Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

498 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
of the new battalion lately organized in Georgia for service in the Conti
nental army.
Mclnto'sh was the successful candidate. Later, on the death of Archi
bald Bulloch, who was then president of the Executive Council, Gwin-
nett succeeded to the helm of civil affairs in Georgia; and, while acting
in this capacity, he planned an expedition against St. Augustine, which
he expected to command in person, ignoring General Mclntosh. At the
same time, in various other ways, he evinced his hostility toward his
former rival and sought to magnify the civil at the expense of the mili
tary department of the State Government.
But the projected advance on St. Augustine failed to materialize.
Moreover, in the first election for governor by the State Legislature,
held on May 8, 1777, Gwinnett, an avowed candidate for the office, was
defeated by John Adam Treutlen, who, by virtue of his election at this
time, became the first governor of Georgia under the Constitution.
Gwinnett was naturally chagrined at his defeat. On the other hand,
Mclntosh was elated; and, with, the bluntness of the Scotch Highlander
he not only expressed his gratification at the result but went so far as
to denounce Gwinnett as a scoundrel, in the presence of the Executive
Council. This open insult was more than the imperious nature of Gwin
nett could endure and, chafing already under his disappointment, he at
once challenged Mclntosh to mortal combat.
Preliminaries were arranged and at daybreak next morning they met
on the outskirts of Savannah. At a distance of only twelve feet apart,
they exchanged pistol shots and both fell to the ground. It was dis
covered on examination that each was wounded in the thigh. Mclntosh
recovered. But Gwinnett's wound proved fatal; and, after lingering in
great pain for twelve days, he expired: the first known victim in Georgia
to the Code of Honor.
Excitement in Georgia ran high. As a signer of the Declaration of
Independence, Gwinnett was much revered by the people, notwithstand
ing his impetuosity of temper. Dr. Lyman Hall, a former colleague in
Congress, who signed the scroll of independence with Gwinnett, brought
the matter before the Legislature and accused the judicial officers of
criminal neglect in not ordering Mclutosh's arrest. At this critical mo
ment, Mclntosh, of his own accord, surrendered himself to the civil
authorities.
But the Gwinnett faction was not appeased. In the face of a com
mon enemy, Georgia was threatened with a serious division in her
ranks. To avoid a rupture of the state, at a time when the cause of
liberty called for a solid phalanx, Col. George Walton, of Georgia, and
Col. Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, both members of Congress, act
ing as friends of Mclntosh, obtained for him a command in the northern
department; and thus an embarrassing situation was relieved. With his
transfer .to the northern department, Mclntosh gradually rose to high
rank and won by his gallantry the personal friendship and esteem of
Washington.
Later he returned to Georgia in time to participate in the defense of
Savannah. There was no longer any feeling of animosity toward him