Timeline of Alexander Hamilton s military service during the American Revolutionary War Based on document entries from Harold Syrett s edition of The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, with dates of Revolutionary War battles added. Compiled by Mariana Oller October 14, 2012 1
1775 Spring New York, NY. Alexander Hamilton joins the volunteer militia of Major Edward Fleming and attends daily drills in the churchyard of St. George s Chapel August New York, NY. Alexander Hamilton helps rescue artillery guns from British seizure by dragging them away from Ft. George under heavy fire from the British warship Asia 1776 February 23 New York, NY. Col. Alexander McDougall recommends Alexander Hamilton for captain of a company of artillery to the Provincial Congress of the State of New York March 14 New York, NY. Alexander Hamilton receives his appointment as Captain of the Provincial Company of Artillery of the State of New York August 27 Battle of Brooklyn Heights, NY September 16 Battle of Harlem Heights, NY September 29 Harlem Heights, NY. Washington s Warrant Book No. 2 payment to Alexander Hamilton for his company of artillery for August, 1776 October 28 Battle of White Plains, NY December 19 Bucks County, PA. Washington s Warrant Book No. 2 payment to Alexander Hamilton for his company of artillery from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 December 26 Battle of Trenton, NJ (Alexander Hamilton artillery company takes active part in the attack) 1777 January 2 Second Battle of Trenton, NJ at Assunpink Creek (Alexander Hamilton artillery company takes active part in the attack) January 3 Battle of Princeton, NJ (Alexander Hamilton leads an artillery attack on Nassau Hall) January 20-May 29 Morristown, NJ 2
March 1 Alexander Hamilton is appointed Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief General Washington [Congress resolved on Feb. 21, 1780: That all aids de camp now in service, who were appointed before the 27 th of May, 1778, and are not admissible into any state line, receive commissions agreeably to the rank they are entitled to, under the resolution of June 5 th, 1776; the commissions to bear the dates of their appointments. (Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, XVI, 182). Alexander Hamilton s Commission as Lieutenant Colonel was issued by Congress in Philadelphia on October 25, 1780, and was forwarded to him by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison two days later. The appointment to his rank was valid as of 1 March 1777.] May 30-June 23 Middlebrook, NJ o June 2 Alexander Hamilton writes to John Jay on British brutality against Lieutenant William Martin June 25 Quibbletown, NJ June 27-July 4 Middlebrook, NJ July 4-7 Morristown, NJ July 12-13 Pompton Plains, NJ July 17-18 Smiths Clove, NY July 21 Galloways in the Clove, NY July 22 Smiths Clove, NY July 24-25 Ramapo, NJ July 25 Pompton Plains, NJ July 26 Mr. Lott s (east of Morristown), NJ July 27 Morristown, NJ July 28 Flemington, NJ July 29-30 Coryells Ferry, NJ August 1 Chester, PA August 3 Philadelphia, PA August 3 City Tavern [Philadelphia], PA August 4 Philadelphia, PA August 6-10 Camp near Germantown, PA August 12-22 Camp at Cross Roads, also known as Neshaminy Camp, later Hartsville, PA August 27-September 5 Wilmington, DE September 11 Battle of Brandywine, PA September 14 Near Germantown, PA September 17 Yellow Springs, PA September 18 Warwick Furnace, PA. Alexander Hamilton dispatched on a mission in front of the enemy to destroy food stores in mills along the Schuylkill River (at Daverser s or Daviser s ferry), assisted by Captain Henry Lee with a small detachment of his horse. The group was attacked by the enemy and suffered casualties, but Alexander Hamilton and Henry Lee escaped unhurt. 3
September 19 Reading Furnace, PA September 21 Potts Grove, PA September 22-23 Philadelphia, PA. Alexander Hamilton assigned on a mission to collect provisions for the army from Philadelphia September 28 Pennypackers Mill, PA September 30-October 1 Skippack, PA October 2-3 Worcester Township, PA October 4 Battle of Germantown. PA (Chew House) October 5-7 Near Pennypackers Mill, PA October 7-8 Pawlins Mills, PA October 10 Towamencin, PA October 11 Skippack Camp, PA October 12-15 Towamencin, PA October 18 Worcester, PA October 21-29 Whitpain Township, PA October 30, 1777-January 20, 1778 Alexander Hamilton travels to Albany, New Windsor, Fishkill, and Peekskill areas on a mission to meet with General Gates and arrange for the immediate transfer of troops from the Northern Department to New Jersey in order to reinforce the main part of the army under General Washington Alexander Hamilton itinerary while on mission to General Gates: October 30 Philadelphia County, PA November 1 New Windsor, NY November 2 Fishkill, NY November 5-6 Albany, NY November 9-12 New Windsor, NY November 13 Fishkill, NY November 15-December 22 Peekskill, NY (Alexander Hamilton sick at Dennis Kennedy s house) January 20-June 18 Valley Forge, PA 1778 Before January 29 Valley Forge, PA. Alexander Hamilton submits a report containing his observations and proposals regarding a new establishment and regulation of the army March 31-April 11 Alexander Hamilton appointed commissioner in negotiations with the British for a general cartel for exchange of prisoners, Germantown (April 2) and 4
Newtown (April 10-11), PA (along with Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison, and Elias Boudinot) May 12 Valley Forge, PA. Alexander Hamilton swears Oath of Allegiance to the United States June 19 Dr. Shannon s, near Valley Forge, PA June 21-22 Coryells Ferry, NJ June 23-24 Hopewell Township near the Baptist Meeting, NJ June 25 Cranbury Town, NJ June 26-27 Robins Tavern, 8 miles from Allen Town, NJ (Alexander Hamilton assigned with Lafayette) June 28 Battle of Monmouth, NJ (Alexander Hamilton takes active part in the battle and his horse is wounded with a musket ball) June 30 Englishtown, NJ July 3-7 New Brunswick, NJ July 11-12 Paramus, NJ July 13 New Brunswick, NJ July 14 Paramus, NJ July 15 Haverstraw, NY July 16 Haverstraw Bay, NJ July 19 New Brunswick, NJ July 19-22 Alexander Hamilton on a mission to Black Point, NJ, to meet with Count D Estaing and show him a proposal for an attack on RI July 20 Black Point, NJ July 22 Piscataway, NJ July 23 Newark, NJ July 26-September 15 White Plains, NY September 19 West Point, NY September 20-24 Fredericksburg, NY September 24 West Point, NY October 2-8 Fishkill, NY October 9-November 27 Fredericksburg, NY o October 16 Poughkeepsie, NY (Publius Letter, I) o October 26 Poughkeepsie, NY (Publius Letter, II) o November 16 Poughkeepsie, NY (Publius Letter, III) o Nov. 25 Examination of two British deserters November 29-30 Fishkill, NY November 30 Alexander Hamilton appointed commissioner in negotiations with the British for the exchange of prisoners (along with Robert Hanson Harrison) December 4 Elizabethtown, NJ 5
December 12 Amboy, NJ (negotiations for the exchange of prisoners) December 15-21 Middlebrook, NJ December 24-31 Philadelphia, PA December 24 Philadelphia, PA (Alexander Hamilton s account of Lee-Laurens duel) 1779 January 8-February 1 Philadelphia, PA February 9-June 3 Middlebrook, NJ o March 14 Alexander Hamilton writes to John Jay regarding his and Col. Laurens ideas of raising 2-4 black battalions in South Carolina o May 22 Alexander Hamilton writes to Laurens; opinion on Monroe June 4 Pompton, NJ June 4 Morristown, NJ June 5-6 Ringwood, NJ June 8 Smith s Tavern, NJ June 9-14 Smith s Clove, NY o June 6-11 Alexander Hamilton prepares State of the Opposing Forces memorandum June 15 West Point, NY June 18 Fishkill, NY June 19 West Point, NY June 21 Smiths Clove, NY June 22-July 16 New Windsor, NY (at Thomas Ellison s house on the Hudson River) o July 4 Lieutenant Colonel John Brooks writes to Alexander Hamilton regarding accusations against him from Francis Dana, member of Congress July 16 West Point, NY July 17-18 Stony Point, NY July 19 West Point, NY July 20-21 New Windsor, NY July 22-October 7 West Point, NY o September 16 Alexander Hamilton serves as secretary at a conference between Washington and Chevalier de la Luzerne October 7 Alexander Hamilton and Brigadier General Du Portail appointed by Washington to meet with D Estaing and explain Washington s ideas for cooperation upon D Estaing s return with the French fleet from Savannah (D Estaing, however, sailed south to the West Indies and did not met with them.) Itinerary on this mission: pass by Philadelphia October 13-18 Lewes, DE October 19 Little Egg Harbor, NJ October 21 Lewes, DE October 22 On the New Jersey Coast 6
October 26-November 11 Great Egg Harbor Landing December 1-31 Morristown, NJ January 2-March 8 Morristown, NJ 1780 March 7 Alexander Hamilton appointed commissioner along with Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonel Edward Carrington for settling a general cartel with the British for the exchange of prisoners at Amboy, NJ, on March 9 March 9-21 Amboy, NJ (negotiations for prisoner exchange) March 26-June 7 Morristown, NJ June 8 Near Springfield, NJ June 10 Heights above Springfield, NJ June 10-21 Springfield, NJ June 23 Rockaway Bridge, NJ June 24-25 Whippany, NJ June 26 Pequannock, NJ June 27-30 Ramapo, NJ July 2-9 Preakness, NJ July 11-16 Bergen County, NJ July 17-18 Preakness, NJ July 18-19 Bergen County, NJ July 20 Preakness, NJ July 20 Bergen County, NJ July 21 Preakness, NJ July 21 Colonel Dey s, NJ July 22 Preakness, NJ July 22-27 Bergen County, NJ July 30 General Howe s Quarters, Robinson s, NY o July 30 Robinson s, Highlands, NY o July 30 Paramus, NJ July 31 Robinson s Farm, NY August 1-6 Peekskill, NY August 8 Dobb s Ferry, NY August 11 Tappan, NY August 12-21 Orangetown, NY August 26-28 Teaneck, NJ August 28 Liberty Pole, NJ August 30-31 Teaneck, NJ September 2 Bergen County, NJ September 3 Liberty Pole, NJ (Alexander Hamilton writes his ideas on the defects of the present system in a letter to James Duane) 7
September 5-6 Bergen County, NJ September 8 New Bridge, NJ September 11 Bergen County, NJ September 12 New Bridge, NJ September 12 Bergen County, NJ September 13-15 New Bridge, NJ September 16 Bergen County, NJ September 16 New Bridge, NJ September 18 Peekskill, NY September 22 Hartford, CT. Alexander Hamilton accompanied Washington to a conference with Comte de Rochambeau and the Chevalier de Ternay September 25 Verplancks Point, NY. Alexander Hamilton pursues Benedict Arnold in an attempt to intercept him after his betrayal and flight to the British man-of-war Vulture September 25-26 Robinson s House, Highlands, NY September 27 Orangetown, NJ September 27 Near West Point, NY September 27 Robinson s, NY September 28 Continental Village, NY September 28-5 Tappan, NY o October 1 Orangetown, NY October 8 Paramus, NJ October 8 Tappan, NY October 9 Bergen County, NJ October 10 Preakness, NJ October 11 Passaic Falls, NJ October 11-22 Preakness, NJ o October 11 Alexander Hamilton letter to John Laurens regarding Arnold and André October 23 Passaic Falls, NJ October 24 Preakness, NJ October 25 Totowa, NJ October 27-29 Preakness, NJ October 30 Totowa, NJ October 31-November 1 Preakness, NJ November 1 Totowa, NJ November 2-6 Preakness, NJ November 10 Philadelphia, PA November 15 Passaic Falls, NJ November 18 Preakness, NJ November 20 Passaic Falls, NJ November 20 Preakness, NJ November 20 Passaic Falls, NJ November 21 Totowa, NJ November 21 Preakness, NJ 8
November 22 Passaic Falls, NJ November 22 Preakness, NJ November 23 Passaic Falls, NJ November 24 Totowa, NJ November 25 Passaic Falls, NJ November 25-7 Preakness, NJ December 9 Alexander Hamilton was nominated as Minister to France by John Sullivan, a delegate to the Continental Congress from New Hampshire. John Laurens was elected for the position. December 14 Albany, NY. Alexander Hamilton marries Elizabeth Schuyler; marriage registered at the Dutch Reformed Church December 15 -- Alexander Hamilton was nominated as Minister to Russia by John Mathews, a delegate to the Continental Congress from South Carolina. Francis Dana was elected for the position. 1781 January 1-March 2 New Windsor, NY o January 9 Fishkill, NY o January 22 West Point, NY o January 26-27 Ringwood, NJ. Alexander Hamilton accompanies Washington on the business of the Jersey revolt. o March 2 Home of Andrew Morehouse, NY March 7-8 Newport, RI. Alexander Hamilton accompanied Washington to Newport, RI, for a conference with the Comte de Rochambeau April 9-22 New Windsor, NY April 25-May 22 De Peyster s Point, NY July 10 Camp near Dobbs Ferry, NY July 12 Fishkill, NY July 12 Fishkill, NY, The Continentalist No. 1 July 13-15 Dobbs Ferry, NY July 19 Fishkill, NY, The Continentalist No. 2 July 21-28 Dobbs Ferry, NY July 31 Alexander Hamilton placed by General Washington in command of a Battalion of Light Infantry (composed of the light companies of the First and Second Regiments of New York, the two companies of York Levies under command of Captains William Sackett and Daniel Williams, also First Connecticut Regiment) in preparation for the Yorktown campaign. Alexander Hamilton s battalion joined the Advance Corps under the orders of Colonel Alexander Scammell recorded in Washington s General Orders 9
July 24-August 7 Dobbs Ferry, NY August 9 Fishkill, NY, The Continentalist No. 3 August 16 Light Camp, NY August 22 Haverstraw, NY August 25 Suffern, NY August 30 Fishkill, NY, The Continentalist, No. 4 September 5-7 Head of Elk, MD September 15-18 Annapolis, MD September 28-October 19 -- Siege of Yorktown, VA o October 10 Camp before Yorktown, VA o October 14 Alexander Hamilton commands the American force in a successful nighttime bayonet attack on the critically positioned British Redoubt #10 and overtakes it in minutes. The assault precipitates the fall of Yorktown and the surrender of the entire British army under General Cornwallis. o October 18 Camp before Yorktown, VA o October 19 Surrender of the British army under General Cornwallis to the allied American and French forces at Yorktown, VA November Albany, NY 1782 (March 1 Alexander Hamilton officially leaves active duty in the Continental Army) 1783 October 28 Alexander Hamilton promoted to the rank of Colonel by brevet in the Armies of the United States of America 10