CIVIL WAR SHARPSHOOTER COLONEL WILLIAM W WINTHROP SGD CIRCULAR 1863 For Sale

Colonel William Winthrop was a distinguished son of Massachusetts and brother of Theodore Winthorp, remembered as one of the first Union officers killed in the War (at Big Bethel, Va- William retrieved his body) ). Colonel William Winthrop enlisted a a private in the 7th New York, but was soon commissioned into H Company of the 1st US Sharpshooters, serving 1861-1864 under Colonel Hiram Berdan. A noted sharpshooter he is cited throughout the standard History of the US Sharpshooters. An Original Civil War Circular from HQ, 1st Division of the 6th Army Corps, April 15, 1863, ordering all papers sent to the HQ be properly endorsed, (issued just a few months before the Sharpshooters fought at the Battle of Gettysburg). 1p 8 x 10 " on light tan lined paper, with red ink note forwarding the Circular from Winthrop to Colonel Upton (Emory Upton) of the 121st NY. Comes w service info- William Winthrop finished the War as Major, in 1864 when the unit was mustered out. US Sharpshooters wearing distinctive green uniforms were selected based on rigorous shooting skills, requiring cool nerves and a keen eye. , and were armed with Sharps and Whitworth Rifles, suffered heavy casualties during the War. Postwar Colonel Winthrop was a noted author and authority on US Military Law.