Whipped Peter, also known as Gordon, was an enslaved man who escaped from a plantation in Louisiana in 1863 and joined the Union Army during the Civil War. His horrific scars from the brutal whippings he endured became a powerful image of the cruelty of slavery and the courage of resistance. But what happened to Whipped Peter after the war? How did he die and when? This article will attempt to answer these questions and shed some light on the life and death of Whipped Peter, the escaped slave who became a symbol of freedom.
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A Daring and Dangerous Escape
Whipped Peter was born into slavery sometime in the early 1800s, but his exact date and place of birth are unknown. He was owned by John and Bridget Lyons, who had a plantation in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, where they held about 40 other enslaved people. Whipped Peter worked as a field hand, and was subjected to frequent and severe whippings by the overseer, who used salt water to increase the pain and prevent infection.
In March 1863, Whipped Peter decided to escape from the plantation, after being whipped so badly that he was bedridden for two months. He waited for a dark and rainy night, and then ran away, carrying only a few onions in his pockets. He used the onions to mask his scent from the dogs that were sent to track him down. He also avoided roads and bridges, and followed the North Star to guide him to the Union lines.
He walked for about 10 days and 80 miles, until he reached Baton Rouge, where he encountered a camp of the Union Army’s 19th Corps. He asked to join the army and fight for his freedom. He was given a physical examination, which revealed the shocking extent of his injuries. His back was covered with deep scars from the lash, forming a crisscross pattern of keloids. His wounds were still fresh and bleeding, and some of them were infected.
A Historic and Iconic Photograph
The Union soldiers were appalled and outraged by the sight of Whipped Peter’s back. They decided to document his condition and expose the brutality of slavery to the world. They called two photographers, William D. McPherson and his partner Mr. Oliver, who were based in New Orleans and specialized in producing cartes de visite, which were small and cheap photographs that were widely circulated and collected.
McPherson and Oliver took two photographs of Whipped Peter, one showing his front and one showing his back. They also interviewed him and wrote a caption for the photographs, which read:
“Ten days from the plantation, whipped every morning to make him work in the cotton field while sick with the dysentery. The scars are real and have not been manipulated in any way. The man’s name is Gordon, commonly called ‘Whipped Peter’ by the other slaves. He is now a soldier in the U.S. Army.”
The photographs of Whipped Peter were printed and distributed by the thousands, and soon became a sensation in the North and abroad. They were published in newspapers, magazines, books, and pamphlets, and were used as propaganda by the abolitionists and the Union supporters. They were also exhibited in lectures, rallies, and fairs, and were sold as souvenirs and mementos. They were widely seen as proof of the evil and inhumanity of slavery, and as evidence of the need and the right of the enslaved people to rebel and emancipate themselves.
The photographs of Whipped Peter also had a personal and emotional impact on many viewers, who were moved and inspired by his story and his courage. Some of them wrote letters to him, expressing their admiration and sympathy, and offering him money, clothes, or education. Whipped Peter became a celebrity and a hero, and his image became a symbol of freedom and justice.
A Brave and Loyal Soldier
Whipped Peter did not let his fame distract him from his goal of fighting for his freedom and his people. He enlisted in the Union Army as a sergeant in the 2nd Louisiana Native Guard, which was one of the first all-black regiments in the U.S. military. He fought bravely and loyally in several battles, including the Siege of Port Hudson, where he was wounded in the arm.
However, Whipped Peter also faced danger and hardship from his own side. He was captured by the Confederate forces, who tortured him and left him to die. He managed to escape and return to the Union lines, but he was not treated well by some of his white officers and comrades, who discriminated against him and other black soldiers. He also did not receive equal pay, equipment, or recognition for his service.
Whipped Peter remained in the army until the end of the war in 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He then settled in St. Francisville, Louisiana, where he worked as a farmer and a laborer. He married a woman named Hannah, and they had two children, a son named Peter Jr. and a daughter named Susan.
A Mysterious and Unsolved Death
Whipped Peter lived a quiet and modest life after the war, but he did not forget his past or his cause. He was active in the Reconstruction era, and participated in the political and social movements of the freedmen. He was a member of the Republican Party, and voted in several elections. He also joined the Grand Army of the Republic, which was a fraternal organization of the Union veterans. He attended reunions and parades, and wore his army uniform with pride.
Whipped Peter died on July 20, 1907, at the age of about 70. His cause of death is unknown, but it is likely that he died of natural causes, such as old age or illness. He was buried in the Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery in St. Francisville, where his grave is marked with a simple headstone that reads:
“Gordon. Sergt. Co. E. 2 U.S.C.T. Died July 20, 1907.”
Whipped Peter’s death was not widely reported or mourned, and his grave was not visited or honored for many years. His photographs and his story were also forgotten or ignored by the public and the historians, who focused on other aspects and figures of the Civil War and the slavery era.
However, in recent decades, Whipped Peter has been rediscovered and reevaluated by scholars and activists, who have recognized his historical and cultural significance. His photographs have been reproduced and exhibited in various museums and institutions, such as the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. His story has been told and retold in various books, articles, documentaries, and films, such as the upcoming Emancipation, starring Will Smith as Whipped Peter.
Whipped Peter’s legacy and memory have also been preserved and celebrated by his descendants and his community, who have organized events and ceremonies to honor him and his ancestors. His grave has been cleaned and decorated with flowers and flags, and his headstone has been replaced with a new one that reads:
“Gordon, also known as Whipped Peter, a brave American.”
Whipped Peter was an escaped slave who became a symbol of freedom. He was a soldier who fought for his freedom and his people. He was a survivor who endured and overcame unimaginable suffering and oppression. He was a hero who inspired and influenced millions of people. He was a man who lived and died with dignity and grace.
