[Civil War]. One of the First Union Soldiers Killed in Action: Theodore Winthrop Autograph Letter Signed with Initials ("T.W."). Four pages of a bifolium, 8" x 5", Camp Cameron [Massachusetts]; May 11, 1861. Written shortly before his death at the Battle of Big Bethel, Winthrop writes to his mother about his health, friends, and developments on the war front, including mention of a number of notable generals. In part: "At camp things go in order. The fellows are well & comfortable. New York has outfitted them luxuriously for soldiers... Mr. Fisk sent me at my request a letter to Seward. I have seen him twice & am more than ever convinced of his capability to do his part in the crisis... Henry Van Rensalaer is here as aide to General Scott. I hope to get Captaincy in the new army & Billy a 1st Lieutenancy... Active service for the army, now collected here, is hardly likely just yet. Unless the Virginians attack. That we do not expect. Perhaps there will be before long an assault at Harper's Ferry. In that case Genl. Butler of Mass. will have a chance to do some more dashing things... We are regiments as yet, but not an army; and we must move as an impregnable body to reclaim this country." Winthrop closes with love and well wishes for his family and a forwarding address, overall clearly displaying his eager anticipation for developing events. With accompanying engraved portrait of Winthrop. Prior to the start of the War, Winthrop was a lawyer by training and writer by trade, traveling internationally for several years and contributing various sketches and short stories. When President Lincoln called for bodies for the Federal Army in 1861, Winthrop was quick to enlist, joining the 7th Regiment of the New York State Militia and shortly being promoted to major and aide-de-camp to Major General Benjamin Butler, commander of the Department of Virginia at Fort Monroe. Manuscript material in Winthrop's hand, particularly containing war-time content, is extremely rare as he was tragically among the very first ranked Union soldiers to be killed in the War; he was shot during a maneuver at the Battle of Big Bethel against Colonel Daniel H. Hill just a few weeks after this letter was written. His younger brother William Winthrop, "Billy" in this letter, went on to become a leading authority in military law. Reference: [Laura Winthrop Johnson], The Life and Poems of Theodore Winthrop, pages 287-288 (incorrectly listed the date as May 10, 1861). Condition: Lightly creased along old folds. Scattered soiling. Small blindstamp to the upper left corner. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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