HAMILTON, Alexander. Autograph letter signed ("A Hamilton") to James Duane, n.p. 6 September 1780. 3 pages, 4to, 228 x 190 mm (9 x 7½in.) . A SCATHING COMMENTARY ON GATES' DEFEAT AT CAMDEN A remarkably outspoken letter. Hamilton, aide-de-camp to Washington (whom he idolized), makes no secret of his dislike for General Horatio Gates. He felt that Gates had been responsible for many of the difficulties experienced by Washington in the wake of Gates' Saratoga victory, which won Gates a completely undeserved reputation as a general, one finally overthrown by Gates' disastrous defeat at Camden (16 August 1780): "...I have heard since of Gates' defeat - a very good comment on the necessity of changing our system. His passion for militia I fancy will be a little cured; and he will cease to think them the best bulwark of American liberty. What think you of the conduct of the great man? [Gates had fled to safety, 60 miles from the scene of the battle]. I am his enemy personally for unjust and unprovoked attacks upon my character, therefore what I say of him ought to be received as from an enemy...But did ever anyone hear of such a disposition or such a flight? He left troops placed on the side strongest by nature, his worst on that weakest by nature, and his attack made with these. 'Tis impossible to give a more complete picture of military absurdity. It is equally against the maxims of war and common sense. We see the consequences; his left ran away and left his right uncovered - his right wing turned on the left has in all probability been cut off; though in truth the General seems to have known very little what became of his army...." Hamilton lists the strategic errors made by Gates, then expresses amazement at Gates flight: "... was there ever an instance of a General running away as Gates has done from his whole army, and was there ever so precipitate a flight - one hundred and eighty miles in three days and a half. It does admirable credit to the activity of a man at his time of life - But it disgraces the General and the soldier - I always believed him to be very far short of a Hector or a Ulysses - All the world I think will begin to agree with me. But what will be done by Congress? Will he be changed or not? If he is changed, for God's sake overcome prejudice and send [Nathanael] Greene. You know my opinion of him. I stake my reputation on the event, give him but fair play. But above all things, let us have without delay a vigorous government, and a well constituted army for the War." Gates retired in disgrace after Camden and spent the next two years pressing for a Congressional inquiry, which cleared him in 1782. As Hamilton here suggested, Nathanael Greene was dispatched in October by Washington to salvage the military situation in the South.
HAMILTON, Alexander. Autograph letter signed ("A Hamilton") to James Duane, n.p. 6 September 1780. 3 pages, 4to, 228 x 190 mm (9 x 7½in.) . A SCATHING COMMENTARY ON GATES' DEFEAT AT CAMDEN A remarkably outspoken letter. Hamilton, aide-de-camp to Washington (whom he idolized), makes no secret of his dislike for General Horatio Gates. He felt that Gates had been responsible for many of the difficulties experienced by Washington in the wake of Gates' Saratoga victory, which won Gates a completely undeserved reputation as a general, one finally overthrown by Gates' disastrous defeat at Camden (16 August 1780): "...I have heard since of Gates' defeat - a very good comment on the necessity of changing our system. His passion for militia I fancy will be a little cured; and he will cease to think them the best bulwark of American liberty. What think you of the conduct of the great man? [Gates had fled to safety, 60 miles from the scene of the battle]. I am his enemy personally for unjust and unprovoked attacks upon my character, therefore what I say of him ought to be received as from an enemy...But did ever anyone hear of such a disposition or such a flight? He left troops placed on the side strongest by nature, his worst on that weakest by nature, and his attack made with these. 'Tis impossible to give a more complete picture of military absurdity. It is equally against the maxims of war and common sense. We see the consequences; his left ran away and left his right uncovered - his right wing turned on the left has in all probability been cut off; though in truth the General seems to have known very little what became of his army...." Hamilton lists the strategic errors made by Gates, then expresses amazement at Gates flight: "... was there ever an instance of a General running away as Gates has done from his whole army, and was there ever so precipitate a flight - one hundred and eighty miles in three days and a half. It does admirable credit to the activity of a man at his time of life - But it disgraces the General and the soldier - I always believed him to be very far short of a Hector or a Ulysses - All the world I think will begin to agree with me. But what will be done by Congress? Will he be changed or not? If he is changed, for God's sake overcome prejudice and send [Nathanael] Greene. You know my opinion of him. I stake my reputation on the event, give him but fair play. But above all things, let us have without delay a vigorous government, and a well constituted army for the War." Gates retired in disgrace after Camden and spent the next two years pressing for a Congressional inquiry, which cleared him in 1782. As Hamilton here suggested, Nathanael Greene was dispatched in October by Washington to salvage the military situation in the South.
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