Show Is History Unfair In Recalling Him as Hair Buyer General Not only does docs this distinguished historian Dr Milo M. M Quaife secretary of the Burton cal al Collection in the Detroit Public Pubic Pub Pub- lie lic ic library show that Hamilton was very unjustly treated while a prisoner at Williamsburg but he also ilso doubts If history has dealt fairly airly with the in perpetuating perpetuating perpetuating per per- his Hair blair Buyer Duer General General Gen Gen- eral iral title Four years ago the Burton Durton Historical Collection was presented resented with the ledgers and account books of Alexander and William Villiam Macomb fiscal agents for or the British government at De De- troit during the Revolution Nowhere Nowhere Nowhere No No- where in these records according to o Dr Quaife is there any reference reference reference ref ref- ref ref- to the purchase of scalps In an interview with ith Dr Quaife which Ralph L. L Peters of the Detroit De- De troit News staff obtained at that time ime time the historian said I am convinced that Hamilton hasn't been given a fair deal deal in in more nore modern parlance he hasn't been een given much of a break Now I have no desire to make a hero of Hamilton It is entirely true rue that Hamilton as lieutenant- lieutenant governor of Detroit sent out Indian Indian In- In dian lian parties to attack the frontier settlements It is true that these war parties committed innumerable ble le outrages Those are facts facts facts- and they are terrible facts But it seems only fair to point out that in sending out such paries parties parties par par- ties ies Hamilton was doing no dif dif- than Montcalm Sir William Wiliam Wil- Wil liam ham Johnson and many others before him him and and as others did after after after aft aft- er him without receiving the censure cen cen- sure pure that accrued to him There is De Peyster Pester for example example ex ex- ample the man who took command com com- nand mand at Detroit after lifter Hamilton had lad marched to Vincennes and been seen captured by Clark De Pey- Pey r ni t e r 5 o 0 fT Ii ww Ht r 10 x fesSa 1 n. n v IV l l ft 11 t E w e wat e se tt a. a io 55 0 ie i tie 0 C sw d ius v. v Ai v vu v a. a 0 eve aa ye ea eaI a oo oot O t I e no sr 1 e E L Window of Hamiltons Hamilton's cell Inthe Inthe in inthe the restored Williamsburg jail ster continued to send out war parties against the Kentucky settlements set- set just as Hamilton had done The Indians committed outrages out out- rages rages but but De Dc Peyster has come comedown comedown comedown down to the present day as pretty much of a popular figure Hamilton and De Peyster were not responsible for the raidIng raidIng raid raid- Ing lag parties They were acting under orders The responsibility rests squarely on the king and the ministry at home Hamilton and De Peyster were agents of the government discharging the duties imposed on them Indian warfare was a terrible thing I certainly have no desire I Ito to condone it Here was the situation situation situ situ- however England and the Colonies were at war As far as England was concerned it was wasa a civil war war a rebellion The English wanted to hold the territory territory terri tern tory north of the Ohio There were but a few white soldiers available available so so they turned to the Indians In taking that action no matten matter matter mat mat- ter ten how much we may deplore it today the fact remains they were doing what every civilized nation has done through the ages ages em em employing savage allies when they were needed As recently as the World war you will recall the major powers used native forces to aid them in battle Jefferson included in the Declaration Declaration Dec Dec- of Independence an in indictment indictment in in- of the king for using merciless I Indian n d i a n savages savages' against the colonists yet colonists yet the Continental congress was not slow in making overtures for like employment employment em em- of the savages However the Indian warfare may have seemed to the settlers against whom it was directed itis it itis itis is wholly unfair for posterity to single out Hamilton for peculiar responsibility or infamy Yet upon him George Rogers Clark fixed the dreadful name the Hair Buyer and by this he remains even to the present time I have been able to find And no evidence when properly examined examined exam exam- ined med to show that Hamilton ever bought a scalp On the other hand there is evidence to show that he made repeated efforts to control the savage instincts of the Indians He lie denied in private reports to hi his superiors and to Jefferson and others as well that tha he ever bought a scalp Those are some of the reasons reasons rea rca sons why I feel that Hamilton was not as bad as he has been pictured that pictured that he hasn't been given given en a fair hearing |