Stephen Girard Whipple
Encyclopedia
Stephen Girard Whipple usually known as Stephen G. Whipple, was a 49er, newspaper editor, politician, and a Union officer commanding a Battalion of Mountaineers and the Humboldt Military District
in the Bald Hills War
against the Indians in northwest California
, during the American Civil War
. After the Civil War he was an officer in the U. S. Army serving in the Apache Wars
and in the Nez Perce War
and at various frontier posts.
. He went to California during the 1849 Gold Rush
and entered state politics. He served as a member of the California State Assembly
for the 12th District in 1854-55 and 1857-58. He was involved in the California State Militia and was one of several influential men that wrote the Governor of California to establish a volunteer company called the Citizens of Crescent City in 1856 to defend Crescent City
against attack by Indians of Klamath County
. He was also editor of the Northern Californian, one of two newspapers on the Humboldt Bay
. While Whipple was away on business, Bret Harte
who worked for Whipple's paper, wrote against the killers of the Indian Island Massacre (in opposition to Whipple's views) and soon left the area due to the threats against his life.
a special light infantry Battalion. This unit was recruited primarily from Californians familiar with the area of the Humboldt Military District for the purpose of fighting the Indians there.
On July 13, 1863 Lt. Col. Whipple was appointed to command the Humboldt Military District, which he held until February, 1864, and began implementing his approach to the war. Whipple was also elected to serve again in the Assembly for the 27th District in 1863, and gave up his command from February 8, 1864 to June 1864, to attend the meeting of the State legislature, Colonel Henry M. Black
taking his place. Whipple regained the command of the District again in June 1864 and held it until the District was absorbed by the Department of California
on July 27, 1865. Aggressive patrolling and skirmishing by the Mountaineers and companies of other California Volunteer regiments in the District during all times of the year eventually drove the tribes to make peace in August 1864.
under George Crook
against the Apache
, and taking part in the Nez Perce War. On July 1, 1877, Whipple led the attack on Chief Looking Glass
's camp but failed to capture Looking Glass as ordered. He then took part in the fights at Cottonwood Ranch from July 3–5, and then fought in the Battle of the Clearwater
. He retired from the army in 1884 after twenty-one years of service. He was a Member of the Freemasons and of the Grand Army of the Republic
. He died in Eureka, California
, on October 21, 1895 and was buried at Myrtle Grove Cemetery, in Eureka.
Humboldt Military District
During the American Civil War, Army reorganization created the Department of the Pacific on January 15, 1861. On December 12, 1861, the District of Humboldt was created, consisting of the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, Klamath, and Del Norte in Northern California...
in the Bald Hills War
Bald Hills War
Bald Hills War was a war fought by the forces of the California Militia, California Volunteers and soldiers of the U. S. Army against the Chilula, Lassik, Hupa, Mattole, Nongatl, Sinkyone, Tsnungwe, Wailaki, Whilkut and Wiyot Native American peoples.The war was fought within the boundaries of the...
against the Indians in northwest California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After the Civil War he was an officer in the U. S. Army serving in the Apache Wars
Apache Wars
The Apache Wars were a series of armed conflicts between the United States and Apaches fought in the Southwest from 1849 to 1886, though other minor hostilities continued until as late as 1924. The Confederate Army participated in the wars during the early 1860s, for instance in Texas, before being...
and in the Nez Perce War
Nez Perce War
The Nez Perce War was an armed conflict between the Nez Perce and the United States government fought in 1877 as part of the American Indian Wars. After a series of battles in which both the U.S. Army and native people sustained significant casualties, the Nez Perce surrendered and were relocated...
and at various frontier posts.
Early Life in Northwest California
Stephen Girard Whipple, was born on November 15, 1823 in Williston, VermontWilliston, Vermont
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,698 at the 2010 census, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census...
. He went to California during the 1849 Gold Rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
and entered state politics. He served as a member of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
for the 12th District in 1854-55 and 1857-58. He was involved in the California State Militia and was one of several influential men that wrote the Governor of California to establish a volunteer company called the Citizens of Crescent City in 1856 to defend Crescent City
Crescent City, California
Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city in Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 in the 2010 census, up from 4,006 in the 2000 census...
against attack by Indians of Klamath County
Klamath County, California
Klamath County was a county of California from 1851 to 1874. During its existence, the county seat moved twice and several counties were carved from its territory...
. He was also editor of the Northern Californian, one of two newspapers on the Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
. While Whipple was away on business, Bret Harte
Bret Harte
Francis Bret Harte was an American author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California.- Life and career :...
who worked for Whipple's paper, wrote against the killers of the Indian Island Massacre (in opposition to Whipple's views) and soon left the area due to the threats against his life.
Civil War the Bald Hills War
In the early part of the Civil War he wrote to the Department of the Pacific Commander advocating a more active prosecution of the war with the Indians in the Bald Hills War with men used to the hardships of war in the mountainous redwood forests. His idea was adopted and he was appointed as Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 1st Battalion California Volunteer Mountaineers1st Battalion California Volunteer Mountaineers
1st Battalion California Volunteer Mountaineers was an infantry battalion in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent its entire term of service in the western United States, attached to the Department of the Pacific...
a special light infantry Battalion. This unit was recruited primarily from Californians familiar with the area of the Humboldt Military District for the purpose of fighting the Indians there.
On July 13, 1863 Lt. Col. Whipple was appointed to command the Humboldt Military District, which he held until February, 1864, and began implementing his approach to the war. Whipple was also elected to serve again in the Assembly for the 27th District in 1863, and gave up his command from February 8, 1864 to June 1864, to attend the meeting of the State legislature, Colonel Henry M. Black
Henry M. Black
Henry M. Black was a United States Army officer who served as Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy.-Early career:...
taking his place. Whipple regained the command of the District again in June 1864 and held it until the District was absorbed by the Department of California
Department of California
The Department of California was one of two Army Departments created September 13, 1858, replacing the original Department of the Pacific and was composed of the territory of the United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains and south of Oregon and Washington territories, except the Rogue River...
on July 27, 1865. Aggressive patrolling and skirmishing by the Mountaineers and companies of other California Volunteer regiments in the District during all times of the year eventually drove the tribes to make peace in August 1864.
Career in the U.S. Army and later life
Following the Civil War he was chosen to become a Captain in the U. S. Army, most notably serving in ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
under George Crook
George Crook
George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
against the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
, and taking part in the Nez Perce War. On July 1, 1877, Whipple led the attack on Chief Looking Glass
Chief Looking Glass
Looking Glass was a principal Nez Perce architect of many of the military strategies employed by the Nez Perce during the Nez Perce War of 1877...
's camp but failed to capture Looking Glass as ordered. He then took part in the fights at Cottonwood Ranch from July 3–5, and then fought in the Battle of the Clearwater
Battle of the Clearwater
The Battle of the Clearwater was a battle between the Nez Perce and the United States army. Retreating from the battlefield, the Nez Percé began the long trek across Idaho and Montana before surrendering to Oliver Otis Howard near the Canadian border.-Background:After the defeat of United States...
. He retired from the army in 1884 after twenty-one years of service. He was a Member of the Freemasons and of the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
. He died in Eureka, California
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, on October 21, 1895 and was buried at Myrtle Grove Cemetery, in Eureka.