Yale's first casualty in the Civil War

In this video, the second in a series exploring the Civil War’s impact on the University, Yale archivist Judith Schiff tells the story of Theodore Winthrop (1848), who was one of the first casualties of the Civil War.

In this video, the second in a series exploring the Civil War’s impact on the University, Yale archivist Judith Schiff tells the story of Theodore Winthrop (1848), who was one of the first casualties of the Civil War.

Winthrop, a lawyer, adventurer, reporter and novelist, was from a distinguished New England and Yale family. He joined the Union army shortly after the attack at Fort Sumter. He was possibly the first officer from the North killed in action in the Civil War. He received a hero’s funeral and burial in Grove Cemetery.

“The Civil War and Yale” series celebrates the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The first video in the series focused on Uriah Parmalee, who dropped out of Yale to fight for the Union and was among the war’s last casualties. Watch the first video.

See also: Yale remembers the Civil War