| Show courage shown by hamilton on monmouth field what lover of american freedom can rend read of the part played by colonel hamilton without a sense of 0 pride lind and emotion A mere boy just the age of lafayette an artillery company at nineteen lieutenant colonel on oil the staff of washington 9 and at yorktown York tonn in 1781 in the presence of three armies lending leading the assault on the redoubt on tile night of october 14 with ft ath a brilliancy of courage and success that could not be surpassed indeed a monument built ns as big as the treasury building itself would not be too large tor for Me alexander xander hamilton for his great encouragement to the commander comman dei in cliplef to whom lie he even served for a while valle as confidential secretary all americans owe a debt of gratitude nor will history ever fall to record alie loyalty to ills his chief notably displaced at the battle of during a temporary reverse brought on by the retreat of picked officers and men under comma command d of maj gen charles lee george washington parke custis grandson gi andson of mrs airs washington and 11 adopted sort son of tile first r president es ident gives an interesting account of this episode lie tells us As the commander in chief accod panted by a numerous suite approached pro ached the vicinity of monmouth Uon mouth courthouse he was has met by a little alfer boy who archly observed they are aie all coming this his way your honor 1 who tire are coming my little ann asked general knox knot why our hos boys your honor our boya and the british are right after theta them replied the little litlie impossible 1 exclaimed washington and giving a spur to his charger ch aiger he be proceeded lit at full gallop to an eminence a short distance attend there to his extreme pain and moi it was discovered that the boys intelligence was but too true the hie very elite of the american army picked officers and men were in full retreat closely pursued by tho the enemy the first inquiry of the lie chief was for major general lee who comman commanded deI the alie advance and who soon appeared when a warm conversation ensued eliat ended by the major general being ordered to tile the re rear i I 1 r during this interview an incident of rare and interest occurred lieutenant colonel hamilton aide to the general in chief leaped from ills his horse and drawing his sword addressed the general with we are betrayed your excellency and this army Is betrayed and the moment has arrived when every true friend of america ica and her cause must be ready to dle die in their defense washington charmed with tile the generous enthusiasm of its his favorite aide yet et deeming the same ill timed pointing to the colonels horse hoise that was cropping the herbage un unconscious conselo of the great scene enacting around him calmly observed colonel hamilton you will vill take your horse tile general in chief now set himself in earnest nebout restoring the fortunes of the day it was here that sergeant molly molly pitcher made her name nam famous f by performing the duties i of an expert artilleryman john clagett proctor in the washington star |
