site logo
R. B. Potter

R. B. Potter

Federal (USV)

Colonel

Robert Brown Potter

(1829 - 1887)

Home State: New York

Education: Union College

Command Billet: Commanding Regiment

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 51st New York Infantry

Before Antietam

A New York City lawyer before the War, he was appointed Major in the 51st New York in October 1861 and soon after Lt Colonel. He served on Burnside's Carolina Expedition, fighting at Roanoke Island and New Bern, where he was wounded. He was promoted to Colonel in September 1862, and was at Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, and Chantilly.

On the Campaign

He commanded the regiment on the Maryland Campaign.

The rest of the War

He led the Regiment at Fredericksburg in December 1862. In March 1863 he was appointed Brig. General and commanded the 2nd Division/9th Corps in the Vicksburg campaign, at Spotsylvania, North Anna, and Petersburg. He was wounded there in the final assault in September 1865. He was promoted Major General of Volunteers, and mustered out in January 1866.

References & notes

Source: Heitman, Francis Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1903, and
Warner,Ezra J. Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders, Baton Rouge, LA, 1996 (ed) - synopsized online by Kerry Web.

note: Heitman lists his middle name as Barnwell.

Birth

4/16/1829; Schenectady, NY

Death

2/19/1887; Newport, RI; burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, NY