>> next on american history tv, historian damien cordial, talks about alexander hamilton's military career and his relationship with george washington. -- the site of washington's 1780 headquarters hosted this event. >> welcome to the dime mansion, washington's headquarters. i am so happy to see all of you here and joining us today for this program. if you have not been here before, definitely after today, please stay and take a tour with our staff, and just before

i kind of introduce our investigators today. just a few rules or if you, you know, kind of bits of information, we do have a light refreshments for you in the kitchen. so there is coffee, tea, cheese, crackers, cookies please feel free to get up and take what you like. restrooms are in this building, so you do not have to go to the visitor center. they are also in the kitchen, through the door. open it, the restrooms are over there. our staff today, we have can who's in the back there, and we have kelly so i'm not sure where he's hiding at this moment. and then you have myself. i'm the director of the department of foreign affairs for the county -- and by the fact i'm the director of this site. so, again, we are fortunate to have a guest speaker and historian damian craig now to share his knowledge and his expertise on alexander hamilton and his rise to military fame and glory. so mr. damien cregeau graduated

from heels dale college, with a bachelors degree from colorado state university for a masters degree in history. mr. damien cregeau has been an independent historian researching writing and giving presentations throughout the northeast since 2007. he's a scholar of the american revolution, during including espionage during the war, and publisher struggle features in magazines, the journal of the u.s., as well as the american spirit. financial history and the american revolution. he's given presentations on espionage in the revolution to such groups as the north jersey revolutionary war matt roundtable and morristown. and he's actually been here before in 2017 with another wonderful presentation. the summit, francis tavern -- and the fbi museum new york office. the fbi's new york office. mr. damien cregeau is a longtime resident of summit, new jersey.

he and his wife was here today in the front or long time reenactor's and they own two houses in connecticut dating from 1865. one belong to a private in the war, the other belong to three brothers, each of whom became generals as well as owners of the houses. so, without further ado, damien cregeau, thank you. >> wonderful to have all of you here today. i was joking earlier, we have our flanking maneuvers left and right flank, in our adjoining rooms looking like the battle of -- so, wonderful to have everyone packed into our room that meets the 18th century converging with the 21st century. we could be high tech about this. and i feel much the same as does my wife because i've been both a long time reenactor, you can see me dressed as an officer, captain in the u.s. army with the epileptic there on my shoulder. i have reenacted the battle --

in sweltering heat, like today. and there i am speaking twice for the alexander hamilton awareness society of which i am a member. i have spoken twice as alexander hamilton's grave, which of course is a trinity church in downtown manhattan. a very challenging place to speak when you are dealing with construction noise and traffic. [laughs] i wanted to briefly say, and ice connection. a return article one time called the six degrees of alexander hamilton and the huntington's of norwich. you can read that on the oz website. and that is because my -- we own the house in norwich. the house is of course pictured on the left. there is his portrait based on this miniature painting by john -- the famous painter and his brother in law. because we married faith trumbull daughter in connecticut. and her famous younger brother, the painter. and then those are jaded eyes epithets on the right.

they went to auction -- we are looking at something else. we got blown out of the water, 26,000 dollars for a pair of a bullets. okay. [laughs] the hamilton we know. there's so little that we know. there's so much in which we focus on his accomplishments as treasury secretary for the infamous dual. it's kind of like the titanic, we know how the story ends, he gets killed by aaron burr. and then a few other things, the so-called rumors about scandals, so forth. and a little bit about his military accomplishments. so that is what i am focusing on today because that will be, something that will not. now so jon trumbull, i should mention in passing that like alexander hamilton, john trumbull also served as an aide to general george washington during the revolution. he served at the shortest. he was there for about three weeks. he's very talented artist during the siege of boston. so, this is his portrait which of course was used for the ten dollar bill.

there's a lot more to him than just that head, isn't? they're there is the entire full length portrait which ironically sits in new york city hall. that my wife and i had the permission from city home to reproduce to hang in our house. and i hope that is what you take away from today, is an amazing appreciation for the incredible accomplishments that alexander hamilton took, in his very roles as military commander. not just as an aide to washington, that's a heavy portion of it. but you're gonna see a lot more than that. starts out as a captain. and then he is later lieutenant colonel. this is probably, i'd say, one of the best known portraits of hamilton in the military uniform, during the american revolution, alexander hamilton in the -- new york artillery by alonzo chapel. there is one problem. he's not dressed as an artillery officer, he's actually dressed, i know that this is reenactor in the revolution, that hat is the hat of light infantry officer at yorktown late in the war, okay? but certainly in the uniform is very similar to the ones that he's wearing when he was in the

artillery. this is the portion you've probably not seen. how many of you, raise your hands, know that hamilton towards the end of his life was the major general in the u.s. army? i would not expect many hands, and that is the about number i expect. about four, yeah. and it is by william weaver, struck her 1800. here he is. and we will get to that story in a little bit towards the end. there is someone else, like alexander hamilton who comes from humble beginnings. he grows up on a remote island, where he comes to the mainland, starts out as an artillery officer, and becomes an incredibly famous military leader. that of course is napoleon bonaparte. so, there's an interesting comparison that you can make between those two, which i like to do as a military historian. it was the quickest way that you could rise in the military ranks. it's like if you're a baseball fan, like i am. if you want to get to the majors quickly, do it like -- get drafted as a catcher. you will make it to the majors. young hamilton, what do we know about him before we get to military career?

i just want to give a little bit of a warm-up. not a whole lot in terms of his illustration. on the left, we have something to liken him to, it's not in color. hard to find things in color. it's attributed to hamilton. we have no proof that it is, there's a little provenance of that. we also don't know who the painter is. it just is simply attributed to hamilton as the subject of course as a teenager, born on -- and raised and working for a merchant at st. cola, wonderful marching -- his mother rachel was a wonderful woman. a wonderful role model. rachel was a bright woman who, in her day, was quite rare. and had quite a large collection of books. so, you should be aware of what inspiration she was to him and his learning. he became a bookworm, like her. on the right is a much more documented painting by charles wilson peel that my wife and i have held, it is at the columbia -- books. they no longer show that because of the popularity of the musical. we no longer have the access

they told us were allowed to have a decade ago. it was wonderful to get to see that, hold wedding rings, and other implements. but those are some of the personal items that they have. and they are precious. i thought maybe some of these guys might show up today, some friends of mine running an organization called the hearts of oak. this was alexander hamilton's first military organization. started out known as the -- . it gets renamed the hearts of oak. and it says on the cap liberty or death. beautiful or unusual light green uniforms. this is from their facebook page. and from the center photo, you can see the grange there. hamilton's estate in upper manhattan. and the hearts of oak where did he train? in the churchyard of st. paul

chapel on broadway. i don't know how you do that without multiple tripping hazards. the church has been there a long time. there were plenty of headstones maine have made of wood. but that's where they trained. if you've not been there, i suggest you do. it's a sight of the first memorial. that's general montgomery who was killed ahead of his time, in the attack on quebec city. and then franklin felt so guilty about that that he wanted to have this elaborate memorial put up for him there. you can see that in front of the church. now was this the first meeting of george washington and alexander hamilton? i am talking about the story that they met at four bunker hill on beards hill in lower manhattan of april the 1776. maybe they met their maybe they didn't but it's more likely

they met later during washington's organized retreat the. but this is possible. there's been some possible leave that but bayard's hill is the highest point at that point in lower manhattan. unfortunately manhattan contours have changed and we've lost our hills and dales. but you won't know where bayard's hill is now but i'll show it to you on a map in just a minute. but hamilton's artillery unit does fire on two british ships. the hms phoenix, and hms rose. that was july 12th 1776. we're talking a week after the declaration of independence has been red by washington's to the troops in lower manhattan. hms rose was a fascinating ship,

it was used in the wealthy master and commander. okay hamilton and burr. it is likely that they covered washington's retreat. yes greenwich village, was a separate village at one point. bloomingdales was a separate residential area. manhattan is that little tip. new york city rather. we just don't have substantial proof of it okay. this wonderful high resolution map which i wish i had time to blow up, shows the location of but bayard's hill which is right there. that was the fort bunker hail that was used by alexander hamilton and his artillery. now another question comes up. was hamilton in the battle of white plains? probably not. the thanks my friend michael newton who is also speaking

today at another location, michael is a scholar of alexander hamilton and has written not one but two books on hamilton. hamilton the formative years, and discovering hamilton. and what he was able to find with evidence, is that nine tenths of the artillery were not at the battle of white tank of white plains. so there was a good chance hamilton was not there. but neither henry knox or george washington mentioned hamilton or his unit by name. now this we do know for sure. this hamilton his first full fledged combat, it's not just shooting near the river and a cannon explodes this is full combat now. as the grandson of a artillery officer, my grandfather was not position i can appreciate how difficult this mother must of been. and he was at queens college

campus. the like did you know that colombia was formally known as kings college. and that's where hamilton would've graduated from the if or not bra broken out. it was during one of the reunions that i saw this beautiful plaque here that says on the campus from the class of 1899, early december some 1876 alexander camel town not a graduate of kings college the. the he delayed the advance of the british across the river while washington withdrew through princeton to trenton. that is true there are multiple eyewitness reports saying that hamilton's artillery unit slow down the advancement of the british forces there. that's right where my wife rode every morning. i love to make references to the local stuff.

the hamilton also found american industry just west of patterson falls. washington crossing the dover. famous scene. on christmas night december 25th into the morning of the 26. a life large size painting. here's the realistic one that came out much more recently. that was in 2011 and it debuted at the new york historical society. it was at night time, it was a different kind of craft. the not good weather. in another painting by another painter. who is now retired. this was one of the last painter paintings he did. victory or death. it's hamilton and washington and others. including the future president at the time which was james monroe. and there they are for the battle of trenton. they're trudging through the ice and snow.

you can imagine how cold they must have felt. hamilton's artillery was at both battles of trenton. we hear the battle of trenton. so what do we mean the battles. it's like there's two battles at saratoga, there were two at trenton. the second one is not as famous. the i'm showing that in a sketch, unfortunately it's not a colored drawing. it's there on the right. it is well documented that hamilton, much like he did at brunswick, uses his cannon fire to deliver withering fire on the british. and this is a well documented battle that gets over shadowed by the surprise battle at truncheon that happens a few days later. and also the the other attack which happens at the battle of princeton. hamilton yes is somewhere in the battle of princeton but we don't know where. there's no evidence but it

tells a great story that he fires a cannon at nasa hall and decapitate's picking george the third who's painting is hanging on the wall. there's no evidence of this though. but it's a good story. now this is true, there were offers not from one or two but from three very well known generals in the american revolution at the time. but the one on the left is the one you may not have heard of but many of you from new jersey so if you have, it's general william alexander. and also known as lord sterling. who was buried close to alexander hamilton at trinity church. he was not even marked. he has the family of stone there, but my friend follow-up my suggestion to point that out and to mark him. an incredibly brave general. he was in the battle of new

york and the battle of -- . and he live not far from here. he had a huge state, the only reason we don't remember him because his house burned down. but we have that state park there. to so he re-receives an offer from these generals to come be his aid. and alexander hamilton says thanks but no thanks. so what does he yearn for? battlefield command. he doesn't want to take a desk job he's worried he won't rise as quickly. he doesn't achieve the prestige as quickly as he would is if he were on the battlefield. the and we know it's going to end with yorktown. he will achieve that in battle. in the meantime, someone name george washington comes along. that's an offer he can't refuse. he still takes a month to think it over. he's like a good attorney. and he does become an attorney later. he's like let me think about this. let's sleeper a few weeks think it over.

so he finally says yes. washington did in january of 1777 had invited him for dinner and i think he was convinced. this is going to be well worth it. so our first proof of this agreement is washington's orders of march 1st 1777, it reads headquarters, morristown, hamilton is the commander and chief and is to be respected and obeyed as such. what >> you are going to hear also about scandal later. you can find transcriptions like this letter on the top library of congress's website. and also there's the washington papers. that's house by them. and the transcriptions are at the founders archives dot org. a lot of authors will say this is happening when hamilton's 22 years old. he's actually 20. they've been able to prove that alexander hamilton was not born

in 55 but in 57. so he's 20 years old. so think about where you were at 20, were you helping washington as his chief of staff? but could you have risen in battle as many times he did? he is the youngest by far most of them are in their early thirties. note to there was a lot of turnover of 32. there's a wonderful book about washington's 32 aides to camp. i recommend it. he serves as an aide to washington from 1777 to april of 1881. 1781 it's a colorful stretch. to filled with peaks and valleys. washington at that point, in the winter of 77 has headquarters not far from here. but the tavern on the green. arnold's tavern on the green in morristown. there's a sign there for it as you know if you've been there,

unfortunately arnold's tavern broke down in 1918 in a fire. washington originally had five eighths or secretaries. secretaries were probably doing most of the writing kind of thing but aides were doing writing but there's no proof of this but my assumption would be that when washington was distinguishing between a secretary and an aide, the aid might have more varied activities. with the secretaries can probably stay back at headquarters. but and that's probably how the labor split up. most of the time there were seven. could you imagine seven of them sleeping or sitting in the same room. it must have been an incredible challenge for all of them. the typical task as i mentioned was writing copy or letters for washington. copious is an understatement. copious amounts of writing in letters. they were often dictated by

washington to his aides including hamilton. two so now i just will go and get a refresher, so you have some aides. to his excellency george washington. he was fond of them. and one became a stepson. the three aides would be alexander hamilton, david humphrey's of connecticut. he's in the center. on the right a composite of george washington, lafayette, and tension till men. he's the three of those aides. you probably least likely heard of till men. he was a talented man but unfortunately he died in 1786. he died quite young. that's unfortunate. here is a blowup of that painting. and this hangs at the marlins state house.

washington, lafayette and tilden. another interesting thing is the three officers standing on morristown green, and we're talking about this statue and it represents lafayette on the left, the five foot seven hamilton in the middle, and the ever so tall giraffe like george washington on the right. was george 63? no he was probably more like six foot one like myself. to there's been some new scholarship on his height. one of the things that gets overlooked is his provisions mission into philadelphia. it gets overshadowed by better field actions. and we have to feed the army if they're going to go anywhere they have to march on their stomach. you know you have to feed them. so slates of timber 77, and hamilton's sent by washington and other officers to go on

horseback and to go into downtown philadelphia and gather as many horses, general supplies that you can think of food basically. clothing and blankets and the city of philadelphia. why? because they know that they're going to lose the city to the british. they decided they're not gonna put up a fight or defend the city itself as the british come down in a larger force. so, they will stay out towards white marsh, and eventually valley forge, and receive supplies there. it is key and hamilton's handling of the special operation is his discretion. it does not take the supplies willy-nilly from everyone. if you are poor and you rely on your horse for transportation, he does not take the horse. if you are one of those families whose a strong patriot rather than a loyalist and you are planning on evacuating a little you can put on a horse before the british come in to the city. he doesn't take from those people either. that discretion is quite

telling. there are so many times in which i think we get overshadowed of later life and supposed scandals, many which by the way were refuted to not realize how kind hearted a man, a gentleman hamilton was. and this mission, as you can figure out obviously, really helped the state of the continental army during the winter came, particularly the blankets. another mission that gets over showered. the emissary trip. he sends the official representative of george washington in late fall of 1777. and he will serve as washington's proxy, leave the philadelphia region, and go all the way up, it's gonna take him weeks to get their. but washington needs his three brigades back. he had lent three brigades to horatio gates. in upstate new york earlier that year. washington needs them back. and i'd like to have among them daniel morgan's riflemen. this mission will take a while. it takes most of november, into december. when hamilton meets gates, it's

in albany. he's up in saratoga at that point because of course the battle is over. he is glowing in the aftermath of the victory. he's a 20-year-old aide who was born on an island. he's dealing with someone in gates who is well established in new england and north eastern aristocracy who is very powerful. old enough to be his dad, and is a two star general. do you think he wants to hear from a 20 year old colonel that washington would like three brigades back? does gates have any respect for george washington for that matter? no. not at all. so, much like some of the politics that we all witnessed or participated in modern times, there's politics in that time around the military. alexander hamilton's first attempts are fruitless. they are futile. he finally decides, he's been duped. when gates says, okay fine, you can have patterson's brigade.

he looks at patterson's brigade and says, it is way under strife. he does the detective work and albany, finds the days. patterson's brigade has already been wiped out at the saratoga campaign, there's been huge attrition numbers. that isn't even a full strength brigade. he is deep in me, calling me. so, he puts in both writing as an impertinent person face to face, he did exchanges to gates who finally reliance after weeks. he says fine, i will finally relent to washington's demands. and it shows how much trust that hamilton received from washington to go on this mission. similarly, after he meets with gates he then has to meet with an equally incorrigible israel bottom, and all-time are, old pot. a hero of the battle of bunker hill. he does not want to listen -- putnam is good enough to be his grandfather. because putnam is in his sixties. he's, like now i'm not giving up my soldiers.

he will eventually relent to hamilton's strong demands. hamilton knows when he has to turn the screws a little bit. it's for that reason we can have this quote here for my friend michael newton who reads, quote. my grandson hamilton discretion in his mission, washington left the entire course of the war, and possibly the outcome in the hands of his youngest aide. hamilton had already earned washington's complete trust. that's from page 2:20 with the formative years. george washington hadn't won it saratoga. he basically lost at the battle of germantown outside philadelphia earlier that fall in the same time period. at that point, gates is getting all of the rave success which he did not deserve by the way. it should be stivers, arnold's, chris goes, morgan's. but gates will take the fame. the rivals, the critics from

washington, include dr. benjamin russia, the famous doctor outside to philadelphia. and many other powerful people like john adams. and these three individuals are seen as the three who have the ear of washington. and rush says that i think they're actually ruled by generals green, and colonel hamilton. why do i want to mention the three of them look at him being just a 20-year-old, eight he's already seen as influential as to senior generals in the american revolution. that says a lot about alexander hamilton's leadership ability and the confidence that washington placed upon him. we all know the journal story of valley forge. here is washington's headquarters at valley forge. it is the isaac pots he was a wealthy quaker, who lived in philadelphia most of the time. this is his summer house. so, it only has one working fireplace in the main part of the house, built in 1773 and washington any so-called family. his family were his eighth and secretaries, okay.

not literally biological family. but those who are living with him day in and day out from sunrise to sundown working together. and they will live at isaac pots house for sometime longer than anywhere in december 77 to june of 88. aside from the has brick house later in the war which of course is up in newport new york. it's a classic interior but it's cozy. you can see the marble fireplace surrounding the beautiful wood paneling just like we have here at the dey mansion. it's a cozy and hearing about 16 feet, 16 feet long. everybody is to pack in their. and there are events that are quite influential were lots of people are packed in there. much like we are today. hamilton's blueprint for reorganizing the army is often overlooked. he has this beautiful brew print and drafts -- january 29th, 1778, it creates an composes a massive document of 16,000 words. that is quite a lot of writing.

hamilton was never boast, both with his speech as well as his written word. and it detailed a necessary steps required by congress to completely reorganize the army. congress was in shambles. the army was in shambles. we have seen that in recent military and political history. we have plenty of historic precedent to draw from for that for inspiration. there were ideas contributed by many of the great generals including nathanael green to create the blueprint. and the wording is mostly by alexander hamilton. it's kind of a harbinger of all the work that he worked through and would porridge other documents you think of most famously the federalist papers. it is a variety of tasks for hamilton. many timeout here. correspondence with generals -- continental army that

washington is receiving and sending letters to. correspondence with congress. starting with john hancock and samuel huntington from connecticut. there were negotiations for prisoner exchanges. hamilton was very skilled at these nuances of prisoner exchanges with the british. and in fact, at one point, some 600 soldiers were exchanged from the british back to the americans, i believe it was at elizabeth, sometime in the middle of the war. and hamilton handled all of that. that's along with the help of alliance would mill of elizabeth. there was diplomatic measures for hamilton to handle with france. both alexander hamilton and john lawrence, his good friend, or both fluent in french and for that reason they could be sent by washington in the middle of the war to meet with admiral -- and his fleet harbored off of the coast -- anchored off of the coast, i should say, of new jersey.

then there was my -- hamilton had the help of george washington. he was indeed the spy master. with handling all of the different generals, case officers, independent agents who were feeding him all kinds of intelligence. some good, some not so good. of course, constantly suspicions of double agents, or moles. just like a tv show or novel. two springs were particularly important. most heard of the benjamin towns, colbert spiraling that operated out of new york city, long island, into fair field, connecticut. there's another one that was just as effective and interesting right out of here in new jersey in staten island. that is colonel elias dayton a vote was then called elizabeth town. modern-day city of elizabeth into staten island. they have the same time, or trying to call the same intelligence about new york city, the talent agencies were doing.

but what you can figure out of course, you have to have redundancy. what if one of the rings is compromised? what if one of the rain is just can't send the information out? great quote here by hamilton's former college roommate. the army was held by hamilton. indeed. that is why we know so much of hamilton, and washington's inner thoughts during the revolution is because of the pan of hamilton. washington is quoted in regards to hamilton as saying, quote, hamilton was his principal and confidential aid. that pretty much says it all. continuing at the theme of spies. alexander hamilton is also not only buried by near lord sterling, major general at trinity church, but also the famous spy, hercules mulligan. he may not be as famous, but mulligan helped occasionally with the ring, as more of an independent agent. hamilton and megan already knew each other from the patent days. very early in hamilton's time when he was at kings college.

mulligan was a tailor. and it just so happened that of course is a tailor he would be improving or providing uniforms for british leaderships. so that is a great eavesdropping opportunity to pick up information. he's also housing, there is courting of troops. one of things were rebelling against on july 4th of 76 was the quarter inning of troops. his homework in his life -- 24 queen street, you could see the tavern there. also had officers from a regiment and so he's able to receive some information from that time as well. he talks about this in a so-called narrative later in life. and it is also the reason why we know that his younger brother hugh was also involved in gathering intelligence. he's basically emergent at a nearby marketplace. he can gather information from the british. so, the mulligan brothers really did a great job through hamilton to washington to provide timely intelligence in

addition to the -- the after mentioned dayton a ring. it is also quite possible that we don't have strong proof, but we have some circumstantial proof that hercules mulligan did not stop help washington's life once but twice. and circumstantial evidence that you can read about and i can recommend reading later. washington also has hamilton assigned to help the barren -- major general. why? because of course, he can speak german, but a second language is french. so, john lawrence and alexander hamilton deem french speakers, they're fluent, they're able to help story bin, this continental army into proper professional -- at valley forge. it is doing the drills, mostly interspersed with french curse words and other things. and hamilton has to be judicious in how he translates.

yeah, he was a bit of a hothead. has he done all the things that he claimed he did back impression before the war? probably not. he probably was not a barren. he indeed was documented as a major in the oppression army. but it wasn't like he was a two star general, or a barren. hamilton serves as translator and just as importantly editor of the famous baron drill book that historians and reenactor is love to study. here's a painting of him by the famous oral after the american revolution. hamilton is also a translator for the famous markey did lafayette who i said earlier, briefly, was like a son to george washington. lafayette was such a charming young aristocrat that as the 19 year old boy general, washington took him under his wing. he's also going to help hamilton, that is, with a lesser known general, but who is important as an army engineer and that is you weijia. who also worked at valley forge and other places such as monmouth, both of these are by

charles wilson. very talented artist. something i like to study and i'm writing a scholarly article about this, it only gets talked about a bit. washington's many councils of ordering the american revolution. there are two in particular that i find particularly fascinating because of who is there. let's read through the list. and imagine them all crammed into isaac pots living room. that's a 60 foot room. we have george washington, charles li, then your green, benedict arnold. remember, he is limping and because he's a military governor of philadelphia at the time. we were to sterling, marquee that faith, baron vaughan the story even, a host of brigadier general including henry knox, matt anthony wayne, jadallah donning-ton, who -- we just mentioned deported. that is quite a list, to top it off, he was making notes and making judges suggestions off the record? alexander hamilton. who himself will become a major general later in life. it is a who's who. that is the moment that i would

pick if i had to go back in time in the american i'd just pick a battlefield, i pick being in that room at that time just to think of who is in there. so, they are meeting to figure out the strategy for the summer of 15 78 and of course it becomes we famously know here is new jersey the battle of the mamoth courthouse. alexander hamilton, not well known, he advances the battle and is doing recon. he's doing an advanced intelligence operation on horseback for several days before both washington and lafayette arrive. this is long before any encounters with charles lee on the battlefield. several days. it's very helpful in order to set up the placement of ali lafayette, and eventually washington. and yes, in a famous confrontation between lee and washington, it was just prior to that the altercation between hamilton and lee. hamilton handled it pretty well. as you're gonna see here. he is incredulous, he cannot

believe that lee would be retreating in some kind of disorganized fashion and he should actually be attacking the rearguard of the british force with its baggage trained ever so slowly, crawling through the middle of nowhere new jersey at the time. hamilton's quote of bravery gradually accounted by charles lee himself during his trial weeks later. the quote from hamilton was, quote, i will stay here with you my dear general, and i'm with you. let us all die here rather than retreat. a testament to hamilton's bravery and thinking on his feet as well as he is rallying the forces who that are largely successful just as washington comes on to the scene. similarly, we have another aid to washington, secretary of war james mccain -- elizabeth, quote. i'm happy to have it in my power to mention the merit of colonel hamilton. he was incessant in his endeavors, during which, we do not know why this is that there are types here. but in reconnoiter ring the

army -- entering recon on the forces, rallying, cheering. it's doubtful iffy should receive recommendations. both had their horses shut out from under. them both exuded -- exhibited similar shows of bravery. which shows off hamilton's bravery in battle. here are two scenes that are fairly well known from the battle of monmouth. the one on the right showing the allocation to healing in washington. something that is far overlooked, and it could've been incredibly impactful. hamilton and lawrence progressive idea that we could have african american soldiers in the continental army. how progressive. lafayette was also an advocate of this. hamilton and lawrence will ask congress in writing several times, would you please allow.

southern regiments in the u.s. army. largely loyalist, much more of a civil war down there, uglier than it was up here. you would help fill the number shortage. they both believed, that is hamilton, lawrence, as well as lafayette, that african americans were both very bright and very brave and battle. and yet, unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears. congress would just not do it. congressman were in fact, so many of them, were plantation owners from the south like john lawrence's own father, henry lawrence. now, we can get into dayton's ring for a minute. this is colonel -- who become one of the last brigadier promotions during the actual war time and his communications to hamilton and there is a key one on july 21st of 1780 that it is on that day that col elias dayton informs washington of a british fleet leaving --

to newport via long island. sound of there is one problem, george washington is absent. he's out on an errand of some sort. law fight is it headquarters, he received a letter, realizing that he must immediately dispatch this news to lafayette in connecticut. they get it to him, it's enough of a challenge and lafayette has to get it from there, over the island. it's a complicated operation but it works quickly enough. they were able to warn of the french. by the way, the british do not mind -- actually wind up attacking newport, they decided to call it off for whatever reason. maybe they were ticked off that americans know. we just don't know. often the conspiring is credited for winning the french in newport. that is in fact not the case. their intelligence came in two days later. same intelligence that the british relieving, it just wasn't as punctual in its announcement as dayton's. the infamous blackest treason as hamilton called it of benedict arnold. major general benedict arnold

is of course connecticut, born in norwich. he's living as a wealthy merchant new haven. he is beginning his communication, with a common of misunderstanding is that his traitorous activities are all confined to september of 1780. that is not the case. it actually had been going on for 16 months, beginning in the may of 79 which is just a month after arnold had fallen in love and married peggy shipment. it goes on for 16 months. this portrait to the right is the only known proven portrait of benedict arnold from life. okay. all the other portraits are seeing are based off of this one, or simply are just fakes. they're not actually of benedict arnold. this is done by french painter while, he was military governor in philadelphia. lafayette, hamilton, henry knox there at the hartford conference. in downtown hartford, conferring for three days with

general, french general russian bow. and his right to do. this is in 1780. same stretch of time, those three days. it's around the 21st, 22nd, 23rd. the same 22nd is when alexander hamilton, benedict arnold, rather. is meeting with john andre, aka john anderson. and they are meeting just south of west point. it's on the same day. so, uncanny timing. after that conference in hartford, washington is returning to lafayette, to meet with -- arnold, rather. to go over the fortifications at west point. arnold is absent. he is gone. washington is trying to figure out why is he not here inspecting this with me. something is amiss. now, it is very clear that arnold has already decided that he's going to escape on the aptly named hms vulture. it's a great one for a traitor. and hamilton decides

immediately that the quick thinking officer that he is that he must prepare the army for possible counterattack. first he attempts to capture arnold himself. he jumps on horseback with the after mentioned james mchenry, the gallup top speed down the east bank for 12 miles along the hudson to blanks very. obviously, that is a hapless mission. they do not capture arnold. right after that, he writes this attempt to george washington, his boss. he says that he's also planning to ride up to general green and colonel megs. he does just that. he writes to general green who was encamped at to paying, new york. 30 miles south of west point. and also, to colonel megs of the sixth regiment which is a light infantry regiment. and that they both could quickly respond to the area that will save not only west point, but george washington and the rest of headquarters. here is hamilton's letter to green. quote, there has been, just unfolded at this place and seen, the blackest treason. arnold has fled to the enemy.

andre, the british generals are in our possession as a spy. i came here in pursuit of arnold. but it was too late. i advise that you're putting armor under marching orders and attaching the brigade immediately this way. quite dramatic. hamilton and they fetching -- a charming man, a charming woman. peggy shipping was, the oh my gosh, paris hilton or kardashian of our day. she was quite the dashing figure. she had her own crush on the fetching john andre, a man of many talents. he could, seeing a dance, write poetry he could spy for the british and yes, he drew her, as you have seen there, and as the kids would say now, a selfie. the night before he is hung. it is a very bright man. she will keep a lock of his hair, john andrés, where the rest of her life in her drawer, it is found when she dies. well, what is the point of this? it's really to tell, both --

they are tasked with keeping an eye on john andre. they're both very impressed, charmed by the amazing personality of john andre. he pleads through them to washington, would you please shoot me with a volley of execution fire? rather than hang me as a spy and of course that attempt fails, and he is indeed hung. but you can tell in the writings about hamilton and thomas, that they were touched by their time with andre and is having to be hung, which was payback for the hanging of nathan hale years earlier. i have to mention when hamilton and washington were here was too long visits about a month each, july of 1780, in october of 1780. i mentioned it now so that you can think about how washington and hamilton were responding still to the aftershocks from arnold trees and when they were here the second time if these walls could talk.

it was july of 1781, it is the final turning point, alexander hamilton and got married on december 13th to the fetching elizabeth, aka betsy skyler up in albany and her dad's beautiful mansion there, beautiful brick mansion like this one. and seven months later, july 31st, hamilton finally gets what he always wanted, a field command, washington's orders. quote, the light companies are the first and second regiments of new york will form a battalion under command of lieutenant colonel hamilton in major fish. after the formation of the battalion lieutenant colonel hamilton will join the advanced core under the orders of colonel scandal. and hamilton is so happy. they're gonna be for light infantry commanders that we need to briefly equator selves with. we know would alex hamilton looks like. he works with the after mentioned john lawrence into this beautiful bonjour frame on the left. in the center is finally on illustration of that colonel

alexander scam of new hampshire, and on the right's lieutenant colonel have been easier huntington of norwich connecticut whose house we own. now the complication here is that alexander in the middle is the highest ranking officer killed during the siege of yorktown. he is unfortunately killed in a surprise attack, as he is shot in the back, mortally wounded, and winds up dying in blaine's bergh, and writes in his dying words to oppose easier huntington to take over the battalion or regiment. the three of them knew each other well -- the unfortunate twist of fate, i suppose for heroism is that a his knees are hunting tim decides that he would serve the narcoleptic major general, benjamin lincoln, the second ranking -- as his acting aide to camp. alexander hamilton will then be tasked with helping lead -- he's not going to leave, but he's helping the general -- it'll be taken by --

retake -- the rush 500 yards apart. we've been on an original graphic to 125th anniversary of reenactor's. the french will take their. hamilton is tasked with readout ten. it's gonna take a little while, that's actually -- it's a shame it six minutes because alexander hamilton decides that we're not gonna wait for the minors and staffers declared the space safely for us to stream through as light infants tree with # our bayonet sabers. no shots fired, bayonet's and sabers. it is a nighttime attack just after sunset. here is one painting on the right and that is how he actually would've interest that evening on the left. he's another alternate view, which shows the energy of what it would've been like. it's interesting is a reenactor, i've stormed a redoubt, it's interesting to do even when you are just doing it fake. without real gunfire. then we have the famous painting by john trumbull of lord cornwallis's surrender at core yorktown. there's three versions of this

painting, one is at yale, the second that i'm showing, another in hartford and the second is at the u.s. capitol rotunda, as they just get bigger and bigger as they get recreated. and in that particular painting i would show on the right have been easier huntington, scandal cannot be portrayed because he's already been killed. john lawrence, alexander hamilton. i'm just gonna briefly put them out here on the right. right here. huntington is up there and hamilton to lawrence are there -- [inaudible] >> i hope not reflecting too much, i hope are not reflecting the jewel of john lawrence. appealing comparison alexander hamilton does not get enough credit as we both know with the war ends, the patriots, when the brits are defeated. we could not have anticipated that. but that's how it turned out to be.

in terms of the major battles anyway. now, let's turn to 1790. treasury secretary, he also found the u.s. revenue putter service, so he is considered the father of the u.s. coast guard. and i go there every graduation to give an award right there on that spot, right there. and i was there for the unveiling of this beautiful sculpture by benjamin victor. it was donated by the class of 1963 last fall. and that is the properly named hamilton hall. that is the main administration hall at the coast guard academy. that's a new london, connecticut. there is a painting inside hamilton hall. and that is of him running the revenue cutlery service. you can see an early u.s. flag in the background, a cutter, full sale any lighthouse. and that is by this chinese painter-ing. it is an illustration of the u.s. revenue cutter service at the time. there was one unnamed after colonel examiner --

that was on the left. that and there that you see, i blow that up and showing you on the right. and then, where we can consider the seal for the cutter service separatists, always ready. of course is the modern for the coast guard. timing with that is u.s. customs. the collecting of taxes and import duties along with the revenue cutter service, intercepting privateers and so forth. around this time, 1789. washington that just become president. he asks his old friend, genitalia huntington to serve in new london. to serve at the connecticut river itself. that's a lot of commerce and here's a lighted there that still stands from that era and it was built about 1800 and there are many letters between

them dealing with whale oil for lighthouse laps and so forth. then there's this quasi-war with france and it takes place the 1788 into 89 and it begins in 1798 when a french privateer captures some american vessels. that is embarrassing, so hamilton's ever offering his offering his opinion and saying this is too much humiliation after all that has passed. the to the secretary of war he says this to james mchenry. and adams realizes he has a crisis on his hands eight military crisis. there are shots fired in the ocean and he needs a military commander and he goes to george washington. would you please return to military service. george washington was the only president whoever did. this commander and chief, then

president, and then running the u.s. military again. that's never happened before. so washington says yes, but alexander hamilton must be my second. john adams says how dare you put such an imposition on me, that is preposterous. and it takes many weeks for adams to eventually come down and realize, if i'm going to get washington out of this deal, i have to put my personal agenda aside and my personal feelings against hamilton aside and recognize that i must put up with major general alexander hamilton as part of the deal. here's a quote from john adams, in regards to hamilton's influence at the time. such was the influence of mr. hamilton in congress, that without writing any recommendation for the president, they congress, passed a bill to raise an army. and as for page 53, 5:53 of ron

chernobyl's, biography of hamilton's. i have to say he does the best job of going through hamilton's later military service and adams is incredulous. and you have to take in mind when hamilton had served as a congressman in the state of new york. before becoming secretary treasury. and here's a letter to george washington from hamilton, in which he is negotiating about how he will take this roll on as major general. quote if you command washington, the place in which i should hope to be most useful, is that of inspector general with a command in the line. the and washington was done at doing field command at 66 years old he wanted to go to hamilton. this i would accept he says. and then the rank and pay of a major general. the other generals that were going to serve in the war, they were incredulous. they were just as shocked as

john adams. it's like i'm a general and i have to serve under the act under hamilton. again a testament to how high hamilton had climbed and deservedly so in the eyes of former president george washington. and here is hamilton's letter around that same time, talking late than -- the person who had succeeded hamilton's secretary treasury. the u.s. should boost taxes. and while you're preparing for war, take a large loan. and finally, establish an academy for military and navy in the instruction. and while that's a lot. and people are jockeying for position and at the same time aaron burr wanted to be a brigadier general. so maybe i would like to be

that he says. and he it's been so critical of george washington, that that effort did not peter out. there is a portrait of major general hamilton. it's not well known. we don't know who the artist was, we don't know when it was painted. even what decade. he does have a federal the uniform on. it's u.s. army we don't know what the metal is on his lapel. it was donated by john lawrence hamilton. and it hangs at the cincinnati headquarters in washington d.c.. also known as anderson house. one general who is not mentioned nearly as much, who is jockeying for position. that is the ebony easier huntington. who writes to his friend alexander hamilton, and receives an appointment from john adams to serve as a brigadier general. so there are two of these, one

at princeton here new jersey, and also one down at anderson house in d.c.. there are five key -- in philadelphia, and there are the taverns alcohol may have been involved. generals washington and hamilton, will meet with general -- . they needed a federalist who have experience in the south. because they were afraid that the french might attack the self. so he will come out from charleston for this meeting along with secretary of war james mchenry. they were there for five weeks, and hamilton breaks out these charts for regiments. he has organized how everything is going to work. platoons and companies and regiments and battalions. it is small so very organized. he's obsessive compulsive with detail. including designs for uniforms

and even the huts for the soldiers. after the five weeks or over, he returns to his office at granic street in manhattan. he's trying to operate the u.s. army from that office space. there is an encampment not too far from here, the only one where we are of that's been documented, and that's in scotch plains new jersey. it is an officer from elizabeth, just like all the other ones i've mentioned. the and that is aaron all didn't. he for some reason picked this site. so about 2000 soldiers were in camp there and he does review the troops hamilton does in the fall of 1799. as we begin to wrap it up, one of the other things is alexander hamilton's the

membership in the society of cincinnati. this is the diamond eagle. it was presented from officers of the french navy. in march in 1794. at that tavern in philadelphia. it was owned by george washington until his death on december 14th 1799 at mount vernon. it has 200 diamonds and other jewels that make it up. upon his death, sometimes after, his widow but martha washington, we'll send the middle to alexander hamilton for his safekeeping. because he is now the president general of the society. for many many decades, it has been owned by the society of cincinnati and is housed safely in the vault at anderson house in d.c.. it is a beautiful piece.

on a poignant note which is what i end on, it's a lost letters between george washington and hamilton. and george washington does not know he's going to die. and my father-in-law was a graduate of west point. and i give and then award at the graduation each year. and these are poignant these letters. he writes to washington from new york, november 28th. sir enclosed a copy of the letter which i've written to the secretary of war. on the subject of a but military academy. washington replied some december 12th, he dies two days later. he writes to hamilton, sir i have julie received your letter of the 28th, in closing a copy of what you had written to the secretary of war on the subject of a military academy. establishment of the institution of this kind, has never been considered by me as

an object of primary importance to this country. but while i was in the chair of government, being president that is, but i recommended it in my public speeches to the attention of the legislature. but i never undertook to go into detail into the organization of such an academy. leaving this task to others whose pursuits in the tasks of science and such institutions have better qualified them for the execution of it. washington closes, i sincerely hope that the subject will meet with due attention and that the reason for its establishment that you have pointed out in your letter to the secretary will prevail upon the legislature to place it upon a permanent and respectable footing. with very great esteem, i am your most obedient servant george washington. and that is the end. thank you everyone.

>> so we are going to do a cue and a, but i wanted to announce as you can see we have c-span taping this event, so if you want to have a question, we're going to have a microphone brought to you so they can capture what you are saying. >> thank you. >> questions? anybody? >> including from the flanks. i >> damian i'm curious, i believe one of your slides depicted a private home that was used as headquarters. military headquarters at one point. and you are familiar with the ford mansion in mars town. did general washington solicit owners to use these facilities? or are they private dwellings. did he just walk in and say i'm taking over? you are here i'm over there. i'm curious how that worked. >> it's kind of a blend of the

two. i'm not an expert, but depending on the nature of the time of year and who owned it, sometimes he was already acquainted with acquainted with the owner, sometimes it was solicitation, and sometimes it was some pretty quick convincing. but >> do you have a question ok one moment she's coming? >> okay from the right flank. >> thank you for a terrific lecture. do you give any consideration in 1794 with the risk whiskey rebellion, where washington leaves office and hamilton goes as well. is there any evidence of what they were doing military in that? >> yes right, it crossed my mind briefly that i should mention, and it's a great question. we are talking about the whiskey rebellion, is them distilling whiskey out in the ohio territory. and americans always had an independent spirit haven't they? there were rebelling that they would have to pay some kind of

tax. and they had no problem putting taxes on people, because they felt it was the only way we can build ourselves as a country. a financial foundation to ensure our independence and good standing in the united states. on the military side of things, we do have an illustration of this. a beautiful painting that hangs in the museum of art and it shows george washington going out, and it's washington inspecting the troops at fort cumberland, and alexander hamilton is also in uniform. two and i really wasn't sure how i was going to have the time to incorporate all, but i guess i could've included it. and but you could read about it to. but it shows you know it's part of the whole theme of how the federal government is going to use the military to back up the strength it's trying to exert with its citizens. it's a federalize asian model.

somebody like jefferson would've abhorred it as a political opponent. other questions? there must be more. it's alexander hamilton. >> what was florence hamilton, related to alexander hamilton? and was he a naval commander in the great lakes of 1812. >> i have no idea i don't know i've never looked into it. there are several descendants of alexander hamilton who took on great leadership roles in the military. it's incredible when you read about this like on sources like sources like a weak media. and we have to look at up or ask a descendant. but >> i may be dense here, but what did washington die from? >> he had gone out on his horse, in virginia at mount vernon, and it was cold rainy day, and he got sick from the wet clothing and of course what do you do in 1799 when you get

cold, and you get sick, and you have a doctor. you bring in leaches and do blood letting, and it makes you worse and it exacerbated what could've been preventable. tragic. yet how symbolic isn't it? that he dies at the end of that century. i have an ancestor, named private hitchcock, and he wrote in his memoirs the day that the news arrived of washington's death he said my goodness, i am paraphrasing here. but shock role in, we all loved our beloved founder of this country. it brings tears to my eyes historians would do justice, one of a descent in 200 years later to be able to try to do that as a historian. well, thank you everyone for your rapt attention. it's wonderful to be. here [applause]

>> next, on american history tv. historian h.w. brands talk about his biography of aaron burr. the new york politician and vice president who is most remembered for killing former president trudge -- alexander hamilton in a duel in 1804. mr. brands presented a collection of letters between burr, and his daughter the adagio. to account his political rise -- this was reported at the fair gallery of arts in washington d.c. in