Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-17

the attention OF Washington and again
at White Plains. In October he vol
unteered to retake Fort Washington.
but the general thought the plan too
hazardous. In the retreat Of the Con-
tinental army through New Jersey he
earned as high praise for his sodierly
qualities I'm the protection Of the rear
guard with his battery as he had ear
Her for his pamphlets and speeches.
All this time Washington was studying
the youth.
on March 1. III Washington APP
pointed Hamilton his aid de camp, with
the rank Of Lieutenant colonel. The
commander-in-chief was overwhelmed
with correspondence. To ind boy who
was not only ready and powerful
writer but who possessed the instincts
Of statesmanship and the spirit OF
soldier was a rich discovery Hamilton
was tireless. Washington wrote we'll
but slowly and laboriously Washing
ton exercised a profound influence in
shaping and directing Hamilton's mind
In those days, but Hamilton also in
fiuenced the general. The messages
to Congress. the correspondence with
British generals and the other pa pers
that came from Washington that won
the admiration of the world by their
dignity and lucidity came from Hamil-
ton. Occasionally Washington revised
his secretary's work. but not often.
How absolutely Washington trusted
Hamilton may he seen by the fact that
he sent him on the mission to Gates
after the surrender Of Burgoyne Gates.
arrogant and pompous. was in no humor
to send the regiments Washington
called for to strengthen his forces so
he could drive the British out OF Phil
adelphia. Already Gates was pla inning
to supersede the commander-in-chief
He tried to deceive Hamilton. but was
gtlrflad IA ha ut 40
sternly exposed the deception 70 him
and then In a letter that was a MASTER
piece Of courtesy In the imperative
mood forced him TO send more troops
TO Washington than had been asked
for at first
With Putnam. too he showed equal
ability Putnam was honest hut obsti-
nate The old general would face a
regiment without fnching. but such
was the power OF Hamiltons per-
sonalitv that the two regiments called
for marched at Hamilton's orders, and
LETT Putnam too hurried 10 interfere
GOOD ADVICE TO WASHINGTON.
In the winter Of 1779 Hamilton saved
Washington from serious blunder.
plan had been worked out to kidnap
Sir Henry Clinton, who was in com
mand at New York. sir Henry lived
in house near the Battery and not
Tar from the river. There was little
doubt OF the scheme succeeding Ham
ilton, who had been away. did not
learn of the project until a day or two
before the time set for the kidnapping
Have you thought Of the conse-
quences2' he asked Washington.
In what respect?" Washington in
qured
why replied Hamilton, I'VE would
lose rather than gain by removing Sir
Henry from command. We understand
his character thoroughly. BY taking
him off we make way for another and
perhaps ADLER man whose chaacter
and disposition we would have to
learn"
Washington considered the subject
few minutes and then abandoned the
plan,
In December. 1850. Hamilton married
Elizabeth, the daughter OF Gen. Philip
Schuyler. Thereafter his position in
society was assured, for the Schuylers
were Of the greatest of the old families
Of New York state. The marriage came
little before Hamilton resigned as aid
de camp TO Washington. His duties
as secretary had become iIksome He
had an Idea he would make a great
general He was Disguised with Con-
gress. That body was sadly inefficient
Hamilton had more brains than half
of Its members combined. He chafed
because the various states were UNI
willing to aid Congress heartily and
because Congress did not have the
courage to exercise more authority He
believed in power and the use OF IT,
Possibly he was favorable to Washing1
ton intimidating Congress or In the
commander -chief arrogating to him
self something in the nature OF a milf
tary dictatorship. The army was in a
sad state Various members of Con-
gress were known to be "cornering"
foodstuffs while the soldiers went
hungry. Mutiny was threatened I'm
MANY regiments The men had not
been paid in many months. Congress
talked. but did nothing
Hamilton TO whom order and system
were everything. had tired OF pointing
out the looseness. waste and graft with
which Congress handled the affairs of
the army. He had laid plans for the
reformation Of the evils before Con-
gress various times and had made ad-
dresses To that body but without effect.
In the multitude OF his duties he even
round Time for the preparation and
presentation OF plan for rcadjusting
the fearfullv involved and crippled
finances OF the young republic. This
had gone TO Robert Morris. and had
been declared 10y him TO be mastery in
conception and IN dctail. II Is marvel
Gus how he found time to do the thou
sands OF things he accomplished. IL Is
more amazing how he did so many
things 50 wei, His letters and reports
are models. There IS no ambiguity to
any OF them He thought clearly and
wrote clearly. II mattered not whether
the subject was finance. tactics. milf
tary law foreign relations, civil law or
politics he appeared 10 know IL in all
its forms and phases. Washington
treated him more as a younger brother
than as a son or private secretary. Rare
indeed was the time when their opin-
ions clashed or when they were not
in the keenest sympathy. One day.
however. the break came. Washington
was worried. on the way TO headquar-
tiers he met Hamilton and asked him
to join him In a few minutes. Hamil
ton, while on mis- way 20 obey. met La
fayette. The two young men chatted
longer than they thought. Meanwhile
the commander-in-chief fumcd. What
Washington said was harsh and un-
warranted. The little secretary was
icily respectful until the general An
iShed Then he said he was not con-