American Historical Ephemera & Photography

POTTER, Edward Eells (1833-1902). Autograph letter signed ("Edwd") to his sister. USS Wissahickon, Mississippi River, 27 April 1862. 3 pages, 8vo, minor spotting.

The commanding officer of the Wissahickon writes to his sister with an account of the action: “The morning of the 24th saw us above the forts, we were under fire from one & a half to two hours: destroyed eight of the enemy’s gun boats amongst them the famous Ram ‘Manassas.’ We (in this vessel) had two men slightly wounded and no one killed! Received six cannon shot, and six musket bullets: one shot passed through my room and stirred up things amazingly.  I think the whole number killed will not exceed 30 or 40."

He continues: "Butler’s troops are coming in through the marshes in the rear of Fort St. Philip and we will soon have them invested[?]. The fleet with the exception of four of us (at anchor 5 or 6 miles above the forts) are at New Orleans."

He concludes his letter with thoughts on higher command: "Under God, the entire credit is due to Commodore Farragut.  Dupont is no where.”  The crucial Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip took place 18 – 28 April 1862 and facilitated the victory at New Orleans shortly thereafter.

[With:] POTTER, Edward Eells. Autograph letter signed ("Edwd") to his sister. USS Wissahickon, Below Vicksburg, 5 June 1862. 4 pages, 8vo, minor toning at old creases.

An extremely precise and detailed letter, he relates the recent events at Vicksburg: “Still something may have transpired that determined the Flag to join Foote at all hazards. This place is the only point where we will have any fighting; Memphis will surrender at the slightest intimation that it is required. I think (always assuming that the programme is to go up) we will have quite a heady fight to destroy the batteries, though the town can be knocked down in a few minutes. Probably another week will decide something for our little squadron here.”

He begins another letter on 10 June 1862 at Grand Gulf: “in company with the Itasca, arrived here the 7th PM; anchored under the town, about earthworks from which the enemy in short time annoyed our transports in passing."

He gives a detailed account of the ensuing battle: "Yesterday morning at 4, I was aroused from sleep by a gun and our ‘call to quarters:’ I jumped on deck and found the enemy were pouring shot into us; we slipped out cable, and commenced steaming up the river, returning the fire; fired about two hours in all. We received 18 or 20 shot, had two men wounded, neither dangerously. The Itasca received somewhat more damage. It was a very spirited attack. Their guns were rifled and other field pieces, behind this earth work, so they could hammer away at us, & we could do next to nothing against them. Our Captain sent the Itasca right up to the squadron, and we fired at the town for several hours."

The Wissahickon initially served in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Mississippi River, where in April–July 1862 she participated in the capture of New Orleans, the bombardment of Grand Gulf, two runs past the Confederate fortifications commanding the river at Vicksburg, and a battle with the ironclad CSS Arkansas. An excellent letter. 

Potter entered the Navy as a midshipman on 5 February 1850 and served with the Home and African squadrons through 1855 before spending a year at the United States Naval Academy. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Western Gulf squadron on 9 July 1858 and in 1861-1862 he was made the executive officer of the Wissahickon. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander on 15 July 1862 and attached to the De Soto in the Eastern Gulf squadron, then to the Wabash in the North Atlantic squadron, the iron-clad Mahopac from 1864-65, and then commanded the Chippewa in the North Atlantic squadron in 1865. He had continued naval service after the war both at sea and with shore duty. He was promoted to commander on 3 June 1869, and to captain on 11 July 1880, and was the commandant of the Navy Yard at Leauge Island, Pennsylvania by 1886.