#schuylkill river incident

[chaosoftheages]

Me: I'm gonna focus on my finals!!!

Also me: *Writes a Schuylkill River Incident fanfiction in the middle of my midterm week because it's been sitting in my drafts for like 2 weeks and I was bored*

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52291849

[eeviaylxix]

No but like can we talk more about the Hamilton Schuylkill River Incident because I think that we, amrev as a fandom, just all collectively glossed over that

[alexander-hamilton-2022]

what did you think of Captain Henry Lee III?

He was a brave soldier, he was also there when I had the incident on the Schuylkill River, plus we kept in touch after that, he was a good friend *Smiles*

[pjowasmy1stfandom]

People claiming Tumblr is dead like they claimed Hamilton was dead in the Schuylkill River incident of 1777

occasional posts from users

[aswithasunbeam]

A Miraculous Return

[Read on AO3]

Rated: Teen Audiences and Up (Depictions of Violence)

Summary: Hamilton is charged with destroying a flour mill as the British close in on Philadelphia in the wake of the disastrous battle at Brandywine. The mission doesn't exactly go smoothly. (AKA the infamous Schuylkill River incident)

__

“Is that more damn rain?” Captain Lee groused beside Hamilton, adjusting his hat to more fully cover his head after wiping a hand over his nose.

“I don’t think so. Just drops from the trees,” Hamilton answered in a whisper. His horse pawed at the damp earth restlessly beneath him, sensing the anxiety of her rider. He struggled to relax his shoulders as he soothed a hand over her neck, muttering, “Easy there, old girl.”  

“If you say so,” Lee said. “We’ll have a hell of a time getting the mill to burn if you’re wrong.”

Dusk was fast stealing the light of the already overcast day, leaving long shadows and an eerie quiet over the wooded area. The crack of a stick caught Hamilton’s attention, and his head wiped around as he squinted towards the source of the noise. An animal, perhaps, or one of the two sentries that Lee posted at the top of the hill before he, Hamilton, and their four men descended towards the banks of the Schuylkill, where the flour mill stood.

“Sir?”

With a last lingering look, Hamilton turned back in the saddle to see one of the men approaching.

“All clear,” the sergeant reported.

“Torch it, Higgins,” Lee ordered. “And let’s be gone before the devils realize we’re about.”

Higgins saluted and hurried back towards the mill. Lieutenant Rice on Hamilton’s other side leaned forward in his saddle eagerly as they lit their torches. Despite Lee’s concern, the flame caught easily, and the mill went up with a roar of flame. Rice let out a whoop of victory.

“Hush,” Hamilton commanded in a harsh whisper.

He could feel the heat from the burning building behind him as he tugged on the reigns, straining to hear. More sounds were coming from the top of the hill, scuffling, then voices. A shout quickly followed by a round of gunfire confirmed that they weren’t alone any longer.

“Get to the boat!” he commanded, swinging his horse around and galloping towards the ferry. He could feel Rice close on his heels, and a glance back confirmed the three other men were following rapidly by foot. Lee had started for the mill-bridge instead, though, beckoning the two sentries to follow.

“Lee!” Hamilton called.

“Go!” Lee urged, hardly giving him half a glance as he fired at the enemy with his saddle pistol.

Enemy cavalry poured over the hill towards them. Most still seemed intent on capturing the two sentries, but some had taken notice of their small party and broke off to pursue them towards the ferry. Bullets whistled by his ears, and he closed his eyes instinctively when one hit the tree beside him, causing wood to splinter out towards his face. He ducked low and dug his heels into his horse’s sides, spurring her onward.

The river was swollen with the recent rain, the current bubbling and rushing. The flat bottom boat he’d secured to the ferry dock for just this purpose yanked at its moorings. Higgins was already working on the knot as Hamilton gestured for the two other men on foot to board.

“Lieutenant—” He stopped when he saw the horse beside him no longer had a rider. Rice lay a few yards back, sprawled upon the ground, a red strain blossoming over his waistcoat and his eyes open and fixed upon the sky, unblinking.

Hamilton closed his eyes, exhaled, then clicked his tongue to urge the horse to jump the small distance into the waiting boat. She shied back for a moment, dancing in place, then did as he urged. He dismounted and went straight for an oar as the sergeant jumped in behind him.

The unrelenting enemy fire continued as they fought the rushing current. He squinted as he fought with all his might to keep them moving away from the bank. No sign of Lee or the two sentries. Another bullet whizzed by his ear.

“Don’t let the current pull us back,” Higgins urged.  

Another volley of bullets rushed towards them, and his horse let out an awful scream as she fell to the side and caused a wave of water to swamp the boat. The corporal who’d fled with them fell next to him, dead before he’d hit the water. Higgins had dropped his oar to grip at his shoulder, blood oozing through the cracks in his fingers.

Fear gripped at him.

The young private with them, still uninjured, looked to Hamilton with wide eyes. “What do we do, sir?”

His heart was beating fast in his ears, the scent of gunpowder and blood overwhelming his nostrils as he hunted for a solution. They would die if they stayed on the boat, that much was certain. Much as he didn’t want to hand the boat to the enemy by abandoning it, their dead bodies wouldn’t keep it from floating back towards the bank any better.

“Into the river,” he said, taking care not to let his voice quaver.

“Sir?” Higgins asked askance.

“It’s our only chance. Swim for the opposite bank.”

The private jumped into the rushing current immediately. His head dipped below the water and didn’t resurface. Hamilton let out another controlled breath as he looked at Higgins.

“Can you swim with your arm hurt?”

“We’ll soon find out, sir,” Higgins replied with a queasy smile. Another round of bullets robbed them of any choice. Hamilton jumped into the water half a second after Higgins.

The cold stabbed at him like needle-pricks all over his body, stealing his breath.

The current was wickedly fast, dragging him downstream. Water muted the sounds of the gunfire above, but he could hear it still as the British fired into the river indiscriminately. He kicked in the direction he thought was the opposite bank, trying to keep his head under the water in hopes of convincing the enemy he’d drowned. A few more bullets spit overhead, then finally stopped. He had to fight to breach the surface, sucking air in desperately when he did.

No signs of Higgins or the private, he noted with dismay as he struggled towards the distant shoreline. The river had dragged him far enough downstream that the British were no longer in sight either. He swam hard, pushing towards the trees of the opposite bank.

When he finally climbed out of the water, he collapsed onto his side, panting hard. His muscles burned from the effort, and the skin around his right eye stung where some of the wood from the exploding tree had evidently scratched him. The eerie quiet surrounded him again.

**

“The wounded will need to be evacuated,” Washington told Doctor Cochran in a soft voice, his eyes settling on Lafayette. The hospital was teeming with men wounded at Brandywine, making such an undertaking all the more complicated. There was no avoiding it now, though. “I cannot say how much more time we’ll hold the city.”

Doctor Cochran didn’t look surprised by the news. “I found a suitable place in Bethlehem, a little north from here. We’ll start preparing the move immediately.”

“Where is Hammy?” Washington heard Lafayette asking Laurens as he approached the bed.

“Torching the flour mill near Daviser’s Ferry,” Laurens answered. “It’s right in the path of the enemy advance now.”

“You didn’t go with him?” Lafayette asked, concern and surprise in his voice.

Laurens grunted and bumped a fist against the leg that had taken a musket-ball to the ankle during the battle.

“I can fight, mon Général,” Lafayette said when he saw Washington standing by his bed. “My leg, it is not so bad.”

Given that a bullet had sliced through the boy’s calf a mere seven days earlier, Washington had a hard time believing him. “You’ll be evacuated with the other wounded, my boy. There’s no room for arguing.”

“Laurens is up and about,” Lafayette charged, pointing towards the crutches leaning against the wall beside the aide.

“Don’t drag me into this,” Laurens said, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest.

Washington shook his head at the two. “Laurens’ wound was not so bad as yours.”

“Not for his lack of trying,” Lafayette grumbled.

Laurens pulled a face at Lafayette in answer.

Washington couldn’t help but silently agree with Lafayette’s assessment, though it did nothing to bolster his case for being freed from his hospital bed. Laurens’ conduct at Brandywine had been brave to the point of reckless, and that a ricocheting musket-ball to the ankle was his worst injury was nothing short of miraculous. Much as Washington would have liked to order Laurens to rest as well, he was worryingly short-staffed in the wake of battle. And as it was, Laurens was now hobbling around headquarters on crutches, grumbling about being held back from reconnaissance missions all the while.

A breathless private came rushing through the door of the hospital, skidding to halt under Doctor Cochran’s hard stare. Moving at a more appropriate speed, the private handed over a letter, his eyes averted as he muttered, “General. From Captain Lee.”

“Thank you,” Washington said, quickly unfolding the message.

All the blood drained from his face as his eyes ran over the account from Lee.

“Did they get to the mill?” Laurens asked.  

“They did,” he answered distantly.

Laurens let out a satisfied sound as he grabbed Lafayette’s shoulder. “That’s our boy.”

“They were attacked,” Washington continued, and the smiles bled away from Lafayette and Laurens’s faces. “Lee took to the bridge with the two sentries, and Hamilton retreated towards a boat with the rest of the men. They took fire as they set out on the water, and Hamilton went overboard with the others. Lee doesn’t expect he survived.”

“Non,” Lafayette whispered.

A wave of grief threatened Washington as he watched the two young men before him absorb the news. The mill had been a middling target, but Hamilton had been one of his only officers hale and healthy enough to oversee the task. His loss was a dear price indeed for such a small victory. He squeezed his eyes closed as the boy’s sunny smile appeared in his memory.

Laurens stood abruptly, his crutches clattering to the ground as he fumbled for them. He swore, stooped over, and shoved them under his arms before hobbling around the bed.

“Son,” Washington said, reaching out to catch him by the arm. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find him,” Laurens said, trying to wriggle free of his grip.

“You can’t,” Washington said.

“You’re wounded, and that is enemy territory,” Lafayette added.

“I don’t care. I’m going to find him. I can’t just…he could be hurt. He could be… He’s not….” Laurens swallowed hard, jaw tight. “He can’t be….”

Washington took a deep breath to bury the emotion stirred by the note. Mourning was a luxury none of them had time to indulge. “We’ll send a reconnaissance team to that area in the morning. They’ll find him, if he’s there to be found. There’s nothing more we can do.”

“I can’t just leave him there,” Laurens argued. “I can’t.”

“Where’s the General?” Washington heard a voice demanding just beyond the doors to the hospital. “It’s urgent.”

He bit down a swear at the interruption and turned to demand whoever it was wait another moment. The form that appeared in the doorway stole his thought, however, making him blink heavily with shock.

Hamilton.

Waterlogged, muddy, and breathless, but undeniably Hamilton.

“Sir, we were attacked at the mill. I’m not sure Lee made it out, and two more of our men were killed. I found two of the others on my way back to camp, and I was able to dispatch word to Congress through one of them. I advised Congress to leave the city immediately without fail. The British now have the means to launch an attack party into the city this very night. We should make haste in evacuating our supplies and the wounded.”

“Hamilton?” Washington asked, still not quite sure the figure was even real.

“Is it really you, mon ami?” Lafayette’s voice was choked with tears.

“Yes,” Hamilton replied slowly, brow furrowing. “Why are you all just staring at me?”

Laurens pulled out of Washington’s grip and surged forward, his crutches falling to the side as he reached out to pull Hamilton into an embrace. Hamilton let out a surprised huff but returned the affectionate embrace easily. When Laurens pulled back, he held Hamilton by the shoulders and shook him lightly. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Do what?”

Washington stepped closer and clapped Hamilton on the back, relishing in the feel of his form under his palm, solid and uninjured.

“Sir, what is going on?”

“Lee is uninjured. He sent word not five minutes ago that you’d been drowned in the Schuylkill trying to escape from enemy fire.”

Understanding washed over Hamilton’s pale, muddy face. “Well, I didn’t die.”

“Yes, thank you for clarifying,” Washington said, a smile twitching at his lips.

Hamilton laughed as Laurens attacked him with another embrace.

[yr-obedt-cicero]

So I've tried to research this and I literally cannot find it anywhere, but is Schuylkill River Incident with Hamilton true? I've read about in fics but I could find an actual source.

Yes, it is true, as told by Henry ‘Light Horse Harry’ Lee, who was present at the incident, in his memoirs;

“...while the British general pursued his route across the Schuylkill, directing his course to the American metropolis. Contiguous to the enemy’s route, lay some mills stored with flour, for the use of the American army. Their destruction was deemed necessary by the commander in chief; and his aid-de-camp, lieutenant colonel Hamilton, attended by captain Lee, with a small party of his troop of horse, were despatched in front of the enemy, with the order of execution. The mill, or mills, stood on the bank of the Schuylkill. Approaching, you descend a long hill leading to a bridge over the mill-race. On the summit of this hill two videts were posted; and soon after the party reached the mills, lieutenant colonel Hamilton took possession of a flat-bottomed boat for the purpose of transporting himself and his comrades across the river, should the sudden approach of the enemy render such retreat necessary. In a little time this precaution manifested his sagacity: The fire of the videts announced the enemy’s appearance. The dragoons were ordered instantly to embark. Of the small party, four with the lieutenant colonel jumped into the boat, the van of the enemy’s horse in full view, pressing down the hill in pursuit of the two videts. Captain Lee, with the remaining two, took the decision to regain the bridge, rather than detain the boat.

Hamilton was committed to the flood, struggling against a violent current, increased by the recent rains; while Lee put his safety on the speed and soundness of his horse.

The attention of the enemy being engaged by Lee’s push for the bridge, delayed the attack upon the boat for a few minutes, and thus afforded to Hamilton a better chance of escape. The two videts preceded Lee as he reached the bridge; and himself with the four dragoons safely passed it, although the enemy’s front section emptied their carbines and pistols at the distance of ten or twelve paces. Lee’s apprehension for the safety of Hamilton continued to increase, as he heard volleys of carbines discharged upon the boat, which were returned by guns singly and occasionally. He trembled for the probable issue; and as soon as the pursuit ended, which did not long continue, he despatched a dragoon to the commander in chief, describing with feelings of anxiety what had passed, and his sad presage. His letter was scarcely perused by Washington, before Hamilton himself appeared; and, ignorant of the contents of the paper in the general’s hand, renewed his attention to the ill-boding separation, with the probability that his friend Lee had been cut off; inasmuch as instantly after he turned for the bridge, the British horse reached the mill, and commenced their operations upon the boat.… Lieutenant colonel Hamilton escaped unhurt; but two of his four dragoons, with one of the boatmen, were wounded.”

(source)

Though I'm pretty sure the claim that the camp thought Hamilton was deceased, and that they were drinking in mourn as he comes in soaking wet — is a bit of a stretch, and a myth.

Hamilton evens writes partly bitter about it too, to John Hancock [18 September 1777];

“I just now crossed the valleyford, in doing which a party of the enemy came down & fired upon us in the boat by which means I lost my horse. One man was killed and another wounded. The boats were abandon’d & will fall into their hands. I did all I could to prevent this but to no purpose.”

(source)

[quillsink]

Have I read like 20 lams fics of when Hamilton is reported dead after the Schuylkill River incident? Yes. Am I going to read another one anyways? Yes.

[gracehosborn]

Ahh the Schuylkill River incident. I’d love to see some art of poor Hamilton having to dive fully clothed into the river while being fired upon. 😂

This is what Hamilton had to say about it, from a second letter he wrote Hancock, in the event that his first “should not get to hand.”:

[The British] sent a party this evening to Davesers ferry, which fired upon me and some others in crossing it, killed one man, wounded another, and disabled my horse. They came on so suddenly that one boat was left adrift on the other side, which will of course fall into their hands and by the help of that they will get possession of another, which was abandonned by those who had the direction of it and left afloat, in spite of every thing that I could do to the contrary.

Hamilton also noted at the end of the letter that:

The most cogent reasons oblige me to join the army this night or I should have waited upon you myself. I am in hopes our army will be up with the enemy before they pass Schulkill [sic]. If they are, something serious will insue.

“From Alexander Hamilton to John Hancock, [18 September 1777],” The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. I, 1768-1778 Ed. Harold C. Syrett, Columbia University Press, 1961. pp. 327-328. [Founders Online Link]

Dr. Syrett provided us with an excerpt from Captain Henry Lee about his perspective of the incident. Regarding Hamilton, Lee wrote thus:

“…while the British general pursued his route across the Schuylkill, directing his course to the American metropolis. Contiguous to the enemy’s route, lay some mills stored with flour, for the use of the American army. Their destruction was deemed necessary by the commander in chief; and his aid-de-camp, lieutenant colonel Hamilton, attended by captain Lee, with a small party of his troop of horse, were despatched in front of the enemy, with the order of execution. The mill, or mills, stood on the bank of the Schuylkill. Approaching, you descend a long hill leading to a bridge over the mill-race. On the summit of this hill two videts were posted; and soon after the party reached the mills, lieutenant colonel Hamilton took possession of a flat-bottomed boat for the purpose of transporting himself and his comrades across the river, should the sudden approach of the enemy render such retreat necessary. In a little time this precaution manifested his sagacity: The fire of the videts announced the enemy’s appearance. The dragoons were ordered instantly to embark. Of the small party, four with the lieutenant colonel jumped into the boat, the van of the enemy’s horse in full view, pressing down the hill in pursuit of the two videts. Captain Lee, with the remaining two, took the decision to regain the bridge, rather than detain the boat.

“Hamilton was committed to the flood, struggling against a violent current, increased by the recent rains; while Lee put his safety on the speed and soundness of his horse.

“The attention of the enemy being engaged by Lee’s push for the bridge, delayed the attack upon the boat for a few minutes, and thus afforded to Hamilton a better chance of escape. The two videts preceded Lee as he reached the bridge; and himself with the four dragoons safely passed it, although the enemy’s front section emptied their carbines and pistols at the distance of ten or twelve paces. Lee’s apprehension for the safety of Hamilton continued to increase, as he heard volleys of carbines discharged upon the boat, which were returned by guns singly and occasionally. He trembled for the probable issue; and as soon as the pursuit ended, which did not long continue, he despatched a dragoon to the commander in chief, describing with feelings of anxiety what had passed, and his sad presage. His letter was scarcely perused by Washington, before Hamilton himself appeared; and, ignorant of the contents of the paper in the general’s hand, renewed his attention to the ill-boding separation, with the probability that his friend Lee had been cut off; inasmuch as instantly after he turned for the bridge, the British horse reached the mill, and commenced their operations upon the boat.… Lieutenant colonel Hamilton escaped unhurt; but two of his four dragoons, with one of the boatmen, were wounded….”

Lee, Henry. Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States, Vol 1 Philadelphia, 1812. pp. 19–21. As seen in The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. I, 1768-1778 Ed. Harold C. Syrett, Columbia University Press, 1961. pp. 326-327. [Founders Online Link]

Lee’s account is more detailed and I love it. The description of Hamilton showing up right after Washington had received Lee’s letter claiming Hamilton had died in the river is hilarious. Like you, I can’t believe that’s real either.

Can’t wait to get to writing this in The American Icarus: Volume I, the first installment in my Hamilton historical fiction series. This’ll make up a fun duo of chapters lol.

Another iconic Alexander Hamilton moment

Hamilton and his men finally dove from the boat into the swirling waters and swam to safety. Scarcely stopping for breath, Hamilton dashed off a message to John Hancock that urged the immediate evacuation of the Continental Congress from Philadelphia. Just before Hamilton returned to headquarters, Washington received a letter from Captain Lee announcing Hamilton's death in the Schulkill. There were tears of jubilation, as well as considerable laughter, when the sodden corpse himself sauntered through the door.

[valend]

the schuylkill river incident (1777)

alexander hamilton, henry lee and a few other people were sent to burn down a barn that the british used for their supplies but as hamilton and his team arrived too many redcoats were in the area and they narrowly escaped. the barn was thankfully close to the schuylkill river so they all got in a raft but the british shot at the raft sinking it which made everyone swim away.

meanwhile henry lee had returned back to camp and informed the rest about what had happened and told them that hamilton and his team were most likely dead although he wasn’t sure. i think that they held a speech in hamilton’s memory (not sure about it)

later that night (or the next morning I don’t remember) hamilton and his team walk back to the headquarters soaking wet just confused because why did no one come look for us huh what do you mean i’m dead what are you talking about

[fanfics-andstuff]

Gillivia First Meeting

Lafayette woke up due to shouting, he quickly put on his uniform to see what was going on. French and American soldiers were fighting, Lafayette knew that there were tensions through the men, but he never knew it would get this bad. Before General Washington or Lieutenant General Comte de Rochambeau could say anything, he heard a voice.

“One…” a woman counted in a low, but commanding voice. Those who heard it turn to her, only to freeze in shock. The woman was wearing the deadliest, most cold, and most terrifying glare that Lafayette had ever seen.

“Two…” Now all of the soldiers were looking at her in shock and fear.

“Three…” The woman jumped off her horse and the Major General could finally get to observe all of her: she was wearing a red dress under her black cloak, her fiery red hair was braided into a plait and hanging over right shoulder, her violet-blue eyes reminded him of his friend; Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, she had freckles dotted across her cheeks, nose, and ears, and had pink-red lips.

“Ah...I thought you were arriving the day after tomorrow, my daughter?” son général asked. Wait what?! My daughter?! She doesn’t look a thing like George Washington!

“Yes, Papa, but traveling through New York to Valley Forge as a Patriot is no easy feat.” The unknown woman mused, “I would be in a blue dress, but I thought it would be easier in red. New York and Pennsylvania are full of lobsters and loyalists.”

She looked at General Washington’s hair, face full of amusement and exasperation, “And you still have your potato hair,” she tsked her tongue, “I feel so sorry for you.” Snorts and laughter were heard around the men at the joke.

Finally, the commander in chief of the Continental army introduced the woman to the camp. “Everyone, this is Olivia Rachel Hamilton, she is a very important and very special asset in this war against the British. I expect you all to welcome her or welcome her back with open arms and respect her.”

Olivia Rachel Hamilton, where had he heard of that name before? Right! She participated in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Paoli, Battle of Setauket, she was with her brother during the Schuylkill River Incident, trained the under-trained soldiers, kept the army fed, and nursed the wounded back to health. Lafayette had heard of her name throughout the year about how kind, brave, and caring she was and her unknown reason to depart from camp. Yes, he had heard of her, but never seen nor met her.

He had heard some of the French and American soldiers, who obviously didn’t know her well enough as to why Washington would ask them that, especially of a measly woman even if she was Hamilton’s sister, he had heard slurs about her from her appearance down to her accent.

General Comte de Rochambeau introduced himself to Olivia with the help of translating from her twin brother.

“And Olivia this is-” General Washington got cut off by Olivia, “Major General Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, yes I know exactly who you are, monsieur.” Her Nevis accent was more pronounced when she spoke French. Upon hearing her say the French word perfectly, the soldiers from France froze.

“Oui, je connais le français avec l'espagnol, le danois, l'hébreu, le grec, le latin et l'italien. Voulez-vous savoir pourquoi le général Washington vous a demandé cela? Ce n’était pas à cause du rang de mon plus jeune frère jumeau, c’était parce que je l’avais mérité, par moi-même. Ne sous-estimez pas les femmes mais ne les surestimez pas non plus, ce sera votre chute avec votre fierté et votre ego. Bien que j'aime plutôt être sous-estimé, le choc sur ceux qui en ont est assez amusant, si je le dis moi-même.”

"Via, vous n'êtes plus âgé que de 30 secondes."

“Oui, Xander, cela signifie que je suis sur la bonne Terre de Dieu depuis 30 secondes avant toi.”

Lafayette could feel a start of a fight and so did Washington as he reminded Olivia about the introduction. “Ah! Yes, of course, Papa. It was a pleasure to meet you, Marquis.” Before anyone could start talking, she spoke again, “Now if everyone would excuse me, I need to take a nap, my journey was not a relaxing one.” She nodded and walked inside Alexander’s tent with said man escorting her.

She is one interesting lady Lafayette thought, before having sleep taking over him once again.

.

.

.

Translations:

-his General

-“Yes, I know French along with Spanish, Danish, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Italian. Do you want to know why General Washington asked that of you? It wasn’t because of my younger, twin brother’s rank, it was because I had earned it, by myself. Do not underestimate women but don’t overestimate them either, it will be your downfall along with your pride and ego. Though I rather like being underestimated, the shock on those who have is quite amusing, if I do say so myself.”

-“Via, you are only older by 30 seconds.”

-“Yes, Xander, that means that I have been on God’s good Earth for 30 seconds before you.”

[ao3feed-lams]

17º That Would Be Enough

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/3jLl9hI

by Cho_Sofia

"The fact that you're alive is a miracle"

Schuylkill river incident. Alexander is sent on a mission on the Schuylkill but it doesn't go as planned and he falls into the river. The news of his death reaches camp and John and Lafayette mourn the loss of their lover, until one drenched Hamilton walks in on his own funeral.

Words: 3146, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 15 of The Hamilton songfics (not really)

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens, Lafayette, George Washington

Relationships: Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens, Alexander Hamilton/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, John Laurens/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton & George Washington

Additional Tags: Temporary Character Death, Historical Inaccuracy, Hurt Alexander Hamilton, George Washington is a Dad, Polyamory, Fluff and Angst, schuylkill river

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/3jLl9hI

[inhales-agressively]

the Schuylkill River Incident shall forever hold a special place in my heart

CALLING THE AMREV FANDOM

So a good friend of mine just learned about Thomas Jefferson getting a headache from a crush, so I'm interested in your feedback....

Favorite moments of the founding fathers being moods?

[my-deer-friend]

Fall into grace

When Alexander Hamilton gets injured coming off his horse at the Battle of Brandywine, John Laurens is sent to burn flour mills along the Schuylkill River instead.

They aren’t back yet, and Alexander is worried. John is not the right person to be leading this mission.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have let himself get attached, after all.

---

The Schuylkill River incident, in reverse. 

Chapter one of six is up (rest going up daily)

An angsty collab brought to you by my_deer_friend (@holyqueencheesecake) and Pink_raspberry (@hamiltons-bones)

[jack-the-sol]

Aha i see you're here... Historical Lams can suck my cock and themodern-majorgeneral is the stupidest shit on Tumblr I mean!!!! Why are you even friends with that little rat

That "little rat" is my best friend and if you think I'm gonna stand by and let you insult her than you're dead wrong, buddy. You're landing some awfully low blows by insulting somebody's character, and you're also avoiding the main topic by doing that.

So if you want reasons for me to tell you that you're wrong, I'm gonna give you some.

John Laurens and Alexander Hamilton wrote very flirtatious letters to each other ("Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships, it is my wish, my Dear Laurens, to convince you with actions rather than words that I love you" and Laurens encouraging Hamilton to get married, calling marriage "a Cure").

When Laurens was a POW in Philly, Hamilton visited him.

Hamilton encouraged Laurens' battalion plan like crazy.

Laurens had a hat made and sent to Hamilton.

They bought side by side together in Yorktown, which just so happened to be the one battle that Laurens wasn't wounded in.

Hamilton's own grandson called Hamilton, Laurens, and Lafayette "The Gay Trio".

Laurens had never shown much interest in women and actually caught the attention of both genders quite frequently.

Hamilton invited Laurens to his wedding and "the final consummation".

Hamilton remarking that he loves Laurens "like the French" (like a lover) and Eliza loved him "like an American" (like a brother).

Hamilton was Laurens' second at the Laurens-Lee Duel.

Hamilton's numerous sexual innuendos in their letters.

Laurens neglected a lot of his work when Hamilton was sick in January of 1778, presumably to take care of Ham.

Laurens' past lover was a man. He only married Martha Manning out of pity and probably because of a drunken incident trying to rebound from Francis Kinloch "breaking up" with him.

How Laurens acted when he thought Hamilton drowned in the Schuylkill River.

Hamilton's reaction to Laurens' death, which is a period where he closed himself off and hardly spoke with anybody, much like when Philip, his own son, died.

They worked together and presumably slept together, both literally and figuratively.

The Aides-De-Camp of Washington were "close-knit" in their quarters, so it can be assumed that they were all close, but none of the other aides kept in contact as much and as expressively as Hamilton and Laurens.

That's all I have for now, but I highly suggest you reconsider your opinion on Lams and check out:

@john-laurens

@ciceroprofacto

@sonofhistory

@sunnyrea

They all have so much more information than I can offer and I learned a lot of the same information from them. If you want to get your head out of your ignorant ass and learn that I'm right, check all of them out.

I'm done ranting. Leave my friends alone. Get off Anon and insult me properly if you want.

[lionwrote]

I think i'm going to write about the schuylkill river incident as a lil one shot to possibly make myself feel better, give myself some angst

[unicornsaures]

AUGHH I WAS THINKING THAT TOO!! schuylkill river incident where r u..☹️

My reading update on Duty and Inclination:

SIRS! IT IS ONLY CHAPTER SIX! Lord have mercy!

It is cute but I can't excuse the fact that they left out the fake Hamilton death. That is so much potential for angst!