The Potter Letter


First and fourth pages of the Potter Letter
October 29, 1864

You are looking above at a picture of the fourth and first pages of a letter sent by GEORGE GILBERT POTTER on October 29, 1864, from the "Camp on Chafens Farm" on the Civil War battlefront near Monroe, Virginia. The second and thrid pages are reproduced below. Gilbert was the great-grandfather of our contributor, Ernie Hatton, who can be reached at Ernie Hatton.


Second and third pages of the Potter Letter
October 29, 1864

Translation of the Potter Letter

Dear Brother,
I take this opportunity to write to you to inform you of my health which is very good at preasant & hope these few lines will find you the same. I received your letter of the third, it came to hand the 26 & before I had time to answer we had marching orders. We started the morning of the (errand? ). we've marched two miles then haulted that order came that the coocks should have three days rashions Coocked. We did not starte untill the next morning, but the knight seemed short for we was roused up at three or four the next morning. We marched about ten miles breakin to the write of these lines but the way we went around it was about fifteen miles, We haulted and was ordered to ly down by that time the 10 Corps was a skirmishing quite lively. The cannons was a roring and on our left, a long while before then had not commensed until where these Corps was until the seckond Div had to do the charging that day for ours was in the advance when we took these lines on C. Farms but it was a sorry Charge they was repulsed when they had got within a short distance of the fourt. The 92 N.Y. was in the charge. They did belong to our division but they was taken out two weeakes ago. I do not know what other Regts was in the Charge besides than those of the seckond Div. Eng how they was all most to the Rebs works & could not get one priaz or the other. The Rebs charged and took most of them Runners that was one of our (____?) the Officers says. We which was held in reserve was not at all sorry that we did not charge for that is what we calculated to do when we started. I was consurned about my money along the rout it seemed to me that the Rebs was going to take some of our Corps prisioners before we got back. I do not know what made me think so but I could not keep it out of my mind but alass it was true our loss was large according to the men engaged that is of the seckond Division. We marched back or fel back in the knight it had been raining all the afternoon which made it verry muddy. It was verry darke we had to feel our way we went tumbling a long like I may say worn out soldiers for we were chafed by our equipment & all so our load on our shoulders which consisted of our Haversacks, gun blankets, overcoats . About one third of the men droped out along the road but the rest was in good spirits as could be expected under the dire circumstances. Capt Cullen was in command our Officers that men placed the most confidence in being killed or wounded in the last fight whose names I will name. I suppose you know but I will state them Capt Cecil Clay, (crossed out name here) Capt L (?) Jonsin wounded. Capt. Lin (?) & Capt Blakely killed. I will finish on another sheet.

Direct to Geo. G. Potter
??, Monroe Va 58 Regt. B Co, Penn
???Div 3, Reg 18 and A Corps
This from your affectionate Brother, George G. Potter, Please write soon

Translation by Ernie Hatton
January 1, 2001
Read more about this family at Settlers Page XVIGeorge Whitefield Potter and the New England Migration.

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