Alexander Hamilton Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Hamilton, Alexander" AND Author="Hamilton, Alexander" AND Recipient="Gates, Horatio"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-01-02-0264

From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Horatio Gates, 29 August 1777

To Major General Horatio Gates1

Head Quarters Wilmington [Delaware]
August 29th 1777

Sir,

Your two favours2 both of the 22d came to hand yesterday. His Excellency had been all the day out reconnoitring the country and did not return home ’till late in the evening; this morning he again went out upon the same business, and has desired me to acknowlege the receipt of your letters.

The signal advantages gained over the enemy by Generals, Stark3 and Herkemar4 at so gloomy and distressing a period were events as happy as unexpected, and bid fair intirely to change the face of affairs and frustrate all Mr. Burgoigne’s sanguine expectations. The new spring they must have given to the spirits of the country, it is to be hoped, will bring you sufficient reinforcements, at least to check the further progress of the enemy, and prevent their reaping the fruits of their former success.

The General has written to Congress on the subject of the General-officers’ commissions and has requested they may be dispatched by the return express.5

After hovering about the coast for several weeks, the enemy’s fleet at last have made their entrance into Chesapeak bay, and landed their whole army the 25th instant near the head of Elk. Yesterday they marched from their first position and extended their van to a piece of high ground called Greys-hill about nineteen miles from this place. How soon they will leave that on their further progress towards Philadelphia is uncertain; but it is hardly to be presumed they can have already made all the necessary preparations for pushing on. It is not improbable, they may establish a post at Greys-hill or at Iron Hill in front of that, in order to secure a retreat in case of accidents; and when this is done may be ready to continue their rout [e]. As the Eastern States can be no longer under any apprehension of a visit from Mr Howe, his intentions against Philadelphia being reduced to a certainty, we may hope our Northern army will now derive a decisive superiority over the enemy, from the full exertion of the whole force of those States.

I am Dear Sir   Your most Obed servant

Alex Hamilton ADC

ALS, New-York Historical Society, New York City; ADfS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.

1Gates was at Albany in command of the Northern Department.

2Both letters are in the George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.

3This is a reference to the Battle of Bennington (August 16, 1777), in which 2,600 American troops under Brigadier General John Stark defeated the British.

4This is a reference to Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer’s victorious stand at Oriskany (August 6, 1777) against a combined force of Indians and Loyalists.

5Washington to John Hancock, August 29, 1777 (George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).

Index Entries