The National tribune., 1910-02-10
DEATH OF MAJ. WINTHROP.
Not Killed by Mulatto Slave, but by
Confederate Soldier.

Editor National Tribune: In your pa
per of Aug. 26 appeared an extract
from "Recollections of a Quartermas-
ter" (Confederate), claiming the ad-
vantage of accurate history. 1t is his
tory indeed, as it Is sometimes writ
but it 'ain't So" AS an account of the
battle of Big Bethel it is well-nigh as
full of inaccuracies as a sieve Is of holes.
The pains of contradiction might not be
undertaken if it weiy 4.c. .:.a. 1t con-
Germs the manner of Maj. Winthrop's
death in that battle, the first in .he
civil war. In that particular the state
ments are as far from the facts as the
East is from the West: and, therefore,
lest by some chance they should be-
come accepted historical data, L will
give the truth, with my authorities.
The Confederate Quartermaster states
that he tells what he heard from an
officer (thus his story is at second
HANDY, that Maj. Winthrop was killed
while leading a charge upon the Con-
federate breastworks by rife in the
hands of a mulatto slave.
About four years ago the Southern
people held celebration on the
grounds of the Big Bethel Church to
dedicate a monument to the memory
of Henry A. Wyatt Gst n. c.. the only
Confederate killed in the fight. The
occasion was made notable, and thou
sands, mostly young people, were gath
cred. Eloquent speeches were deliv-
cred glorifying the Lost Cause, and a
multitude of its flags filled the air.
Whsn he learned that ] had been in
the engagement on the Union side, a
gentleman to whom / was being intro
duced said: Just hold on here till /
can find man who will be glad to
meet you"
he 1nt Nv r ~
Of Richmond, Va, who was connected
with leading newspaper in that city,
and introduced him to me. He had
been in the Big Bethel fight as a Ser
geant of the Richmond Howitzer Bat
terry He and ] We're the only men
there who were in that engagement.
The first words he spoke were. Come;
let us get away from the crowd and
have a talk" / suggested that he might
not like to lose the speeches. His re-
ply was: Fudge! Those people don't
know what they are talking about. Let
US find quiet spot together" 1t was
hard to find, for the roads were jammed
with all sorts of vehicles, and after
quite a search he said: Let us take
possession of any one of these wagons"
So we did, and had a delightful heart
to-heart talk, like long-separated broth
ers.
We went over the aspect of the bat
tie from our respective viewpoints,
spending a happy, memorable hour.
The subject of Maj. Winthrop's death
was brought up, when l inquired if he
knew any particulars of it. / found /
had reached headquarters for facts. He
told me that during the progress of the
fighting he had taken bucket to go
down to the stream for water for use in
the battery, and while on the way he
met a soldier, who called his attention
to Union officer. quite long distance
away. standing on a stump in the field
in plain view. apparently examining the
Confederate position. He asked the
soldier why he did not shoot at him.
and ordered him to do So. He did. and
that was the snot which killed Mai.
Winthrop.
This statement tallies with what has
always been accepted and believed on
the Union side, and directly contra