Volume 03 Page 0055

he might remember it, Partaking of a fine breakfast it was exactly
7 A.M. striking by the Presbyterian Church Clock that we jumpt into
Mr Habershams Buggy at the door behind one of his fast trotting Horses.
Passing the Central Rail Road Depot we drove up the Louisville Road
until reaching on the right hand side the familiar Augusta Road
which had not changed in the least since my frequent visits in this
section during the War. Some six miles from Savannah we came in sight of the Charleston and Savannah Rail Road, which had not
been touched since the advance of Sherman's Army but the twisted
and ruined Rails remained as left by the Yankees. A House too near
the entrance of Mr Potter's Avenue was no longer standing. The
vestiges of former Encampments of large Bodies of Troops were still
perceptible on either side of the road. At 9 A.M. the gradual
opening in the trees ahead indicated we were not far from the
Savannah River, and the once beautiful Country Seat of Mr James
Potter. A Negro Man driving to pasture a few Cows informed
us that General Harrison was up at the House. The cruel hand of
War was now clearly to be seen; in fact most startling was the
change on every side since my last visit here in Dec'r 1864.
The large Rice Pounding Mill with its Wheel in the centre similar to the
Gowrie Mill was burnt down. This was also the case with
the fine wooden Barn close at hand, the locality of these two
former Buildings being marked solely by a few remaining brick
of the foundations. With far deeper pain however did I contemplate
the Ruins of Mr James Potters handsome Residence. As a Country House
it was superior to any on the River and had been built by Mr Potter
about the year 1854 and with it furniture cost about Twenty Thousand
Dollars. Many a time had I spent a pleasing hour at this hospitable
Gentleman's House surrounded by his family of charming Young Ladies
not forgetting to mention "Miss Gilby" the English Governess. As I now
pen these lines Mr Potter (I may state) did not live to witness the
Ruin of his Plantation but died about 1860. His only Son was killed
in Battle near Atlanta Georgia in 1864 whilst his five or six Daughters
are all married some at the North and three in Georgia.
General Harrison was soon pointed out to me, He was in his
black-smith Shop overlooking the repair of some Plantation Utensil,