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Alexander Hamilton Autograph Letter Signed to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall.... (Total: 2 )
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A Fascinating Revolutionary War Letter From Alexander Hamilton to General Alexander McDougall, Fresh Off the American Victories at Trenton and Princeton
Alexander Hamilton Autograph Letter Signed to Brigadier General
Alexander McDougall. Two pages on a bifolium. "Head
Quarters, Morris Town," [New Jersey], March 10, 1777.A fascinating Revolutionary War letter, written by Founding Father Alexander Hamilton just days after being named as George Washington's Aide-de-Camp and fresh off the American victories at Trenton and Princeton.
The American victories at Trenton and Princeton, though ultimately holding slim military significance, contributed greatly to restoring the espirit de corps of the Continental Army and reviving their faith in Washington's leadership, particularly after the devastating losses of Fort Washington and Fort Lee at the end of 1776. Hamilton and his artillery company played a key role in forcing the surrender of many enemy soldiers, and many subsequently began to take notice of him as a capable military and political leader. "On January 20, 1777, slightly more than two weeks after the fighting at Princeton, Washington penned a note to Hamilton, personally inviting him to join his staff as an aide-de-camp" (Chernow). Though he had already turned down aide positions to three other generals in the Continental Army, this was an appointment which he felt he could not refuse. The appointment was made official on March 1, and by that time Hamilton was already encamped with Washington at the general's new Head Quarters at Jacob Arnold's tavern in Morristown.
The next several months served as a lull in the campaign, and this allowed Hamilton to take up his new position with his "characteristic, electrifying speed" as he quickly assumed confidence to act not just as Washington's secretary and aide, but as his proxy (Chernow). The present letter attests to such confidence as Hamilton took it upon himself to answer General Alexander McDougall's recent letter without consulting Washington. He states, "[Washington] has been very much indisposed for three or four days past, insomuch that his attention to business is pronounced by the Doctor to be very improper; and we have made a point of keeping all from him which was not indispensibly necessary... though he has grown considerably better than he was, I find he is so much pestered with matters, which cannot be avoided, that I am obliged to refrain from troubling him on the occasion; especially as I conceive the only answer he would give, may be given by myself."
In response to McDougall's letter of March 7, in which McDougall requested additional troop support to better fortify and defend Fort Constitution and Fort Independence along the Hudson River, Hamilton here "[laments] that the present state of things does not admit of having the requisite number of troops at every post: on the contrary the most important, are deficient; and we are under the necessity, of calling all that can be gotten together to those places where the danger is the most pressing and imminent. 'Till matter get into a better train, it is impossible but those posts must suffer...." Hamilton's analysis here is based upon the belief that the British were in the process of withdrawing all of their forces into New Jersey, and from there would launch a campaign against Philadelphia. His prescience continues in the final paragraph: "The General in a letter to you of the 6th instant desires all the York regiments not gone to Ticonderoga to be assembled at Peeks Kill. The reason of this must be obvious to you; and for the same reason, he has requested a reinforcement of 2000 Connecticut Militia to rendezvous at the same place: Though the design is chiefly that they may be ready to join the army here; they will in the mean time, in some measure, answer the purposes you have in view. I am Dr Sir, Yr. most Obedient servant, Alex Hamilton."
The British did indeed plan and execute both campaigns of which Hamilton speaks, in the later part of 1777. The first was quite an ambitious plan to gain control of the entire Hudson River Valley. As part of this campaign, Peekskill (Fort Hill), New York, suffered a major British attack, though this was ultimately rebuffed by General McDougall, commanding the New York 2nd and 4th regiments. The second British campaign was General Howe's plan to take Philadelphia after recuperating for a time in New Jersey. This advance was successful and ultimately resulted in Washington's retreat to Valley Forge for that interminable winter of 1777-8.
The present letter is the official copy sent by Hamilton to General McDougall, docketed, and with a partially-intact seal. A draft copy is in the George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress.
Toned with some scattered staining, period folds with some splitting (not affecting text), loss to blank portion of fore-edge of final leaf from seal removal, center fold with paper repair, two small holes through outer margin touching text, large tear through top of first leaf obscuring text. Later pencil annotation to bottom of letter underneath the signature.
[Together With:] Alexander Hamilton Autograph Note Signed ("AH") to John Laurance. One page, no place; no date [but circa 1789-1793]. Period folds, split, though skillfully repaired, loss to blank portion of fore-edge from seal removal; faintly toned with some staining. Verso with Hamilton's holograph address, and an additional notation by another hand. Seal covered, but present. Very good.
Hamilton here writes briefly to Congressman John Laurance regarding the export trade of the United States. It reads, in full:
D. Laurance, I gave Mr. [Benjamin] Goodhue, this morning, a memorandum of things, which I thought might be done. I send you an abstract shewing the relative importance of different Nations to our export Trade. Yrs. AH.
Hamilton played a formative role in the early stages of American trade policy, frequently advocating protectionism and "'vesting Congress with the power of regulating trade'" as it was "'as necessary for the purposes of commerce as of revenue'" (Hamilton, quoted in Magness). Though an export tax was outlawed by the Constitution, Hamilton understood the revenue-generating ability of import taxation which, when coupled with the development of a major manufacturing sector of the economy, would effectively regulate trade and, in light of mercantilist philosophy, create an international balance of trade favorable to the United States. John Laurance frequently engaged in land speculation and other business ventures with Hamilton, whereas Goodhue, also a Congressman, was a staunch support of the Federalist Party and one of the "Essex Junto." In this brief note, Hamilton is likely attempting to garner support for his ideas on the direction of the American economy, ideas fully outlined in his 1791 Report on Manufactures to Congress, the last of his three papers on the Treasury.
[And:] John C. Hamilton. The Life of Alexander Hamilton. Vol. I. New York: Halsted & Voorhies, 1834. Octavo. Bound in later pebbled purple cloth. Covers detached, lacking spine; cloth somewhat mottled, corners bumped and rubbed. Pages toned and foxed, preliminaries loose, a few passages marked with pencil. Fair.
References: Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. I, 1961, pages 201-202; Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence; Magness, From Tariffs to the Income Tax: Trade Protection and Revenue in the United States Tax System, PhD dissertation, Fall 2009, pages 20-22; Chernow, Alexander Hamilton, 2004, pages 84-87.
Auction Info
2023 July 8 Historical Platinum Signature® Auction #6275 (go to Auction Home page)
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