Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/White, Anthony Walton

WHITE, Anthony Walton, soldier, b. in New Brunswick, N. J., 7 July, 1750; d. there, 10 Feb., 1803. He was descended from Anthony White, a royalist, who, after the execution of Charles I., removed to Bermuda and became Connected with the government of the islands, of which his son, Anthony, and grandson, Leonard, were chief justices. Leonard's son, Anthony, removed to this country and married Elizabeth, daughter of Gov. Lewis Morris, of New Jersey. Their son, Anthony Walton, received his education under the immediate direction of his father, who was a man of great wealth and the holder of several important offices. Until the age of twenty-five his time was employed in study and in assisting his father in the management of his large estates. In October. 1775, he obtained a commission as major and aide-de-camp to Gen. Washington. On 9 Feb., 1776, he was commissioned by congress as lieutenant-colonel of the 3d battalion of New Jersey troops, and he was actively engaged in the service at the north till 1780, being successively appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 4th regiment of light dragoons in the Continental army, 13 Feb., 1777, lieutenant-colonel commandant of the 1st regiment, 10 Dec, 1779, and colonel, 16 Feb., 1780. At this time he was ordered by Washington to take command of all the cavalry in the southern army, and upon his own personal credit equipped two regiments, with which to operate against Lord Cornwallis in South Carolina. On 6 May, 1780, with the remnant of Maj. Benjamin Huger's cavalry, he crossed Santee river and captured a small party of British ; but while waiting at Lanneau's ferry to recross the river he was surprised and defeated by Col. Bannastre Tarleton, and he and many of his troops were taken prisoners. In 1781 he was ordered to join the army under Lafayette in Virginia, and on his march to that state had several successful encounters with Col. Tarleton. He was present with Gen. Anthony Wayne in the movement of that commander before Savannah on 21 May, 1782 ; and, on the evacuation of that place, returned to Charleston, S. G, where he became security for the debts of the officers and men of his regiments, who were in want of almost all the necessaries of life. These debts he was subsequently obliged to pay at enormous sacrifices of his own property, and, on returning to the north at the close of the war, his financial ruin was completed by entering into speculation at the persuasion of military friends. In 1793 he removed from New, York, where he had resided for about ten years, to his native town, and in the following year was appointed by President Washington general of cavalry in the expedition against the western insurgents. Gen. White died at a comparatively early age, and was buried in the grounds of Christ church, in his native place. See " Memoir of Brig.-Gen. Anthony Walton White," by Anna M. W. Woodhull (Newark. 1882).