Charles Whittlesey and the "Lost Battalion"-- Part 2: A Plea For A Surrender From the Germans

Charles Whittlesey commanded a battalion of troops numbering 554.  Supporting units on their flanks  failed to keep up and these men found themselves surrounded by Germans.  The following days were perilous for Whittlesey and his men, who were called the "Lost Battalion" by journalists.

Without food or water, they were assaulted time and again by the Germans.

On October 7, the German commander sent a message written in English by way of a blindfolded American they had captured.  It read:

"The suffering of your wounded men can be heard over here in the German lines, and we are appealing to your humane sentiments to stop.   A white flag shown by one of your men will tell us that you agree with these conditions.  Please treat Private Lowell  R. Hollingshead [the bearer]  as an honorable man.  He is quite a soldier.  We envy you.

The German commanding officer."

--Cooter