He was born on July 16, 1829 in Schenectady, New York, United States. He was the son of Bishop Alonzo Potter and his wife, Sarah Maria Nott, daughter of Eliphalet Nott. He was a descendant of Robert Potter of Coventry, England, who came to America in 1634.
entered Union College in that city but did not graduate. Later he studied law.
He was admitted to the bar, and practised in New York City.
When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted as a private in the New York Rifles. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was commissioned major on October 14, 1861, in the Scott Rifles, a unit which later became part of the 51th New York Volunteers.
Potter became a lieutenant-colonel on November 1, 1861. His command was attached to Reno's Brigade in Burnside's North Carolina expedition which sailed from Annapolis, on January 9, 1862. In the victorious assault at Roanoke Island, February 8, he was the first field officer over the enemy's works. At New Bern, March 14, he was severely wounded but continued in battle until victory had been won. His command moved north with Burnside's army, and fought at Slaughter or Cedar Mountain, Manassas Junction, Greenville, and at Chantilly (Ox Hill).
On September 10, 1862, he was promoted colonel. At South Mountain on September 14, 1862, his regiment fought gallantly, and at Antietam, September 17, made the brilliant and valiant charge across the bridge which saved the day for the Union army. He also commanded the 51th Regiment in the fighting at Fredericksburg, December 11-15, 1862.
Potter was made brigadier-general of volunteers on March 3, 1863, several weeks before he joined Burnside at Cincinnati. On June 3, the 2nd Division under his command accompanied Burnside's IX Corps to Nicholasville. In the siege of Knoxville, in the autumn of 1863, Potter prevented Longstreet from getting supplies through to the besieged.
He was severely wounded, April 2, 1865, in the final assault on Petersburg. Upon recovery, he was given command of the Connecticut and Rhode Island District of the Department of the East. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers in August 1864, and was promoted major-general on September 29, 1865.
He was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866, and from 1866 to 1869, was receiver for the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. He then went to England to recuperate his health. While abroad he lived the life of a country gentleman; entertaining frequently, and riding to hounds with his English friends.
He returned to the United States in 1873 and settled down to a life of leisure on his estate, "The Rocks, " at Newport, Rhode Island. During his later years, he was harassed by serious physical ailments which he suffered until his death.
Robert Brown Potter was a Union Army general in the American Civil War. He and his 2nd Division participated in the capture of Vicksburg, two of his brigades were first to enter into Jackson, on July 16, 1863. His division also fought at Spotswood Tavern, Spotsylvania, Ox Ford on the North Anna River, Bethesda Church on the Totopotomy, and at Petersburg. It was a unit of his command that mined the Confederate position at Petersburg and he was the only division commander present in the crater or connecting lines when the mine was exploded on July 30, 1864. He always crossed in advance of his troops and incited them to heroic action by his own personal courage.
On April 14, 1857, he married Frances Paine Tileston who died a year later, leaving an infant daughter. On September 29, 1865 he married Abby Austin Stevens.
