ColorizedPast
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2016
- Location
- Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Brigadier General Robert Brown Potter (USA)
Potter was born in Schenectady, New York on 16 July 1829. His father was Alonzo Potter, American bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania. Prior to the Civil War, Potter practiced law in New York City.
At the outbreak of war, Potter enlisted as a private in the New York militia, was promoted to lieutenant, and then commissioned as a major on 14 October 1861. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 November. He was wounded at the Battle of New Bern on 14 March 1862, while serving under Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside. Potter commanded the 51st New York Volunteers in IX Corps at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Promoted to colonel on 10 September 1862, he led the 51st New York at the Battle of Antietam and was wounded during Burnside's attack on the Confederate right flank.
Potter was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 13 March 1863. He led the 2nd Division, IX Corps, in the Siege of Vicksburg. He rose to command of IX Corps during the Knoxville Campaign. After serving on recruiting duty in New York, he was assigned to command of the 2nd Division, IX Corps under Burnside. Coal miners of the 48th Pennsylvania of Potter's division, tunneled under Confederate positions around Petersburg and planted explosives. The ensuing Battle of the Crater was a failure due to Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero's trained colored division being swapped out the assault by Brig. Gen. James H. Ledlie's division of untrained white troops. Potter was wounded in an assault on the Confederate works following the Battle of Fort Stedman, and he missed the closing campaigns of the war.
Upon his recovery, he was given command of the Rhode Island and Connecticut district of the Department of the East. 20 September 1865, he married Abby, daughter of John Austin Stevens, and received his commission as full major general of volunteers. He honorably mustered out of service 15 January 1866. The next three years, he was receiver of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. He moved to England in 1869, but returned to Rhode Island in 1873. He died in Newport, Rhode Island on 19 February 1887.
Potter was born in Schenectady, New York on 16 July 1829. His father was Alonzo Potter, American bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania. Prior to the Civil War, Potter practiced law in New York City.
At the outbreak of war, Potter enlisted as a private in the New York militia, was promoted to lieutenant, and then commissioned as a major on 14 October 1861. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 November. He was wounded at the Battle of New Bern on 14 March 1862, while serving under Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside. Potter commanded the 51st New York Volunteers in IX Corps at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Promoted to colonel on 10 September 1862, he led the 51st New York at the Battle of Antietam and was wounded during Burnside's attack on the Confederate right flank.
Potter was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 13 March 1863. He led the 2nd Division, IX Corps, in the Siege of Vicksburg. He rose to command of IX Corps during the Knoxville Campaign. After serving on recruiting duty in New York, he was assigned to command of the 2nd Division, IX Corps under Burnside. Coal miners of the 48th Pennsylvania of Potter's division, tunneled under Confederate positions around Petersburg and planted explosives. The ensuing Battle of the Crater was a failure due to Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero's trained colored division being swapped out the assault by Brig. Gen. James H. Ledlie's division of untrained white troops. Potter was wounded in an assault on the Confederate works following the Battle of Fort Stedman, and he missed the closing campaigns of the war.
Upon his recovery, he was given command of the Rhode Island and Connecticut district of the Department of the East. 20 September 1865, he married Abby, daughter of John Austin Stevens, and received his commission as full major general of volunteers. He honorably mustered out of service 15 January 1866. The next three years, he was receiver of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. He moved to England in 1869, but returned to Rhode Island in 1873. He died in Newport, Rhode Island on 19 February 1887.
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