Allan D. Thigpen
Published: 2023-04-18
Total Pages: 0
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"This book is a collection of eye-witness accounts, memoirs, newspaper articles, military orders and dispatches.etc., of what is known as ""Potter's Raid."" General Edward E. Potter began the raid from Georgetown, South Carolina, following the Black River areas through Manning and Sumter, South Carolina, to Camden, South Carolina. Then almost turning around to Milford Plantation near Pinewood, South Carolina, before getting word that the war was over. Gen. Potter's troops were made up of white, but mostly black soldiers. They were ruthless, burning and destroying almost any home in their path; leaving in their wake little or no food or shelter for non-combatants. Their foe was made up only a few Confederates that were in the area on furlough due to illness or recovering from wounds, and other volunteers from the civilian population. Gen. Potter's orders were to locate and destroy a train loaded with war materiel and supplies. The goal was finally achieved at a small town (no longer exist) of Manchester, South Carolina.Mr. Thigpen spent many years researching the contents of this book. He will tell you others wrote the contents of this volume. It is primarily a collection of articles printed verbatim penned by participants and witnesses who were present during the Raid.It has been, as nearly as possible, arranged in chronological order. Some of the accounts duplicate, or even contradict, information contained in others. All have been included, for he does not feel qualified to second guess what someone else saw and heard over in the last days of the American Civil War. "Indeed, to do so would be a mistake."The accomplished historian will find many faults with the contents herein and with good reason. Some of the dates for example, the author writing from memory in later years, are known to be off by as much as a month; however, this does nothing to change the story being told by the individual.