War Date Yale Archive Includes Reference to the Death of Major Winthrop

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Consists of of four pieces to include; Imprint, “Presentation of the Wooden Spoon,” June 18, 1861, 4pp., fine. Provides the program for this event. This custom had its origin at one of the colleges at Cambridge University, England. Before 1865, it was usual to give a jackknife to the homeliest man in the class, a cane to the handsomest, and a wooden spoon to the man who ate the most. ... plus, Imprint, “Yale College,” Presentation of the Class of 1861,” June 19th, 1861, 4pp., with a printed poem. ... plus, Letter written and signed by Arthur Goodenough with Patriotic cover which has a June 21, 1861 New Haven cancelation. The letter is written to his girl friend, Amelia Bactar. Goodenough reports on several campus events, then advise, “..there was ordered to attend with my class the funeral of Major Winthrop, Aid de Camp of General Butler, who was formerly a graduate of this college ...” In the heat of battle, Major Winthrop leapt onto the trunk of a fallen tree and reportedly yelled, "One more charge boys, and the day is ours." Soon thereafter, he was killed by a musket ball to the heart and became the first casualty of rank for the Northern side in what history regards as the first pitched land battle of the Civil War. Ironically, ardent abolitionist Winthrop may have been shot by the African-American slave of a Confederate officer in the 1st North Carolina Infantry. (Three different soldiers, as well as this slave, referred to in the records only as "Sam," claimed to have killed him.)

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