General Winthrop was born in 1839, and entered the ranks of the famous Seventy-first in April 1861. His conduct on the field at the battle of Bull Run was conspicuous for coolness and gallantry, and insured him a Captaincy in the Twelfth Regiment Regular Infantry. He at once proceeded to raise his company and organize the same at Fort Hamilton, New-York Harbor, and with the first battalion of his regiment, joined the Army of the Potomac on the 11th of April, 1862. From that time, until the day of his death, he was on duty with that army, participating in all us famous battles.
Conspiuous in every action for his intelligence, cool courage and determination, he won for himself not only the love and respect of his comrades, but the commendation and esteem of his Commanders. He rose steadily from one position to another, until he reached the grade of Brevet Brigadier-General, which rank he held at the time he so nobly sacrificed his life on the field of battle to save a friend.
From private in the ranks to General commanding a brigade, his record has been stainless. Participating in all the principal battles fought in the East, his conduct in each was worthy of the man who in the heat of battle could die as he did in an act of quiet heroism and noble self sacrifice. He was a splendid soldier, skillful, gallant, cool and accomplished.
But those who knew him simply as a soldier were ignorant of the things that most endeared him to a multitude of friends. How many who served with him in the army of the Potomac or who met him in his few brief intervals of recreation will mournfully remember his kind genial manner, his generous love of pleasure, his frank hearted hearing and gentle courtesy in act and word, long after the victory with which his name is connected shall have become a tradition in the land.