civil_war

Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel

early engagement at Big Bethel
Connecticut
Era
civil_war
Date
early engagement at Big Bethel
Location
Connecticut
Type
battle

What happened

New Haven's Theodore Winthrop was one of the first officers killed in the Civil War, dying in an early engagement at Big Bethel in western Virginia.

People involved

When this happened

Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel occurred in early engagement at Big Bethel, during the civil_war period of American history.

Where this happened

Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel took place in Connecticut. Explore the full history of Connecticut and primary source records from this era.

Historical context — civil_war

The American Civil War (1861–1865) was the deadliest conflict in American history, killing an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers and an unknown number of civilians. The Confederate States of America, formed by eleven seceding Southern states, faced the Union in four years of warfare across 23 states and territories. Major engagements included First and Second Bull Run, Antietam (the bloodiest single day in American history, September 17, 1862), Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), Vicksburg (surrendered July 4, 1863), and Sherman's March through Georgia and the Carolinas (1864–1865). President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, transforming the war's stated purpose to include the abolition of slavery and enabling the enlistment of approximately 180,000 Black men in the United States Colored Troops. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. The war resolved the question of secession and ended American slavery, though Reconstruction would face sustained resistance in its attempt to secure civil rights for formerly enslaved people.

Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia: Military recruitment and participation.

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This page covers Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel. A full Aubrey report on Connecticut pulls together this event alongside land records, conflicts, and everything else the historical record holds about the area:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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About Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel

What was Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel?
New Haven's Theodore Winthrop was one of the first officers killed in the Civil War, dying in an early engagement at Big Bethel in western Virginia.
When did Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel happen?
Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel occurred in early engagement at Big Bethel.
Where did Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel take place?
Theodore Winthrop Killed at Big Bethel took place in Connecticut.

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