Beschreibung:

HAMILTON, Alexander (1757-1804), First Secretary of the Treasury . Manuscript document signed ("Alex Hamilton") and WITH HAMILTON'S AUTOGRAPH CORRECTIONS (totaling some 40 words in his hand), headed "Narrative of an Affair of Honour Between Gener l Lee and Colon l Laurens," countersigned by Major Edwards, Lee's second. Philadelphia, 23 December 1778. 4 full pages, folio, old repairs at fold lines and margins, affecting a few letters in several words . -- LAURENS, John (1754-1782), South Carolina patriot, aide to General Washington . Two autograph letters signed ("John Laurens") both to Maj/sr General Charles Lee (1731-1782), Philadelphia, 3 December and 7 December 1778. Together 3 pages, 4to, each with integral address leaf, folds with old repairs. . The first letter formally challenging Lee to a duel, the second concerning arrangements for the meeting. The latter signed twice on address panel by Major Edwards. (3) DEFENDING GENERAL WASHINGTON: THE FAMOUS LAURENS--LEE DUEL, WITH ALEXANDER HAMILTON AS SECOND, OVER LEE'S "ABUSE" OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF "...APPOINT YOUR TIME AND PLACE, AND NAME YOUR WEAPONS..." Laurens formally challenges General Charles Lee to a duel, accusing Lee of having "publicly abused General Washington in the grossest terms." Also included is the draft account of the duel--approved by the respective seconds. Both John Laurens and the 21-year-old Hamilton were at this date serving as aides-de-camp to Washington. Charles Lee formerly an officer in the British Army, seemed dogged by dissension. After being taken prisoner by the British in December 1776 (and, it later turned out, having passed to the enemy certain vital information), he was exchanged and rejoined Washington's command. At the battle of Monmouth, though, he conspicuously disobeyed Washington's orders to attack the British column on its march from Philadelphia. Afterwards, in conversation and in private correspondence with fellow officers (especially General John Conway) Lee unwisely made insubordinate and insulting remarks about Washington and his military prowess. After remonstrating for months, in July 1778, Lee was finally granted a courts-martial, one of the articles being disrespect to his Commander-in-chief. At the trial in July and August, Hamilton and Laurens testified, as did Baron Von Steuben and Anthony Wayne, two field commanders who had worked to rally the American line after Lee's ill-timed retreat. Lee was found guilty on all counts. In Laurens's letter of 3 December, he tells Lee that "I am informed that in contempt of decency and truth you have publicly abused General Washington in the grossest terms. The relation in which I stand to him [as an aide-de-camp] forbids me to pass such conduct unnoticed. I therefore demand that satisfaction which I am entitled to, and desire as soon as you think yourself at liberty, you will appoint your time and place, and name your weapons...." The "Narrative," manuscript is a corrected account of "the affair" (quite probably penned by Edwards, Lee's second), with careful corrections by Hamilton. It provides an extraordinary window on this historic duel: "Gener l Lee attended by Maj Edwards and Colon l Hamilton met...in a wood situate near the four mile stone...Pistols having been the weapons previously fix'd on...Genl. Lee propos'd to advance upon one another and each fire at what time and distance he thought proper...They approch'd each other within about five or six paces and exchan'd a shot...as Colon l Laurens was preparing for a second discharge Gener l Lee declared himself wounded. Colon l Laurens as if apprehending the wound to be more serious than it prov'd, advanc'd toward the Gener l to offer his support, the same was done by Colon l Hamilton and Maj r Edwards. Gen l Lee then said the wound was...less than he had imagin'd at the first stroke of the Ball and proposed to fire a second time. This was warmly oppos'd both by Colon l Hamilton and Maj r Edwards who declar'd...that the A