#i dunno that alliance genuinely does fascinate me

[mcytegg]

is there a reason mapicc passively wants to kill rek or is it just a mapey thing 😭

[icarusbetide]

hot take on ham's "aegis" letter

Controversial take but Hamilton characterizing Washington as an "Aegis very essential to me" isn't a disavowal of personal feeling and evidence of purely political alliance like many historians argue. I think it's actually one of the most vulnerable & poignant things he could've said about Washington specifically.

During the war, Hamilton claimed to rebuff affection from the general because he hated "a kind of personal dependance" that was already inherent to being his aide. In 1787, he once again reacted defensively to a newspaper describing his standing as "under the shadow of such a patronage", writing to the man directly that "they have had recourse to an insinuation that I palmed myself upon you and that you dismissed me from your family—This I confess hurts my feelings".

But a decade later, he's able to admit that that same general was his essential shield and protector: knowing Hamilton's defensiveness, the aegis comment strikes me as an acknowledgement of a long, respectful, and yes, political and personal relationship that probably ripened in later years when they were able to reach a genuine understanding. Does that make sense? They weren't fully vulnerable and informal with each other (the only kid with the actual adoption papers is Lafayette, let's be real), but there's hidden depth and affection. I've seen a lot of historians go "see, this letter shows he used Washington for his political gains" and I dunno, I think it's revealing because he's acknowledging that aspect. Calling someone your "shield" or "protection"? Dare I say moving, perhaps even sentimental? Probably a lot of people disagree. It's still a fascinating relationship though, no matter how you look at it.

In 1781 to his father in law: * I always disliked the office of an Aide de Camp as having in it a kind of personal dependance...for three years past I have felt no friendship for him and have professed none. The truth is our own dispositions are the opposites of each other & the pride of my temper would not suffer me to profess what I did not feel. Indeed when advances of this kind have been made to me on his part they were received in a manner that showed at least I had no inclination to court them and that I wished to stand rather upon a footing of military confidence than of private attachment.

In 1800 to Tobias Lear, Washington's secretary upon GW's death: The very painful event which it announces had, previously to the receipt of it, filled my heart with bitterness. Perhaps no man in this community has equal cause with myself to deplore the loss. I have been much indebted to the kindness of the General, and he was an Aegis very essential to me.

*obviously this letter needs to be taken with a grain of salt since he was very frustrated at the time, but i think the point he makes about why he dislikes being aide and his reasoning behind how he treated washington, are revealing.