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细节
McINTOSH, Lachlan (1725-1806). Autograph letter signed ("L. M. B.G.") to an unnamed recipient, Savannah, 30 July 1777.
One page, 125 x 205mm (loss at top margin infilled).
Only months after killing Signer Button Gwinnett in a duel, Lachlan McIntosh sends a letter of introduction for "Capt. Middleton." Middleton was headed north to "Philadelphia & the Grand Armey" to "represent" certain "Matters to congress & General Washington." The exact nature of the aforementioned "matters" is unknown, but six days after McIntosh sent this letter, Signer George Walton wrote to George Washington observing that the Commander-in-Chief's request to have McIntosh transferred to the north had been initially resisted "because it was feared it might derange the Army, or that you would have no command for him." Walton added that he feared for McIntosh's safety noting that he "had lately fought a Duel with Governor Gwinnett" and "was afraid the friends of the deceased, made sore by the loss of their principal, would again blow up the embers of party & dissention, and disturb the harmony & vigour of the Civil & military authorities" (Walton to Washington, 5 August 1777).
McIntosh and Gwinnett fought their duel 16 May 1777, after a clash stemming from McIntosh's refusal to send Continental troops to reinforce Gwinnet's attempt to take East Florida. McIntosh's letter reveals some clues as to why he had initially refused, writing that "our second & third regiments to the Westward, on acct. of their health, as they were unseasoned & grown very sickly". It would be reasonable to assume if these were the same regiments that McIntosh refused to send to reinforce Gwinnett, their "unseasoned" status would have been a liability in the muggy swamps around St. Augustine.
One page, 125 x 205mm (loss at top margin infilled).
Only months after killing Signer Button Gwinnett in a duel, Lachlan McIntosh sends a letter of introduction for "Capt. Middleton." Middleton was headed north to "Philadelphia & the Grand Armey" to "represent" certain "Matters to congress & General Washington." The exact nature of the aforementioned "matters" is unknown, but six days after McIntosh sent this letter, Signer George Walton wrote to George Washington observing that the Commander-in-Chief's request to have McIntosh transferred to the north had been initially resisted "because it was feared it might derange the Army, or that you would have no command for him." Walton added that he feared for McIntosh's safety noting that he "had lately fought a Duel with Governor Gwinnett" and "was afraid the friends of the deceased, made sore by the loss of their principal, would again blow up the embers of party & dissention, and disturb the harmony & vigour of the Civil & military authorities" (Walton to Washington, 5 August 1777).
McIntosh and Gwinnett fought their duel 16 May 1777, after a clash stemming from McIntosh's refusal to send Continental troops to reinforce Gwinnet's attempt to take East Florida. McIntosh's letter reveals some clues as to why he had initially refused, writing that "our second & third regiments to the Westward, on acct. of their health, as they were unseasoned & grown very sickly". It would be reasonable to assume if these were the same regiments that McIntosh refused to send to reinforce Gwinnett, their "unseasoned" status would have been a liability in the muggy swamps around St. Augustine.