Co F 64th Reg NY Vol Inf
The experience of George W. Whipple, of the 64th New York, Battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863: During his regiment’s disorganized retreat from an advanced position in the Wheatfield on July 2, Whipple’s company commander, Captain Henry Fuller, fell badly wounded. Whipple tried to carry Fuller from the field but was unable to keep up and had to lay him down. This enabled his Confederate pursuers to catch up. They shouted “Surrender, you d-m Yankee,” as they approached. He did, but asked his captors if he could remain for a moment more with his dying captain, “but the bayonet was close to my back, with awful threats to put it through me if I refused.” “Go to the rear you d—d Yankee son of a b—h,” they cursed at him. That the Confederates should be angry at an enemy soldier whose comrades minutes before had caused many casualties in their ranks should not be surprising. As an experienced veteran Whipple probably understood that the mercy of angry men in battle only extended so far. He wisely complied with his captors’ demands and was escorted to the rear by two of them, who were probably very happy to have a reason to leave the front lines. They left him in the rear with some men from the ambulance corps, unharmed. (Letter of George W. Whipple printed in the Cattaraugus Freeman, January 9, 1864, GNMP Library)
The experience of George W. Whipple, of the 64th New York, Battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863: During his regiment’s disorganized retreat from an advanced position in the Wheatfield on July 2, Whipple’s company commander, Captain Henry Fuller, fell badly wounded. Whipple tried to carry Fuller from the field but was unable to keep up and had to lay him down. This enabled his Confederate pursuers to catch up. They shouted “Surrender, you d-m Yankee,” as they approached. He did, but asked his captors if he could remain for a moment more with his dying captain, “but the bayonet was close to my back, with awful threats to put it through me if I refused.” “Go to the rear you d—d Yankee son of a b—h,” they cursed at him. That the Confederates should be angry at an enemy soldier whose comrades minutes before had caused many casualties in their ranks should not be surprising. As an experienced veteran Whipple probably understood that the mercy of angry men in battle only extended so far. He wisely complied with his captors’ demands and was escorted to the rear by two of them, who were probably very happy to have a reason to leave the front lines. They left him in the rear with some men from the ambulance corps, unharmed. (Letter of George W. Whipple printed in the Cattaraugus Freeman, January 9, 1864, GNMP Library)
Co F 64th Reg NY Vol Inf
The experience of George W. Whipple, of the 64th New York, Battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863: During his regiment’s disorganized retreat from an advanced position in the Wheatfield on July 2, Whipple’s company commander, Captain Henry Fuller, fell badly wounded. Whipple tried to carry Fuller from the field but was unable to keep up and had to lay him down. This enabled his Confederate pursuers to catch up. They shouted “Surrender, you d-m Yankee,” as they approached. He did, but asked his captors if he could remain for a moment more with his dying captain, “but the bayonet was close to my back, with awful threats to put it through me if I refused.” “Go to the rear you d—d Yankee son of a b—h,” they cursed at him. That the Confederates should be angry at an enemy soldier whose comrades minutes before had caused many casualties in their ranks should not be surprising. As an experienced veteran Whipple probably understood that the mercy of angry men in battle only extended so far. He wisely complied with his captors’ demands and was escorted to the rear by two of them, who were probably very happy to have a reason to leave the front lines. They left him in the rear with some men from the ambulance corps, unharmed. (Letter of George W. Whipple printed in the Cattaraugus Freeman, January 9, 1864, GNMP Library)
The experience of George W. Whipple, of the 64th New York, Battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863: During his regiment’s disorganized retreat from an advanced position in the Wheatfield on July 2, Whipple’s company commander, Captain Henry Fuller, fell badly wounded. Whipple tried to carry Fuller from the field but was unable to keep up and had to lay him down. This enabled his Confederate pursuers to catch up. They shouted “Surrender, you d-m Yankee,” as they approached. He did, but asked his captors if he could remain for a moment more with his dying captain, “but the bayonet was close to my back, with awful threats to put it through me if I refused.” “Go to the rear you d—d Yankee son of a b—h,” they cursed at him. That the Confederates should be angry at an enemy soldier whose comrades minutes before had caused many casualties in their ranks should not be surprising. As an experienced veteran Whipple probably understood that the mercy of angry men in battle only extended so far. He wisely complied with his captors’ demands and was escorted to the rear by two of them, who were probably very happy to have a reason to leave the front lines. They left him in the rear with some men from the ambulance corps, unharmed. (Letter of George W. Whipple printed in the Cattaraugus Freeman, January 9, 1864, GNMP Library)
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