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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

George W. Potter

Private George W. Potter, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865

Private George W. Potter, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery. Potter was 21 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 4, 1886, 20 years after the action.

Potter was born on December 11, 1843 in Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island. Potter died on November 30, 1918, at the age of 74. He is buried at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island.

Potter is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 31 credited to Rhode Island.

Official Medal of Honor citation

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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. December 11, 1843
    Born in Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age 21. Company G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery
  3. March 4, 1886
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 30, 1918
    Died
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    Swan Point Cemetery
    Providence, Rhode Island

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Rhode Island

JW James Welsh Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Zenas Randall Bliss Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 WA William B. Avery Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 JB James H. Burbank Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 JE John Edwards Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 BC Benjamin Ham Child Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.