The Civil War Adventures of Edmond D. Potter & His Three Companions
From Edmond D. Potter's Letters to His Wife Emeline, Her Letters to Him
by
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The year 1860 was a tumultuous time for the United States of America. There was great division between the North and the South. Most people in the North were united about the need to preserve the Union while others insisted that the abolition of slavery was equally if not more important. It soon became apparent that the viewpoints of the two sides were irreconcilable and rumbles of war grew louder.
On November 6, 1860, the Republican National Convention adopted a platform that pledged opposition to any further extension of slavery in surrounding territories. Then Abraham Lincoln was elected .
The people in the South were furious and their leaders reacted strongly against the restraints on expanding slavery outside the current boundaries. They knew that although Lincoln was not an abolitionist, he was not interested in preserving slavery. The editor of the Virginia Gazette wrote: “It makes little difference whether we are governed by a gentleman or ruled by a baboon, but with Lincoln comes something worse.”
On March 4, 1861, President Lincoln gave his first inaugural address with the central theme embracing the preservation of the Union. In this approach he showed his statesmanship as he tried to persuade the South against breaking up the Union.
Despite his plea, Lincoln’s hand was soon forced to defend his stand.
Many of the pages that follow are actual letters from Edmond Potter to his wife Emiline during the war. A few images of the actual letters have been scanned for the book. Many hours have been put into the typing of the letters by Gloria and Lois. I wish to thank them for all the hard work. This year I will turn 102 and look forward to seeing this book in print. - Helen
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About the Book
This book is a compilation of the letters around the Civil War by Edmond D Potter and his wife Emiline S Bernard Potter.
... American loyalty leaped into instant action. Little did the country know that this war would be a tragedy in American history, yet it was a war that had to be fought.
My grandfather was one of the men who responded to President Lincoln’s call to defend the Union. - Helen Mead Blakeslee
In one of the letters Edmond speaks of seeing the White House as it was being built. He was impressed with the size and magnitude of this great undertaking.
About the Author
Helen Mead Blakeslee is the granddaughter of Edmond D. Potter. The letters contained in the book have been handed down to her and she wants to share them with the world. Helen is not only a writer, but she has invented several travel games. Trav-L-Bingo, Trav-L-Derby, Trav-L-Grams and Trav-L-BingoRoo while she and her husband, Clare, traveled extensively around the country. The games have proved most popular and have been marketing in various stores in the United States, Canada, and Australia and also used by several oil companies as promotions. The Cascade Township woman often reads the letters of Edmond and Emeline Potter, who both died before she was born. The letters tell her much about the Civil War, her grandparents and other long-departed family members. She was a great traveler and loved learning about the wonders of the United States. She especially loved the beauty of the Upper Peninsula and the animals surrounding their summer home there. Helen is 101 and a half as of July 2009.