The Trick Pistol That Doomed Hamilton

 

The sensational duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr has taken its place among American legends, along with Washington chopping down a cherry tree. Hamilton, says the legend, brilliant former Secretary of the Treasury and driving force of the Federalist party (who sought a strong central government) was ruthlessly gunned down by Burr, Vice President under Jefferson and later tried for treason because of his mad plan to set up a Mississippi Valley empire.  Hamilton, mortally wounded in the shoot-out gasped that he had never intended to fire.  The truth is the pistol in Hamilton's hand did indeed shoot harmlessly high, its ball striking a tree behind Burr, 12 feet high. Hamilton has always come across as the good guy tragically slain. Burr has always worn the black hat. 

 

Until recently few have questioned this legend. And no one has looked at an important piece of surviving evidence-the pistols with which the duel was fought.

 

Let us examine a few facts. Burr came of illustrious parentage: his father was the second president of Princeton (then the College of New Jersey), his mother was the daughter of Jonathan Edwards.  In the Revolution, young Aaron was a gallant officer under General Benedict Arnold during the disastrous march on Quebec; later saved his brigade during the battle of Long Island; later still served creditably at Valley Forge and Monmouth.  In politics he won the same number of votes as Jefferson for the Presidency, became Vice President upon decision by the House of Representatives.  One edition  of the Encyclopedia Britannica notes, "His fair and judicial manner as president of the senate, recognized by his bitterest enemies, helped to foster traditions in regard to that position..."  He was "generous to a fault, and was intensely devoted to his wife and daughter."

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