Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1896-11-12


Col. William e. Potter, the youngest
son of James Boyd and Jane Barron Pot
ter, was born June 13, 1S40, in Bridgeton.
His youth was not especially eventful,
and devoted to study, first at the public
school of the First ward of this city, and
later at the Harmony Academy, presided
over by Joseph P. Sherman, where he re-
manned until 1854. He then became a
pupil at the West Jersey Academy during
it's first session, under the tutorship of
Professors Snyder and Stevenson, but in
October of 1857, having determined upon
the law as profession, entered the office
Of Hon. John T. Nixon. He remained
until September, 1885, and the same
month became student of the law school
of Harvard University. From this school
he graduated in January 1861, with the
decree of LIB, and in September of the
same year entered the junior class of
Princeton College. Under the spur of
patriotic ardor he abandoned his collegi-
ate studies, and in July of the following
year enlisted in Company X. Twelfth
Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. He
the same company Aug. IA, 1862, and
mustered into the service of the United
States as such Sept. 4, 1862 He was pro-
NOTED to first lieutenancy of the same
company and regiment Aug. 6. 1868, and
to the captaincy of Company G Feb. 4,
1864. Capt. Potter became brevet major
United States Volunteers for meritorious
services, May l, 1865, by promotion of the
President of the United States, and was,
in 1885, commissioned aide-de-camp to
Governor Marcus l.. Ward, of New Jer-
sey, with the rank Of lieutenant colonel,
upon whose staff he served for three
years. To review Col. Potter's military
officer of the Third Division, Second
Army Corps, and acted as such in the
campaigns of charlottesville and Gettys-
burg, on the staff of Ma. William
H. French, and with Brig. Gen. Alex
ander Hays. He served in that capacity
until Oct. 1, 1868, and was then appointed
judge-advocate of the division on the
staff of Gen. Hays, continuing thus until
he rejoined his regiment and took COM
mand of his company. He was wounded
at the battle of the Wilderness, on the 9th
of May, 1864, and reported again for duty
at Cold Harbor, Va, June 4th, of the same
year. On the lst of July 1864, he was de-
tailed as aide-de-camp to Col. Thomas A.
Smyth, commanding Third Brigade of
the Second Division Of the Second Army
Corps. On the 1st of August, 1864, he was
made judge ge-advocate on the staff of MAJ
Gen. John Gibbon, commanding the
Second Division, Second Army Corps,
and served thus until Jan. 15, 1865, when
he was detailed as aid to Maj. Gen. John
Gibbon, commanding the Twenty fourth
Army Corps, Army of the James, and
acting judge-advocate of the corps. He
remained on duty in the latter capacity
until mustered out of service, June 4,
1865. During this period COL Potter was
present in the following engagements:
charlottesville, Gettysburg, Auburn,
Bristow Station, Blackburn's Ford.
Locust Grove, campaign of Mine Run,
Morton's Ford, Wilderness, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Crater, Deep
Bottom Second engagement, Reams'
Station, Roydton Road, assault and cap
ture of Petersburg, Rice's Station, and
Appomattox Court House. BY an order
from headquarters, Twenty fourth Army
Corps, in company with five other off,