Yorktown, October 16-18, 1781 (Hamilton 36)

Like 9/11, the British surrender at Yorktown was recognized as a world-changing event at the very moment it happened. Everyone remembered where they were and what they saw and did. We…

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Yorktown, August to Early October, 1781 (Hamilton 34)

Here are the main characters on the American Revolutionary scene, in September and October 1781 - skewed, of course, to those who appear in Hamilton: An American Musical. The Americans George…

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Alexander and Eliza’s Rings, Handkerchiefs, and Wedding Cake (Hamilton 33)

Today, September 2, 2016, is the last day of the Hamilton memorabilia exhibition at the Rare Book and Manuscripts Library in the Butler Library, Columbia University. It includes Alexander and Eliza's wedding bands.…

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French Aid to the United States, 1775-1781 (Hamilton 32)

Back in high school, I was taught that America's alliance with France was crucial for winning the Revolutionary War. Today's question: just what did the French contribute? King Louis XVI didn't love the…

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Hamilton Tackles Economics, 1781 (Hamilton 31)

On February 16, 1781, after a confrontation with Washington on the stairs at army headquarters, Hamilton resigned from the commander-in-chief's staff. He refused both Washington's apology and his father-in-law's plea to…

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Hamilton Resigns from Washington’s Staff (Hamilton 30)

In mid-February 1781, after four years as Washington's aide-de-camp, Hamilton resigned. The reasons behind this and the relationship between Washington and Hamilton, are the subject of nearly as much speculation…

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The Lee-Laurens Duel (Hamilton 29)

Months ago, I found John Laurens's letter to Hamilton about General Charles Lee's "infamous publication," and Hamilton's account of the Lee-Laurens duel. But  it took me weeks to find the "strong…

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Duelling Codes, Part 2 (Hamilton 28)

Last week, I looked at the Royal Code and (disdainfully, because I think it was made up as joke) at the Irish Code. This week, we move on to two other…

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Duelling Codes, Part 1 (Hamilton 27)

This post, I thought blithely, will be fast and easy.  Wouldn't every gentleman carry a pocket-sized copy of the Code Duello for reference in affairs of honor? I'll find a printed dueling code and…

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