DOB/DOD: December 11, 1843 (Coventry, RI) – November 30, 1918 (Sterling, CT); 74 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Susan A. Yeaw (1852-1927) on December 21, 1866, in Coventry, Rhode Island. Lucy Ann Burdick Smith (1854-1926) on September 21, 1884, in Scituate, Rhode Island.
CHILDREN: One son with Susan, William F. (1868-1944).
ENLISTMENT: February 26, 1862.
REENLISTMENT: March 5, 1864.
DISCHARGE: June 24, 1865.
WOUNDED: Petersburg, Virginia on April 2, 1865.
FAMILY: Born to George A. (1792-1865) and Susan A. Weaver Potter (1807-1879). No siblings.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Civil War
UNIT: Battery G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery
DATE OF ISSUE: March 4, 1886
AGE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 21
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private George W. Potter, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 April 1865, while serving with Company G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, in action at Petersburg, Virginia. Private Potter was one of a detachment of 20 picked artillerymen who voluntarily accompanied an infantry assaulting party and who turned upon the enemy the guns captured in the assault.
Buried in Swan Point Cemetery, 585 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, Rhode Island; Group 374, Lot 52. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
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