Evening star., 1951-03-04
Alexander Hamilton
Played important Role in Having Nations
Capital Located on Its Present Site
By John CIoqett Proctor

Perhaps of all the men who
were present with Washington at
Yorktown, and for that matter,
assisted him throughout the en-
tire war, none was as much re-
sponsible as Alexander Hamilton
for placing the Capital on the
present site, no doubt most ar
IDENTIFY desired by Washington.
This young man had brains and
he knew how to use them. And
besides, whatever he engaged in
or undertook he did enthusias-
tically, just as he did at York
town when he requested Wash
ington to permit him to lead the
assault on the redoubt on the
night of October IA, which was
performed, we are told. with a
brilliancy Of courage and success
that could not be surpassed.
His Courage and Mercy
Referring to this particular
heroic incident, George Washing
ton Parke Custis has this to say in
his recollections:
"At the siege Of Yorktown, it
was determined to storm the two
advanced redoubts of the enemy,
and the selection of officers and
men for this daring achievement
was intrusted to Maj. Gen. the
Marquis de Lafayette. The mar
quis lost no time in choosing as
the gallant officer who was to
lead the assault, 1t. Col. Gimet,
a gallant Frenchman, who had
been attached to the marquis
military family. Hamilton, be-
longing to the division OF light
infantry commanded by Lafayette,
was about to prefer his claim
when his warmest friends and ad-
mirers dissuaded him. owing, as
they said, to the vast influence IN
favor of the Frenchman, from the
presence of a splendid French
feet and army and the universal
desire Of doing every possible
honor to our generous and gallant
allies. Hamilton observed. I am
aware that I have mighty influ-
ences to contend with but I feel
assured that Washington is in
flexibly just. will not urge my
claim on the plea of my long and
faithful services, coeval with
nearly the whole war; I will only
plead my rank He accordingly
repaired to headquarters. The
general received his former and
favorite aide-de-camp with great
cordiality and kindness, listened
patiently to his representations
and finally granted his claims;
and 1t. Col. Hamilton, in pres
ence Of three armies, led the as
sault of the redoubt on the night
of the memorable 14th of October
"As the Americans mounted the
works. the cry of the soldiers was
Remember New London alluding
to the cruel massacre of the Amer
lean troops at Fort Griswold the
year before. When the redoubi
was carried. the vanouished Brit
ons fell on their knees, momen-
tarily expecting the eXterminating
bayonet; not man was injured
when no longer resisting. Fol-
Hamilton, who commanded, and
1t. Col. Laurens, who partici-
pated as a volunteer on this bril-
liant occasion, courage and mercy
have entwined a wreath of laurel
that time or circumstance can
never fade"
The Price of Liberty
And so 1t was in everything he
undertook, he was painstaking
and thorough; as soldier, states
man. jurist, philosopher-he was
great in all. In war he was Wash
ington's right arm; in peace he
was his main support and chief
adviser. and the most versatile
man of his time. The part played
by him, resulting in the placing
of the Capital here showed skill
and shrewdness worthy of an
older head and the trade he made
in this connection, in order to Sc
cure the passage of his bill for
the funding of the public debt and
the assumption of the State debts,
showed marked ability on his part
Hamilton's pet measure. which
showed a stroke of financial
genius, meant that the United
States as a whole should pay off
the foreign debt amounting to
something like $12 million and
assume the State debts. totaling
$21.5 million.
The Northern States were keen
for this legislation. Pennsylvania
alone possessed So million or
which it would draw interest. and
in addition to this, the citizens
held SIS million upon which they