Alexander Hamilton Papers

General Orders, Appointing Alexander Hamilton Aide-de-Camp to General Washington, 1 March 1777

General Orders,
Appointing Alexander Hamilton Aide-de-Camp
to General Washington1

Head-Quarters, Morristown [New Jersey] March 1, 1777.

Alexander Hamilton Esquire is appointed Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief; and is to be respected and obeyed as such.

Extract of General Orders

Alexd Scammell   Adjt. Genl.

Facsimile, Hamilton, Intimate Life description begins Allan McLane Hamilton, The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1910). description ends , 37.

1H’s copy of the General Orders has not been found. Washington’s General Orders of March 1, 1777, are printed in GW description begins John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington (Washington, 1931–1944). description ends , VII, 218.

It is not known how H came to Washington’s attention or whose recommendation led to Washington’s invitation to H to join his staff. For a discussion of the possibilities, see Mitchell, Hamilton description begins Broadus Mitchell, Alexander Hamilton, Youth to Maturity, 1755–1788 (New York, 1957). description ends , I, 104.

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