Stories from the First Cathedral 40

Bishop Whipple had many American Indian friends in the 1860s.  He also made several friends during the Civil War. These relationships were revisited on his trip to Wahsington, DC during his trip to meet with President Lincoln in September of 1862. On September 19, the bishop arrived on the battlefield of Antietam, where 112,000 troops engaged in the single bloodiest day in American history.

"Whipple walked a ground splattered by the blood shed by opposing troops. For the second time in less than a month, he encountered people terribly wounded in battle - first in Saint Peter, MN, where he served in the makeshift hospital, now in Maryland, where he returned to his role as spiritual comforter. Whipple spent the night in General McClellan's tent, as his guest. Despite the stark changes in their circumstances, the general still recognized a friendship that had begun when Whipple served as a priest in Chicago and McClellan was a railroad man. The two talked for three hours, then prayed together before going to sleep. A few days later, Whipple wrote to McClellan, describing his visits to the military hospitals on the battlefield. "I had the opportunity to commend some dying men to God and to whisper the Saviour's name in their ear for the last journey."" (Lincoln's Bishop by Gustav Niebur 2014)

Bishop Whipple was comfortable in any person's presence no matter who they were, from the very poor and meek to people possessing great power. All people were comfortable with Henry Whipple, because he was a compassionate, caring pastor, who listened to anyone's story of life.