirkley, just received,
clerk in the Adjutant. Generals Office, in
charge of personal records Of officers.
This is all the information I have been
able to obtain for you. I trust you will be
able from Mr.. kirkley's suggestion to learn
what you wish. If l can aid yoa further,
call on me. Very truly. Marcus J. Wright.
Dear General" (.rh;s letter Of Mr.
is IN penciI) Lieutenant Har-
rison L. Waterman, Coupan c, First New
York Engineers, is the person sought. He
joined the company at Hilton Head, S. c.,
n, -, r,l