Article provides a biographical breakdown of the life and career of General Amiel Weeks Whipple, whose collection of journals, maps, drawings, and other materials were donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Francis R. Stoddard discusses the man's work on the Mexican Boundary Survey of 1851 and the Pacific Railroad Survey of 1853

Stoddard, Franci R.

Gateway to Oklahoma History

Chronicles of OklahomaAMIEL WEEKS WHIPPLEBy Francis R. Stoddard*INTRODUCTIONThe Oklahoma Historical Society has recently received one ofits finest collections of historical material : the original journals,manuscripts, drawings, paintings, maps, charts, and other data pre-served by General A. W. Whipple, relating to the Mexican BoundarySurvey in 1851, and the Pacific Railroad Survey that was madethrough Oklahoma in 1853. The donors of this valuable gift to theHistorical Society are Professor William Whipple, Baton Rouge,Louisiana; Colonel Sherburne Whipple, Asheville, North Carolina;Mrs. Arthur M. Collens, Hartford, Connecticut; and Mrs. FrancisR. Stoddard, New York, New York.EditorAmiel Weeks Whipple was born on October 21, 1817. He wasa son of David Whipple who at one time kept an inn in Concord,Massachusetts. His mother, Abigail Pepper, was a daughter ofJoseph Pepper, Lieutenant in the Revolution. Through her, he wasdescended from Thomas Prence, Governor of Plymouth Colony,whose wife, Patience, was daughter of the beloved religious leader ofthe Pilgrims, Elder William Brewster.Whipple attended the Concord schools and entered AmherstCollege in 1836, from where he was appointed to the U. S. MilitaryAcademy at West Point by the Honorable Samuel Hoar on July 1,1837. He graduated fifth in his class on June 22, 1841. Upongraduation he was commissioned and assigned to the First Artilleryas of July 1, 1841, because probably no vacancy existed in theengineers. Before joining his artillery regiment upon completionof his graduation leave of absence, he was transferred as of* Colonel Francis Russell Stoddard, native of Boston, Massachusetts, attorney(partner in law firm of Hamlin, Hubbell, Davis, Hunt and Farley of New York City),married Eleanor Sherburne Whipple. He was a member of New York State As-sembly (1912-15), and widely known in New York and New Jersey state bankingand insurance departments, is arbitrator, Greater New York, for fidelity and suretycompanies of U. S. and for casualty companies. He is a veteran of the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border War, World War I (Maj. 17th Div., U. S.Army) ; became Colonel commanding 533d C.A. (1923-35) ; and served as MilitaryAide of Mayor La Guardia during World War II. He is an active member of lead-ing American genealogical societies (Sons of the Revolution, Society of MayflowerDescendants -ex-gov. and gov. gen. soc.-, Order of Cincinnati, etc.), and of Ma-sonic Order and American Legion. He is the author of The Stoddard Family (1912),Far Time In France (1918), The Pilgrims (1935), The History of Acquisition Costin the State of New York (1944), and numerous technical articles on insurance.-Who's Who in America, Vol. 26 (Chicago, 1950).-Ed.226r~V4AMIEL WEEKS WHIPPLEJ't`VrAmiel Weeks WhippleSeptember 28, 1841, to the Topographical Engineers and wasappointed Assistant Topographical Engineer on work in PatapscoRiver, Maryland. From 1841 winter to 1842, he was on militaryreconnaissance duty near New Orleans, Louisiana. From 1842 to1844 he was engaged in the survey of the harbor of Portsmouth,New Hampshire, where through the offices of an army friendstationed at Fort Constitution at the entrance of the harbor, he waspresented to Miss Eleanor Mary Sherburne, whom he married atPortsmouth on September 12, 1843. Her father, Col. John NathanielSherburne, had commanded a regiment in the war of 1812, was arepresentative in the legislature, and was then Navy Agent of thePort. His wife was connected with most of the old Portsmouthfamilies. She was descended from Governor Thomas Dudley ofMassachusetts Colony, Governor Theophilus Eaton of New HavenColony and Governor John Wentworth of New Hampshire Colony.Her family lived in the historic Warner house, which is mentionedlater. She was a great grand-daughter of Captain John Bluntwho guided General Washington through the ice and storm acrossthe Delaware River on the night before the Battle of Trenton.From 1844 to 1849, Lieutenant Whipple had special charge of ,the instrumental work of the Northeastern Boundary Survey. From1849 to 1853, he was assistant with the Mexican Boundary Survey.The Chief Topographical Engineer was unable to do the work mostof which was done by Whipple. Meanwhile he was promoted tc FirstLieutenant on April 24, 1851. Upon the completion of his MexicanBoundary report, he was assigned to the command of the PacificRailroad Survey for which Congress had made necessary appropria-tions. His party started from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the linepursued carried it through an almost unknown section of the country,including the region south of the Arkansas and Canadian rivers inpresent Oklahoma and on west to the Pacific Coast at San Diego.The route passed through territory occupied by powerfulIndian tribes, but was accomplished without serious mishap. Hisreport, published by the Government, attracted great attention bothin this country and in Europe. Baron Alexander von Humbolt wasparticularly interested in it and corresponded with LieutenantWhipple very voluminously and for several years. Whipple hadbeen promoted to Captain on July 1, 1855. On completion of hisPacific route survey report, he was ordered to take station at Detroit,Michigan, where he was placed in charge of the 10th Light-Housedistrict of the upper and lower lakes and the improvement of thewaterways over ship channel over St. Clair flat and through LakeGeorge and St. Mary's River, Michigan, within the territory thatextended from Lake Superior to Ogdensburg on the Saint LawrenceRiver. He was engaged in this work when the Southern Confederacyundertook to secede from the Union. Captain Whipple was im-227Chronicles of Oklahomamediately ordered to report to the Chief of Topographical Engineersin Washington. There was then a dearth of maps giving any butthe most meagre of information concerning the State of Virginia,and to him as Chief of Topographical Engineers of the defenses ofWashington, South of the Potomac, was entrusted the very tryingand responsible duty of making armed reconnaissances to collect thetopographical details required. It was hazardous work in a countrythickly wooded in places, where small bodies of men could be con-cealed with absolute impunity; and the first skirmishes of the war,such as that at Fairfax Court House, were fought during its con-tinuance. The work, however, was successfully and very quicklydone, and reliable maps were soon in possession of the Union com-manders. Captain Whipple, thereafter, became Chief TopographicalEngineer on the staff of General McDowell, Commander of theArmy of the Potomac. He participated in the battle of Bull Runor Manassas on July 21, 1861, for which service he later was awardeda postumous brevet for gallantry in action. From July 25, 1861, toMarch 13, 1862, he was with a division engaged in the defence ofWashington, then constantly threatened with attack. On December26, 1861, President Lincoln signed his commission of major to datefrom September 9, 1861. From March 13, 1862, to April 2, 1862, heserved with the First Army Corps. From the latter date to Septem-ber 8, 1862, he commanded a brigade in the defences of Washington,having been commissioned a Brigadier General of Volunteers as ofApril 14, 1862, and thereafter he commanded a division until October10, 1862.The headquarters of General Whipple were the former residenceof General Robert E. Lee at Arlington. The house had beendeserted by the Lee family, but many of the family slaves were leftbehind who were hoping for the return of their very kind master.With untiring energy and skill, General Whipple added to andimproved the fortifications which extended from Chain Bridgeabove the City of Georgetown to Alexandria. President Lincolnfrequently drove over from the White House and after a simplelunch and a glass of lemonade, he rode to attend the review of aregiment or to visit one of the forts. On these occasions the Presi-dent, drawing the General's two sons to him and with an arm abouteach, would listen attentively to the General.Not content with defending Washington, Whipple applied forservice in the field. On October 10, 1862, he took command of the3rd Division of the III Army Corps, and from December 13to 15, 1862, he participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg, for whichservice he was later breveted again posthumously for gallantry inaction. It was while Whipple was in the Army of the Potomac thatone of the Corp Commanders gave a dinner in honor of PresidentLincoln. The latter asked that his friend, General Whipple, beseated beside him, which was done.228Aniel Weeks WhippleAt the Battle of Chancellorsville, which began on May 2, 1863,the III Army Corps attacked and separated General Lee fromGeneral "Stonewall" Jackson. The latter continued and nextmorning attacked the XI Army Corps, which gave way causingWhipple's division to be attacked from both front and rear. Jacksonwas killed opposite Whipple's men who held their ground at all points.On May 4, 1863, while near a battery directing construction of someearth works near the apex of the salient which extended into theConfederate lines, Whipple was mortally wounded by a sharpshooter.The bullet passed through his belt and stomach and came out of thesmall of his back close to the spinal column. The General wastaken to Washington where he never regained consciousness. Justprior to death, President Lincoln caused him to be commissioned aMajor General of Volunteers. He also eventually received post-humously additional brevets for gallantry in action at Chancellors-ville and for gallantry and meritorous services during the whole war.Whipple (ied in Washington on May 7, 1863. PresidentLincoln attended his funeral and said that he was there as a friendof the family and not as President of the United States. The Presi-dent not only gave his autographed photograph to the widow but hegave a Presidential appointment to the older son of his friend. AfterLincoln was assassinated, there was found on his desk a note askinghis successor, if anything happened to him, to appoint the youngerson of General Whipple to Annapolis. This was duly done byPresident Andrew Johnson. When the fort now called Fort Myerwas built, it was named Fort Whipple. Fort Whipple, Arizona, isalso named in his honor.General Whipple had saved much of the material which con-cerned his explorations. Certain of his diaries in his own handwritinghe gave to his son. The remainder, including his books and all hissketches, surveys and other data connected with the Pacific Railroadroute exploration, was placed in three trunks which were stored inthe old Warner House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where hiswife had lived. During recent years, descendants of his wife'sfamily sold the house to a group who have since maintained it as amuseum. The trunks with the General's name on them were foundin the attic and were returned to one of General Whipple's grand-daughters who, in agreement with her sister and brothers, donatedthe Pacific Railroad route exploration and the Mexican boundarysurvey material including the diaries to the Oklahoma HistoricalSociety.General Whipple had four children. The oldest, ElizabethSherburne Whipple, was wife of Colonel Robert W. Huntingdon, whocommanded the marines that were the first to land at Guantanamo,Cuba, in the Santiago Campaign of our war with Spain. Of twinboys, his son, Charles William Whipple, survived infancy. The229Chronicles of Oklahomalatter was appointed to West Point by President Lincoln as alreadystated and, after graduating in 1868, entered the Ordnance Depart-ment of the Army. He was Chief Ordnance Officer and laterInspector General of the expedition to the Philippines led by GeneralMerritt in our war with Spain. He eventually died from the effectsof that service. One of his fondest memories was being with AbrahamLincoln when the latter visited his father in the fortifications ofWashington during the Civil War. The General's youngest son,David Whipple, was appointed to Annapolis by President Johnsonand entered the Marine Corps. While stationed at Dry Tortugas,yellow fever swept the garrison and the soldiers were sometimesfound dead on post. He was ordered away but refused to go becausesome of his men were to stay. He stayed and died with his men.The General's son, Colonel Charles William Whipple, had fivechildren. The oldest, Walter Jones Whipple, is deceased. The next,William Whipple, has been a Professor at Louisiana State University.He has several children among whom Walter Jones Whipple grad-uated from Annapolis and was Captain in the Navy on the staff ofAdmiral Halsey; William Whipple graduated from West Point andwas Colonel on the staff of General Eisenhower; and John RandolphWhipple was Captain of Engineers all in the Second World War.Charles William Whipple's son, Colonel Sherburne Whipple,graduated from West Point and served against Moros in the Philip-pines. For services at the front in World War I, he received theDistinguished Service Medal and the French Legion d'Honneur.His son, Colonel Sherburne Whipple, Jr., graduated from West Pointand commanded tanks in the thick of the fighting in the SecondWorld War. His daughter, Sarah Bailey Whipple, and her husband,Colonel Lang, were at Pearl Harbor when Japan attacked.Colonel Charles William Whipple's daughter, Annette BaileyWhipple, is wife of Arthur Morris Collens, Chairman of the Boardof the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company in Hartford, Con-necticut. Their son, William Leete Collens, was Lieutenant in theNavy stationed on a munitions vessel in the Pacific during theSecond World War.Colonel Charles William Whipple's youngest child, EleanorSherburne Whipple, is Mrs. Francis Russell Stoddard. Her husband,Colonel Stoddard, served in our war with Spain, on the MexicanBorder and the First World War. Her older son, Howland BradfordStoddard, was Inspector General of the 35th Division in Germany,after being an Inspector General of the Fifteenth Army, during theWorld War II. Her younger son, Dudley Wentworth Stoddard,served as a combat infantryman in the 8th Division which ledthe attack on Cologne, Germany, during World War II. While onthe attack near the outskirts of that city, he was shot, but eventuallyrecovered from his wounds. It was he who brought the Whipplematerial to Oklahoma.230

Chronicles of Oklahoma

https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2123382/m2/1/high_res_d/1950-v28-n03_a01.pdf

Chronicles of Oklahoma

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Gateway to Oklahoma History