Quarter Master General. This arduous office he filled until after the peace.

In ninety, he was appointed by Washington sole Commissioner to treat with the Northern Indians; and in ninety-one, Post Master General. After serving as a Commissioner to treat with the Western Indians, he was again selected as Post Master General, and from that office was advanced to the place of Secretary of War. From this station he was preferred by Washington to be Secretary of State, and remained until the year eighteen hundred at the head of that department.

This faithful, much honored public servant, alluding to the observations of an intelligent foreigner, remarks:

"In forming his judgment of Washington's writings, he had not the necessary data. He has assumed, which is unfounded in fact, that the public papers bearing Washington's signature (and of his private writings he could have seen very few) are of his own composition. I undertake to affirm, that scarcely any, or a very small number of them, were draughted by him; and in the most important, the hand of Hamilton, I think, may be discernedwhile Hamilton was within his reach. I formed this opinion as long ago as the campaign of seventeen hundred and seventyseven, when I witnessed the incessant labors of Hamilton, and of the military Secretary-Harrison-in writing the General's public letters, in which I have reason to believe, I might say to know, that the conceptions, as well as the expressions, were for the most part their own. If the original draughts had been Washington's, his handwriting (remarkably distinct from all other handwriting that I ever saw) would have appeared in the letters or in the reserved rough draughts. I refer here to all his official letters, during the whole time of his command in the Revolutionary War." *

The result of an extended examination is then given in confirmation. Further light is thrown upon this subject by the statements of Generals Chastellux, Schuyler, Greene, and La Fayette, in the present volume.

* Timothy Pickering to William Coleman. Salem, Aug. 8, 1826.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

CHAPTER XX.

Sufferings of the army-Hamilton writes instructions-Descent on Staten

Island-Hamilton as to cartel for prisoners-Hamilton for Washington as

to British policy-Hamilton for Washington to Steuben-Hamilton for

Washington as to interference of the States, also as to usurpation by Board

of War-Embarkation at New York for Savannah-Hamilton for Washing-

ton to Lincoln as to expedition to relieve Pensacola-Inertness of Virginia

-Hamilton for Washington to Lincoln as to defence of Charleston-Its

siege and capitulation-Hamilton for Washington to Bowdoin-La Fayette

in Paris-Military succors to United States-Hamilton for Washington to

La Luzerne-Hamilton to Duane, inciting energetic measures by Congress

-Hamilton for Washington, urging appointment of committee to Head-

quarters-Hamilton contemplated as Secretary to the embassy to France-

Hamilton for Washington as to acquisition of the Canadas-Letter of

Washington, by Hamilton, to Committee of Co-operation-Increase of army

-Reed to Gates-Hamilton for Washington to Reed-Aid from Pennsyl-

vania-Resources of enemy and of allies-Revolt of Connecticut troops-

Incursion of Knyphausen-Hamilton to Washington-Hamilton for Wash-

ington to Committee of Co-operation-French succors on the coast-Ham-

ilton for Washington to Committee-Hamilton for Washington to Rocham-

bean and De Ternay-Chastellux as to Hamilton's instrumentality-Pro-

jected attack upon New York-Hamilton publishes an explanation.

CHAPTER XXI.

38

Greene to Washington as to Quartermaster's Department-Hamilton's advice
to Greene-Dissatisfaction of Congress-Washington interposes-Hamilton
for Washington to Committee as to army-View of foreign affairs-Ham-

ilton to Biddle as to impressments-Plan by Hamilton of attack upon New

York-His remarks as to conquest of the Canadas-Hamilton for Wash-

ington to De Guichen-Interview of Washington with Rochambeau at

Hartford-Ill-treatment of Arnold-Correspondence of Reed with Washing-

ton-West Point-Bauman to Hamilton-Capture of André-Treason of

Arnold-His flight and pursuit-Hamilton to Washington-Hamilton to

Greene-Hamilton to Laurens-Trial of André-His execution-André to

Washington.
74

CHAPTER XXII.

Financial necessities-Breach of public faith-New emission-Ellsworth to

Trumbull-Specific supplies-Impotence of Congress-Necessity of a Gov-

ernment-Conventions of States-Non-concurrence of Virginia-Energetic

counsels of Massachusetts-Hamilton for Washington to Bowdoin-Hamil-

ton's political system-Hamilton's important letter to Duane-Defects of

confederation-Single executive officers-Constitution of army-Urges a

general convention-Outline of a new Government-Recommends Schuy-

ler, McDougall, and Robert Morris to constitute an Executive Ministry—

Recruiting the army-Half-pay to officers-A foreign loan-A tax in kind

-A national bank-Appeals to the people-Schuyler as to invigoration of

Government-Plan of a Dictator-Policy of New York-Proposal of

113

Madison.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Hostilities in South Carolina-Hamilton for Washington to Gates-Lee and

Gates-Selection of Gates by Congress-Interesting letter of Sullivan-

Cabal-Greene to Washington-La Luzerne to Vergennes-Gates in com-

mand of the Southern army-Condition of South Carolina-Sumter-Raw-

don-Cornwallis advances-Battle of Camden-Defeat and flight of Gates

-Gallantry and death of De Kalb-Otho H. Williams to Hamilton-

Hamilton to Duane, urging a vigorous Government, and an army for the

war-Hamilton for Washington to Congress-Policy as to defence of the

South-Duane to Washington-Reform of army-Comments written by

Hamilton-He urges appointment of Greene to Southern army-Hamilton

for Washington to Greene-Hamilton to Sears-A Government of more

power-A tax in kind-Foreign loan-A bank-Hamilton to Duane-

Harrison to Hamilton-The cabal-Hamilton for Washington to La Fay-

ette-Plan of attack upon New York-Hamilton to Washington, asking a

command-La Fayette recommends Hamilton as Adjutant-general-La

Fayette urges Hamilton as Envoy to France-Laurens to Washington-

Marriage of Hamilton.

145

CHAPTER XXIV.

Revolt of Pennsylvania and Jersey lines-Hamilton for Washington to Howe-

Writes circulars to Eastern States-Projects a plan of supplies-Draws in-

structions to Laurens-Hamilton for Washington to Franklin-Hamilton

as to gradation of punishments-Proposed attack on New York-Hamilton

for Washington to Rochambeau-British army in South Carolina-Davie

and Graham at Mecklenburg-Marion and Clark-Ferguson encamps on

King's Mountain-Pursuit by Americans-Victory of King's Mountain—

Cornwallis retreats-Greene takes command-His letter to Hamilton-

Condition of the South-His wise policy-Battle of Cowpens-Colonels

Washington and Howard-Greene hastens to Virginia-Jefferson Governor

of Virginia-Pendleton charges him with cowardice-Expedition of Arnold

-Capture of Richmond-Jefferson's conduct-His letter to Washington-

Reply for Washington by Hamilton.

CHAPTER XXV.

171

Difference between Washington and Hamilton-Letter of Hamilton to Schuyler

-Important reply-Interesting comment of Dewitt-Hamilton and French

officers-Interposition of La Fayette-Hamilton for Washington to Rocham-

beau-Hamilton draws instructions for La Fayette-Hamilton for Wash-

ington to Congress-Battle of Guilford Court House-Hamilton as to bold

policy of Greene-La Fayette from Elk to Hamilton-Hamilton for Wash-

ington to Greene-Private letter of Hamilton to Greene-Hamilton for

Washington to La Fayette-Hamilton retires from the staff-Harrison and

Laurens to Hamilton-Hamilton asks a command-Reply of Washington,

and answer of Hamilton.

CHAPTER XXVI.

196

Convention at Hartford-Powers by States to Congress-A Census-Important

circular-Black regiments commended by Madison-Executive officers-La

Luzerne as to opposition of Samuel Adams-Sullivan to Washington recom-

mends Hamilton as head of treasury department-Appointment of

executive officers-Conduct towards Gates-Reed to Gates-Calumnies

against Washington-Rush to Gates-Monarchy-Clamor against England

-Morris to Gates-Pecuniary embarrassments-Five per cent. impost-

Revenue power to Congress-Proposed repeal of Tender acts-Hamilton

to Robert Morris as to fiscal policy-Plan of national bank-Comments-

Proposes convention of all the States to organize a new government-Reply

of Morris-Bank of North America-Report in Congress as to enlargement

of its powers-Madison's plan of military coercion of States--Hamilton's

view-Writes the CONTINENTALIST-Powers of Congress-Regulation of

trade-Taxes--A Federative Republic.

238