Bradley Winslow was born August 1, 1831 and at the age of 29 joined in the 35th New York Volunteer Infantry Company A, also known as the "Jefferson County Regiment." He enlisted as a lieutenant, on May 9, 1861 at Watertown, NY. Within a couple of months he was made lieutenant colonel and was at this rank until December 18, 1862 when he left the army due to illness. Before his departure he had participated in Pope's Virginia campaign, including the second battle of Bull Run.
In 1864, his health having been restored, Bradley Winslow again entered the service on August 22, 1864 at Hounsfield and on Sept. 28, of that year went to the front as colonel of the 186th New York Volunteer Infantry. At the head of his regiment he was engaged in the operations on the South Side railroad late in 1864. In February of the 1865 he took part in the movement to the Nootaway river and against Fort Mahone, one of the Petersburg defenses, on April 2, 1865. The regiment lost heavily in killed and wounded and Col. Winslow himself was struck in the abdomen by a bullet injuring him seriously. On April 9, 1865, the president, with the confirmation of the senate, conferred on him the honor of brevet brigadier general for "gallant and meritorious conduct in the assault before Petersburg, April 2, 1865." He was mustered out June 2, 1865 returning to his law practice. He died on October 24, 1914 in Watertown NY and is buried in Brookside cemetery, Watertown, NY.
Watertown Man Received a Brigadier Generalship by Brevet for Conspicuous Service Before Petersburg.
Congressman Luther W. Mott has introduced a bill in the house of representatives to place Brig-Gen. Bradley Winslow of this city on the retired list of the regular army as colonel. The bill was referred to the committee as military affairs. The retired pay of a colonel is $3,000 a year. Gen. Winslow had an active military career. At the breaking out of the war he was district attorney of Jefferson county, but turned his business over to others and entered the service as a lieutenant in the 35th New York volunteer infantry, the first regiment recruited in Jefferson county and known as the "Jefferson County Regiment." He was soon promoted to lieutenant colonel and served in that capacity until December, 1862, when he was forced to resign on account of ill health. With the 35th he participated in Pope's Virginia campaign, including the second battle of Bull Run.
In 1864, his health having been restored Gen. Winslow again entered the service and on Sept. 28 of that year went to the front as colonel of the 186th New York volunteer infantry. At the head of his regiment he was engaged in the operations on the South Side railroad late in 1864. In February of the next year he took part in the movement to the Nootaway river. During the sunset of the Confederacy Gen. Winslow led his regiment against Fort Mahone, one of the Petersburg defenses, April 2. His regiment was the first to enter the enemy's works and was highly complimented for its gallant charge by the brigade and division commanders. The regiment lost heavily in killed and wounded and Col. Winslow himself was struck in the abdomen by a bullet and for several days his life was despaired of. Brig. Gen. Simon G. Griffin in his report especially mentioned Col. Winslow for "brave and gallant conduct" and recommended him for promotion. On April 9, 1865, the president, withthe confirmation of the senate, conferred on him the honor of brevet brigadier general for "gallant and meritorious conduct in the assault before Petersburg, April 2, 1865." The regiment was mustered out in June and Gen. Winslow returned to civil life. He was offered a lieutenancy in the regular army, but declined the honor and again took up the practice of law. He has held various posts of honor since that time including mayor of Watertown in 1876, assemblyman and brigadier general of the New York National guard.
The resolutions, adopted by the Jefferson County Bar Association, upon the death of General Bradley Winslow,were presented in supreme court at the afternoon session today by a committee of the bar. A motion to have the resolutions spread upon the court minutes was granted by Justice Emerson. The resolutions were prepared and read by Attorney John Conboy of the committee, which was headed by Justice Pardon C. Williams and included Attorneys W. A. Nims and William W. Kelley. The resolutions in part follow:
General Bradley Winslow died in this city Oct. 24, 1914, at the age of 83 years. He was born about two miles from Watertown, Aug. 1, 1831, and was admitted to the bar in 1855. At the time of his death he was the oldest lawyer in Jefferson county. General Winslow was elected to the office of district attorney of Jefferson County in 1859 and continued in that office to May 13, 1861, about a month after the outbreak of the Civil War, when he resigned and enlisted in Company A, 35th regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry which was known as the "Jefferson County Regiment." He was mustered into the army June 11, 1861, as captain of the company and was later lieutenant colonel serving in that capacity until December, 1862, when he resigned on account of ill health. During that period he was engaged in the battles of Rappahannock Station Groveron, and in the second battle of Bull Run.
On Sept. 28, 1864, General Winslow again entered the service as colonel of the 186th New York Volunteers. At the head of his regiment he was engaged in the southside movement in October, 1864. In February, 1865, he led his command in the movement to Nottaway River and took a prominent part in the storming of Petersburg, where he was seriously wounded in the abdomen and narrowly escaped death. His wound was received while he was storming Fort Mahone, his regiment being the first to enter the enemy's works, and was highly complimented for its gallant charge. General Winslow was recommended for promotion and on April 9, 1865, the president of the United States, with the consent of the senate, conferred on him the honor of brevet brigadier general for 'gallant and meritorious conduct in the assault before Petersburg, Va., on April 2, 1865.
General Winslow's regiment was mustered out June 2, 1865, at which time he was offered a lieutenancy in the regular army, but declined and returned to Watertown, where he resumed the practice of the law. In the fall of 1865, he was again elected district attorney of Jefferson County, which office he held for three years. He was appointed by Governor Reuben E Fenton as brigadier general of the national guard and served in command of the 16th brigade for about six years. He was elected mayor of the city of Watertown in 1875 and held the offlce for one term He declined a re-election. In 1879 he was elected state senator from this district and served for two years. Later he conducted The Northern New York Republican, a semi-weekly Republican paper published in Watertown. and at the same time continued in the practice of the law.
General Winslow waa a charter member of the G A R. and continued as a member until his death. On several occasions he held high office in the organization. He was a member of Joe Spratt Post, No. 323 G. A. R. at Watertown and served three terms as it's commander. He was president of the Jefferson County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Association at the time of his death.
"P. C. Williams.
"W. A. Nims.
"John Conboy.
"William W. Kelley
Sources
Newspaper - WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES - Saturday, December 14, 1913
Newspaper - WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES - Monday, January 4, 1915
Jefferson County Gen Web, US Civil War Service Records, for Bradley Winslow
Jefferson County Gen Web, Burial Records for Brookside Cemetery, Watertown, NY
Return to Jefferson County Civil War Index page
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