Benjamin F. Potts
Benjamin Franklin Potts (January 29, 1836 – June 17, 1887) was an American lawyer, politician, and soldier from the state of
Western Theater in some of the war's most important campaigns and repeatedly received commendations for gallantry and tactical judgement in combat.[1][2]
Early life and career
Benjamin Potts was born on a farm in
U.S. Congressman. An active supporter of President James Buchanan, Potts was interested in local and national politics and joined the Democratic Party.[2]
In May 1859, he passed his bar exam in
1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina, and supported the candidacy of Stephen A. Douglas.[2]
Civil War
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Potts was elected as a
32nd Ohio Infantry and mustered into the service on August 29, 1861. He served with the regiment in western Virginia and was present at Cheat Mountain and Greenbrier River
. He was engaged in scouting with his company during a portion of the winter of 1861–1862; and in
the spring of 1862 he accompanied the regiment in the advance under Maj. Gen. Robert H. Milroy. Subsequently, he was engaged in the Battle of McDowell. He accompanied General John C. Frémont in his campaign up the Shenandoah Valley in pursuit of Stonewall Jackson, and was present at Cross Keys and Port Republic.[1][2]
In July 1862, he was temporarily detached from his infantry company and assigned command of an
Maryland Campaign, he and his men fell back to the presumed safety of Harpers Ferry, where they were part of the largest surrender of the U.S. Army until World War II, following the Battle of Harpers Ferry. Potts was paroled and sent to Camp Douglas until exchanged.[2]
In December 1862, Potts was promoted to
Jackson, and Champion Hill, he received the thanks of Maj. Gen. John A. Logan. During the fight at Champion Hill, Colonel Potts charged with his regiment and captured an eight-gun Confederate battery and half of an Alabama infantry brigade that was guarding it.[2]
In August Potts was assigned to the command of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division,
William T. Sherman's Meridian expedition, Potts led the advance of the XVII Corps across Baker's Creek, routed the Rebels under William Wirt Adams, and drove them into Jackson. Later, Potts commanded the forces that destroyed the railroad from Meridian.[1][2]
In 1864, Potts was assigned command of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division of the XVII Corps, and was distinguished during the
Giles A. Smith wrote, "Colonel Potts did more, on the 22d of July, 1864, to save the good name of the Army of the Tennessee, than any other one man." That fall, he participated in the successful operations against Savannah, Georgia.[4]
In January 1865, Potts was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers. He led his brigade during the
brevet rank of major general in the omnibus promotions at the end of the Civil War.[1]
Reconstruction era career
Potts mustered out of the army in January 1866 and returned to
vigilante activities and lawlessness in the territory.[8]
He later served in the territorial legislature.
Benjamin F. Potts died in 1887 in Helena, Montana, where he was buried initially in the Benton Avenue Cemetery. His remains were later moved to Forestvale Cemetery.[9]
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
- List of Ohio's American Civil War generals
- Ohio in the American Civil War
Notes
- ^ a b c d Eicher, p. 437.
- ^ a b c d e f g Reid, pp. 898–99.
- ^ Eckley, H.J.; Perry, W.T. (1921). History of Carroll and Harrison Counties. The Lewis Publishing Co. pp. 130, 150, 181.
- ^ Reid, p. 900.
- ^ Potts' Brigade consisted of the 14th/15th Illinois (battalion), 53rd Illinois, 23rd Indiana, 53rd Indiana, and his old 32nd Ohio.
- ISBN 9781404753761.
- ^ History of Missoula, Montana Archived October 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Allen, Frederick, Montana Vigilantes and the Origins of the 3-7-77, Montana Big Sky Country website. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ The Political Graveyard Retrieved 2009-10-17.
References
- Bissland, James, Blood, Tears, and Glory: How Ohioans Won the Civil War, Wilmington, Ohio: Orange Frazer Press, 2007, ISBN 1-933197-05-6.
- Eicher, John H., and ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- Heidler, David S., and Heidler, Jeanne T., eds., Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History, W. W. Norton & Company, 2000, ISBN 0-393-04758-X.
- Ohio in the War: Her Statesmen, Her Generals, and Soldiers. 2 vol. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, & Baldwin, 1868.
- U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion Archived September 13, 2009, at the Official Recordsof the Union and Confederate Armies, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880–1901.
External links
- "Benjamin Potts photo gallery at generalsandbrevets.com". Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Monument to the 32nd OVI and Col. Potts at the Vicksburg National Military Park
- "Benjamin F. Potts". Find a Grave. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
- . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. 1900.
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