Lt. Col. Hamilton, Aide-De-Camp

On March 1st, 1777, General George Washington promoted Alexander Hamilton to the trusted position of aide-de-camp at the rank of lieutenant colonel, ordering that he “be respected and obeyed as such”. ¹ Hamilton thus joined the ranks of what the General called his military family, a remarkable inner circle of men whom Washington trusted deeply. ² Hamilton and Washington would experience the war together in close proximity, the good and the ugly.

As aide-de-camp, Hamilton was tasked with managing Washington’s correspondence with other officers, Congress, and state officials.³ Considering Washington’s many weighty expectations as General, he needed an aide to assist in what historian Peter R. Henriques referred to as “an inspired piece of ventriloquism.” ⁴ Finding that in Hamilton, Washington could count on him to eloquently say what needed to be conveyed without needing to directly dictate every word. The words of the General belonged also, in effect, to Hamilton. With the flow of information being as central as it is to good policy, this indicates the immense and abiding trust between the two men. Faith in one another would become a hallmark of their connection.

Hamilton was also unafraid to put his two cents in with his superior. He corresponded with General Washington advising on matters of war finances, relations with the public and Congress,⁵ military organization,⁶ and much more. However, Hamilton wanted more than just influence via words. His overarching motivation was to command men in battle, a request that Washington repeatedly declined to the ire of Hamilton. Washington likely would’ve found it hard to place such a vital asset into direct fire, but Hamilton felt he had something to prove.  Eventually, on the eve of the Battle Of Yorktown, Washington granted Hamilton command of the assault on Redoubt #10.⁷ Thanks in part to the actions of Hamilton and his men, The Battle of Yorktown would be the last major military engagement of the Revolutionary War. The success of this command, their mutual trust, and their extensive shared experiences through the long and bloody war galvanized the relationship between them. 

1. Washington, George. General Orders, Appointing Alexander Hamilton Aide-De-Camp to General Washington: 1 March 1777. Founders Online. National Archives. https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%20Author%3A%22Washington%2C%20George%22%20Recipient%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Alexander%22&s=1111311111&r=4. 
2. Henriques, Peter R. “The Great Collaboration: The Increasingly Close Relationship Between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.” In Sons of the Father: George Washington and His Proteges, edited by Robert M. McDonald. University of Virginia Press, 2013. https://catalog.lib.msu.edu/Record/hlm.ebs1992972e. 
3. O’Keefe, Kieran J. “Alexander Hamilton,” George Washington’s Mount Vernon, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/alexander-hamilton. (note??)
4. Henriques, "The Great Collaboration", 192
5. Hamilton, Alexander. Letter to George Washington: 13 February 1783. Founders Online. National Archives. https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%20Author%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Alexander%22%20Recipient%3A%22Washington%2C%20George%22%20Period%3A%22Revolutionary%20War%22&s=1111311111&r=61
6. Hamilton, Alexander. Letter to George Washington: Before 29 January 1778. Founders Online. National Archives. https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%20Author%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Alexander%22%20Recipient%3A%22Washington%2C%20George%22%20Period%3A%22Revolutionary%20War%22&s=1111311111&r=9
7. Henriques, 196