Potter's Raid: The Union Cavalry's Boldest Expedition in Eastern North Carolina
As early as 1862, Union forces held a sizeable portion of eastern North Carolina’s northern coastal region. While blockade runners dashed in and out of the port at Wilmington, safe from Yankee interference thanks to the mighty guns of Fort Fisher, it was a different story just ninety miles to the north. In New Bern, it was the Union army that was in control. Confederate military leaders and civilians kept a wary eye on what was going on behind the Yankee lines occupied by John Gray Foster’s Billy Yanks, wondering what mischief the enemy might be up to, and when they might strike into the countryside. Their fears were realized when Union cavalry under the command of Brigadier General Edward Potter cut a swath through eastern North Carolina in what would be the war’s largest Union raid in the eastern part of the state. From Kinston and Goldsboro, to Greenville, Rocky Mount, and Tarboro, Federal and Confederate troops clashed on foot and horseback while civilians suffered and slaves took advantage of the confusion to make a dash for freedom. In this book, historian David A. Norris brings all of the suspense and drama of Potter’s raid to life with a narrative that will have you on the edge of your seat. For the Civil War buff, this book is a top-notch story about a little known episode of North Carolina’s wartime past. For the casual reader, it is a tale full of the drama, heroism, and tragedy that is the hallmark of a gripping story - one that happens to be true.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Freelance writer and artist David A. Norris was born in Charlotte, N.C. He has a BFA degree in art from East Carolina University, and lived in Greenville for a number of years after graduation. David has written over two hundred magazine and encyclopedia articles diverse publications like Our State, American Heritage, CNN.com, America’s Civil War, History Magazine, Civil War Times, American History, the North Carolina Historical Review, Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy, South Carolina Magazine, True West, Mental Floss, and Learning Through History. In addition, he has contributed articles to the Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, the Encyclopedia of New Jersey, the Encyclopedia of Appalachia, the Encyclopedia of North Carolina History, and the Mississippi Encyclopedia. Although the Civil War is a favorite subject, he has also written on topics ranging from the Roman Army to the celluloid collar and the derby hat. He lives in Wilmington with his wife Carol.