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FFQF: The Real Humor of Alexander Hamilton

The last time we touched on Hamilton’s humor, he borrowed it from his friend James McHenry. Today, we will see what credit his own words do to his own wit.

While it was not his regular habit to tell jokes, he never could resist poking fun when he could. While General Washington’s aide-de-camp, he was sent to arrange a prisoner exchange with the British. Although he thought them civil, he found them terribly … well, lets see what he says:

Our interview is attended with a great deal of sociability and good humour; but I begin notwithstanding to be tired of our British friends. They do their best to be agreeable and are particularly civil to me — but after all, they are a compound of grimace and jargon; and out of a certain fashionable routine are as dull and empty as any Gentleman need be. … You must not think me prejudiced, for the picture is a true one.

To Elizabeth Schuyler, March 17, 1780

Perhaps the movies of the long-nosed pompous British aristocrats of the colonial period are not too far from the truth!

If I may also add another amusing anecdote that made people chuckle back then, sometimes, the joke was on Hamilton.

After Hamilton’s heroic capture of Redoubt 10 at Yorktown on the night of October 14, 1781, he was probably still feeling a bit cocky and proud of his soldierly exploit. He eagerly anticipating the successful calumniation of the Revolutionary struggle, and rejoiced in the fact that he had played a crucial part in the play of events toward final victory.

In the height of such feelings, to which he was occasionally prone, he often needed to be reminded of things like, practical safety on the battlefield. Last night’s battle may have been successfully concluded, but the war still raged around them. The fighting was not over yet.

So the next morning, Hamilton, Major-General Henry Knox (who commanded the American artillery), and the Corps of the Sappers and Miners were busy repairing the British redoubts they had taken into a suitable defense position. One of the soldiers, a man by the name of Aenas Monson, of New Haven, Connecticut, was standing near the two men, when the following event transpired:

The blinds mentioned in the story were made of hogsheads and pipes filled with sand — they were placed there by the British, for they had occupied the redoubt, and had been driven from it by storm by the Americans.

Dr. Monson was himself behind those blinds, and within two or three paces of Hamilton and Knox. With Hamilton, Knox, and others, there were present in that redoubt four hundred American troops — the French troops were in another redoubt. A general order had been given, that when a shell was seen, they might cry out a a shell — but not to cry a shot, when a shot was seen. The reason of this distinction was, that a shell might be avoided, but to cry a shot would only make confusion, and do no good.

This order was just then discussed, Col. Hamilton remarking that it seemed to him unsoldier-like to halloo a shell, while Knox contended the contrary, and that the order was wisely given by Gen. Washington, who cared for the life of the men. The argument, thus stated, was progressed with a slight degree of warmth, when suddenly spat! spat! two shells fell and struck within the redoubt. Instantly the cry broke out on all side, “a shell! a shell!” and such a scrambling and jumping to reach the blinds and get behind them for defence [sic].

Knox and Hamilton were united in action, however differing in word, for both got behind the blinds, and Hamilton to be yet more secure, held on behind Knox, (Knox being a very large man and Hamilton a small man.) Upon this Knox struggled to throw Hamilton off, and in the effort himself (Knox) rolled over and threw Hamilton off toward the shells. Hamilton however scrabbled back again behind the blinds. All this was done rapidly, for in two minutes the shells burst, and threw their deadly missiles in all directions. It was now safe and soldier-like to stand out. “Now,” says Knox, “now what do you think, Mr. Hamilton, about crying shell– but let me tell you not to make a breastwork of me again.”

Doctor Monson added that on looking around and finding not a man hurt out of the more than 400, Knox exclaimed, “it is a miracle!”

The Virginia Historical Register and Literary Companion, by William Maxwell, Virginia Historical Society (pp. 229-230)

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