An 1841 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, NY, he was born in Greenwich, Massachusetts. His first assignments took him across the country among them was determining the route of the transcontinental railroad. His mapping skills and talent were key in the US Civil War when he served as chief topographical engineer with the Army of the Potomac under General George B. McClellan. Later he would command the defenses of Washington using the Custis-Lee mansion - Arlington House - as his headquarters. During that time he befriended President Abraham Lincoln who would drive over from Washington DC to meet with General Whipple, often having lunch and getting a briefing from the General while Lincoln wrapped his arms around Whipple's two sons. General Whipple wanted a combat role and commanded a division at the battles of Fredericksburg and later Chancellorsville. It would be there that a sharpshooter would shoot him while he was mounted on his horse. He would be taken back to Washington DC where on May 7, 1863 would succumb from his wound. Later Abraham Lincoln would attend his funeral, not as the President but a friend. In the book "Images of America - Fort Myer"the closeness of these two men is shown in an unpublished note from President Lincoln to General Totten which nominated General Whipple's son to West Point. General Whipple would later be honored when a fort was placed where he ordered an observation balloon sent up to observe combat activity to the west. Fort Whipple would ultimately evolve and grow in use and importance after the Civil War and become Fort Myer.
The Custis-Lee Estate consisted of 1,100 acres of land which from the high ground, one has a panoramic view of the nation's Capital. That still is the case when one stands in front of Arlington House, also known as the Custis-Lee Mansion or on what is currently Whipple Field within present day Fort Myer it was the site of Fort Whipple. According to sources, the high ground originally consisted of orchards. Those 1,100 acres also contained some great flatland near the Potomac River where the Custis-Lee's farmed growing crops for use within the estate and to sell in the neighboring City of Alexandria and markets within Washington DC. The book "Images of America - Fort Myer" contains over 200 historic photographs that provide an insight to this outstanding US Army Post with orgins from the Custis-Lee estate built during the US Civil War and first known as Fort Whipple. Please sign up below to get announcements of more in-depth views and insights about Historic Fort Myer, Virginia