WALTON COUNTY. 583 



been persecuted sorely with an inward fever, ever since I left 

 the salubrious plains of Georgia. I can inform you, however, 

 that I am not too late for the great American question. Vir- 

 ginia is with one consent determined never to be reconciled to 

 her cruel parent, and to this end all her preparations and pro- 

 ceedings look forward to the latest posterity. Oh, America! 

 did this happy spirit equally animate all thy sons, the inhabit- 

 ants of all Europe transformed into devils could not hurt thee. 

 They have in this dominion nine regiments of as fine fellows 

 as ever vaunted in the field of Mars, besides a number of row- 

 galleys, and six troops of horse ; but I have not seen any 

 troops equal in point of discipline to the Georgia battalion. 

 May Heaven animate and direct the counsels of that infant 

 State ! Desirous for the success of your recruiting officers, I 

 found it eligible and necessary to wait on the Convention of 

 this colony, as I found it customary to apply for leave to re- 

 cruit men for any service here. Accordingly, I came to this 

 place, and found the Convention sitting, to whom I made ap- 

 plication to recruit 300 men for your battalion, which was 

 readily granted, together with the loan of a sum of money. 

 You may be assured, that the number of men you have order- 

 ed will be «nlisted, and on their march to Georgia in two 

 months." Mr. Walton was six times elected a representative 

 to Congress, and the journals of that body show his high 

 standing. His name is affixed to the Declaration of American 

 Independence. When Savannah was taken by the British 

 troops under Col. Campbell, he commanded a battalion on the 

 right of General Howe's army. In this battle he was wound- 

 ed and taken prisoner. He was paroled until he recovered 

 from his wound, and then transferred to Sunbury, as a prisoner 

 of war. In 1779 he was exchanged, and in October, 1779, he 

 was elected Governor of the State of Georgia. Many other 

 important offices were conferred upon him, among which was 

 that of Judge of the Superior Court, the duties of which he dis- 

 charged for fifteen years, and until the day of his death, which 

 took place in Augusta, February 2d, 1801. Mr. Walton, in a 

 letter which he wrote from Congress, complains " that for 

 want of information, the deeds of Georgia are given to others." 

 He seriously contemplated writing the History of Georgia 



