Greer and Vinsinger Family Collection of American Revolutionary War Documents
These twelve letters and two documents (created in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 12th Congress) are addressed to or refer to Colonel Anthony Walton White. The earlier letters are personal or military correspondence, while the later materials document White's efforts to reclaim part of his lost fortune and to have a memorial in his name. White's correspondents include Sir Banastre Tarleton, Edward Rutledge, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, Horatio Gates, Alexander Hamilton, Peter Muhlenberg, George Washington, and Henry Knox.
This collection also includes two letters that James Buchanan wrote from the Department of State to or about John C. Pedrick, Esq. The first letter is addressed to Pedrick in his capacity of U.S. Consul at the Rio Grande. The second letter is addressed to Pedrick's father and discusses Pedrick's career.
Dates
- 1777 June 19-1845 August 29
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
These twelve letters and two documents (created in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 12th Congress) are addressed to or refer to Colonel Anthony Walton White. The earlier letters are personal or military correspondence, while the later materials document White's efforts to reclaim part of his lost fortune and to have a memorial in his name. White's correspondents include Sir Banastre Tarleton, Edward Rutledge, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, Horatio Gates, Alexander Hamilton, Peter Muhlenberg, George Washington, and Henry Knox.
Biographical/Historical Note
Colonel Anthony Walton White (July 7, 1750–February 10, 1803) was the son of Anthony White and Elizabeth Morris (daughter of Lewis Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence for the state of New York and a general of the New York Militia during the Revolutionary War). His father served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army during the French and Indian War but both he and his son subsequently supported American independence.
Anthony Walton White was named an aide to General Washington in 1775, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1777, and received his appointment as Colonel in 1780. In that year, he outfitted two regiments with his own funds and on his personal credit and joined General Gates in the southern campaigns, where he saw action at Lenud’s Ferry (May 06, 1780) and Waxhaws (May 29, 1780), South Carolina. While serving under General Lafayette, he skirmished against the famed British commander Colonel Tarleton. He went on to serve in the Carolinas under General Wayne.
His personal estate ruined by financing his troops, Colonel White sought reimbursement from the federal government during Washington’s administration, but Congress failed to act upon his claims. He returned briefly to the military in 1794 as a General of Cavalry and helped to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, but thereafter retired to New Jersey where he lived the rest of his life in poverty.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single box. Items are arranged in chronological order.
Acquisition Note
This collection is on loan to Special Collections.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository