Account of Potter's Raid

... Well, we arrived at Georgetown, S.C., on the 3Ist (March 1865), and went into camp. On the Ist of April we started upon our errand through the State, and had nothing to molest us for three days. We saw nothing of the 'Johnnies," and on Friday the 8th of April, at Epp's Ferry, Cos. H and A were detached from the regiment to go and destroy the said Ferry. Myself, one corporal and fifteen privates were in the advance. On we went, neither hearing nor seeing any thing in particular. After advancing about two miles, and wading through water and mud, we spied a Johnny sitting upon his horse as a picket. He left his post and secreted himself. Halting my men for further orders, I received instructions to proceed forward with the utmost caution, and screen my men as much as possible in the woods. The swamp through which we had to pass was waist-deep.

Onward we went, and after getting through the swamp, not over seventy-five yards from Johnny, he saw that we were getting too close to him; and at that time the Second-Lieutenant of Co. A came along, and I told him that Johnny was getting ready to fire; and at that moment, Johnny's balls began to fall thick and fast around us.

The Lieutenant got wounded in the right arm. I had two men wounded - one in the right leg, the other in both shoulders; and it appeared to us that the Johnnies had nothing much but bird-shot to fire at us, which whizzed about our ears in perfect showers. The writer got stung slightly in the left hand by one of these diminutive missiles from Johnny's shot-gun. They saw that we were determined to complete the job, and they destroyed the levee and fled. So we returned to our command on the 8th. We entered Manningville with a loss of but one man killed, who belonged to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment.

On the I0th we left Manningville, and arrived at Sumterville on Sabbath, the 11th; and after a short and sharp fight, we took the place, captured three pieces of artillery complete, killed five rebels, wounded some more, and also captured a few.

We encamped in the city that night, and destroyed the depot, together with three locomotives and a train of thirty-five cars. We left on the I3th, after destroying every thing that fire would burn, and went to Manchester, and there destroyed one locomotive and a train of twenty cars.

The 54th was detailed to go seven miles from the place for the purpose of destroying some trestle-work. After a considerable amount of delay, the advance guard, which was from Co. F, Sergeant [Frank M.] Welch commanding, pushed forth. They had not gone far when they espied a train of cars, with locomotive attached, and a full head of steam on. The column at once halted and Colonel [Henry N.] Hooper went forward to see for himsel and there, sure enough, was the train. The sharp report of a rifle soon told those on the train that the blood-hounds were on the track. The engineer immediately jumped from the train and ran for his life. Nothing could be seen of him but coat-tails and dust. The command to move forward was given. With a loud yell and tremendous cheer the boys charged over the trestle-work, three miles in length, caught the cars, and ran them ourselves in place of the rebels.

Lieutenant [Stephen A.] Swails got wounded in his right arm.' There are forty cars and six locomotives, and we destroyed then all. Some of the cars were loaded. We then turned the track upsidedown. Sergeant Major John H. Wilson and Private Gee. Jorris, of Co. A, got mashed by the cars. Private Jorris got his collar-bone broken. The Sergeant Major has got partly over the injuries he received.

Leaving there, we encamped at Singleton's plantation, and sen two thousand contrabands to Georgetown in charge of the 32 U.S.C.T. When they returned, we started upon our mission - and from that time, the 14th, we fought every day with the rebels, and drove them before us. But at length they made a stand at Swiss Creek, and fought desperately. We captured nine prisoners. On the 15th we left for the purpose of taking Camden, which we did capturing all of the rebel sick and wounded there, numbering, a least, from three to four hundred men.

On the I6th. we left Camden, and from that we fought until we got to Swiss Creek, where the rebels again made a stand. Cos. F and H were on the skirmish line, the battalion on the reserve, tht 102d U.S.C.T. in the centre, and the 3rd U.S.C.T. on the left wing. We drove them to their den, when they fought quite desperately for a time. For if they flee from the horsemen, how can they contend with the footmen? The rebels had a dam constructed all around them, and there was no way of getting at them but to pass over it in single file. The left wing went to extreme right for the purpose of flanking Johnny and there it was that we lost our noble Lieutenant [Edward L. Stevens]. Who will help us mourn his loss - for he fell in defense of the dear old flag?

Corporal Uames P.] Johnson and Corporal [Andrew] Miller of Co. H had six privates wounded. But the 54th stormed the hill and carried it at the point of the bayonet, making themselves masters of the field, as they always do. Just like them! Brave boys they are! Who will say, Three cheers for the 54th Mass. Vols., 32d and I02d U.S.C.T., and for the 25th Ohio Vols., the I07th Ohio Vols., I5th and 56th N.Y. vols., and the 4th Mass., and the 3d New York Artillery, and for General [Edward E.] Potter's brave troops? For we are the ones that destroyed and drove the rebels from the field, totally demoralizing them.

The last fight we had was at Statesburg, and there the rebels stood for the last time; for we slaughtered them in great numbers. They left the field strewn with their dead and wounded. We captured, for the rest, in South Carolina, on our return to Georgetown, fifteen locomotives, and one hundred and forty cars loaded with ammunition, small arms and stores. We destroyed them all. We captured five hundred contrabands, five hundred prisoners, destroyed a vast deal of property, and captured about eighty head of horses.

We are now encamped at Georgetown, and I hope we will soon be home with our friends and relatives.