Lawton favored Georgia's secession and became colonel of the 1st Georgia Volunteers whom he led at the capture of Fort Pulaski, Ga.

He was very severely wounded at the Battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland in 1862

(1818-96) Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, he was the brother-in-law of Confederate General Edward Porter Alexander who commanded General Lee's artillery at Gettysburg. He graduated in the West Point class of 1839, and served in the 1st U.S. Artillery. His antebellum career saw him as the president of the Augusta & Savannah Railroad, and as a representative in both houses of the Georgia legislature. Lawton struck the first blow for independence in Georgia by leading the Georgia troops that captured Fort Pulaski, and he then commanded the forces that guarded the Georgia seacoast before being sent to fight in Virginia. He was promoted to brigadier general on April 13, 1861. General Lawton had an excellent battle record with the Army of Northern Virginia seeing action in General Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign, in the Seven Days battles, at the 2nd Battle of Manassas, and at the Battle of Sharpsburg where he was very severely wounded. He was carried from the field to a temporary hospital, and spent months at home recuperating. When he returned to the field he was placed in command of the Quartermaster General's Department, serving in that position from 1863-65. He rendered very distinguished service while bringing much energy and resourcefulness to a position that was quite a difficult one for the Confederate army with their shortage of material, and the poorly regulated railroads in the South. After the war he practiced law in Savannah and became an important figure in politics being a member of the Georgia legislature, chairman of the state electoral commission, leader of the Georgia delegation at the Democratic National Convention, and minister to Austria. He was chosen as the President of the American Bar Association in 1882. Lawton died in Clifton Springs, New York, on July 2, 1896. He is buried in Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia.

Card Signature With Sentiment & Date: 4 x 2 1/2, in ink, I sign as requested, A.R. Lawton, April 13, 1885. Beautifully written. Choice condition.