Lachlin McIntosh was the commander of the first regiment raised in Georgia to aid in the Revolution.  In 1777, a difficulty arose between Button Gwinnett (who, upon the death of Governor Bullock, had succeeded him as Governor,) and McIntosh.  A duel was the consequence, in which Gwinnett was killed.  Tradition says this difficulty grew out of the suspicions of McIntosh as to the fidelity of Gwinnett to the American cause.  He was an Englishman by birth, and, upon the breaking out of the war, hesitated for some time as to the course he should pursue.  This was a time when all who hesitated were suspected, and Gwinnett shared the common fate.  Eventually he determined to espouse the revolutionary party, and was elected to the Convention, and was one of the immortal band who signed the Declaration of Independence emanating from that Convention.  Until his death he was faithful and active.  McIntosh doubted him, and he was not a man to conceal his opinions.  McIntosh was severely wounded in the conflict.

This family was one of remarkable spirit; and this has descended to the posterity of the old cavaliers even unto this day.  Colonel McIntosh, who fell at Molino del Rey, in our recent war with Mexico, was one of this family.  He had all the spirit and chivalry of his ancestors.  I remember to have heard Generals Taylor and Twiggs speaking of him subsequently to his death, and felt proud, as a native of the State of Georgia, of the distinguished praise bestowed on him by these gallant veterans.  General Taylor was not generally enthusiastic in his expressions of praise, but he was always sincere and truthful.  On this occasion, however, he spoke warmly and feelingly of the honor, the gallantry, and intrepidity of his fellow-soldier—­his high bearing, his pride, his proficiency as an officer in the field, and the efficiency of his regiment, its perfection of drill and discipline, and coolness in battle—­and, with unusual warmth, exclaimed:  “If I had had with me at Buena Vista, McIntosh and Riley, with their veterans, I would have captured or totally destroyed the Mexican army.”

Captain McIntosh, of the navy, was another of this distinguished family.  He had no superior in the navy.  So was that ardent and accomplished officer, Colonel McIntosh, who fell at Oak Hill, in the late war in Missouri.  In truth, there has not been a day in one hundred and thirty years, when there has not been a distinguished son of this family to bear and transmit its name and fame to posterity.  Through his mother, to George M. Troup descended all the nobler traits of the McIntosh family.  He was educated, preparatory to entering college, at Flatbush, Long Island.  His teacher’s name I have forgotten, but he was a remarkable man, and devoted himself to the instruction of the youth intrusted to his care.  He seems to have had a peculiar talent for inspiring a high order of ambition in his pupils, and of training them to a deportment and devotion to principle which would lead them to distinguished conduct through life.  Governor Troup, in speaking to the writer of his early life and of his school-days on Long Island, said:  “There were twenty-one of us at this school fitting for college, and, in after life, nineteen of us met in Congress, the representatives of fourteen States.”