Walton, George, 1740-1804 to Benjamin Lincoln
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01019 Author/Creator: Walton, George, 1740-1804 Place Written: Sunbury, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: September 1779 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 30.5 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Colonel in the First Georgia Battalion who was severely wounded and captured during the Battle of Savannah in December 1778, to Lincoln as commander of the Southern Department. Walton sent Major Habersaw to British General Augustine Prevost to request relief for American prisoners in Sunbury, but Habershaw was denied entry into Savannah. In response, Major Lane was sent with this letter to Lincoln to request relief. Hopes the prisoners can be exchanged for British prisoners or made prisoners at large in America. Says that the prisoners have been threatened with massacre by Indians, under the pretense of being armed. Says "it is the most earnest desire of the prisoners to be at liberty." Also claims that provisions are running low. Walton was exchanged for a naval captain shortly after this was written and was elected Governor of Georgia in November 1779.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.