#truxtun

do you know how fast did burr fled NY after the duel? i know he had a meal with someone the morning after, but do you know when he actually left the area/where he went?? 0_o

Alexander Hamilton died on July 12th. The next evening, Gouverneur Morris wrote in his diary that “The Corpse is already putrid and the funeral Procession must take Place to morrow Morning”. Burr, wisely, was not there; but he was still in the city.

On the 13th, he wrote to his son-in-law:

“General Hamilton died yesterday. The malignant federalists or tories, and the imbittered Clintonians, unite in endeavouring to excite public sympathy in his favour and indignation against his antagonist. Thousands of absurd falsehoods are circulated with industry. The most illiberal means are practised in order to produce excitement, and, for the moment, with effect. I propose leaving town for a few days, and meditate also a journey for some weeks, but whither is not resolved. Perhaps to Statesburgh. You will hear from me again in about eight days.”

By the 18th, Burr knew that his political enemies were out for blood, using Hamilton’s death to ruin him. The coroner’s jury had by then sat four times, in an attempt to return a verdict of murder (they would finally reach the desired verdict at the beginning of August). But he was still in New York, possibly due to his romance with ‘La G.’ which he hoped would “terminate in something decisive”. One assumes it did not.

Burr finally sneaked out of New York on the evening of the 21st, accompanied only by his enslaved valet Peter Yates; his loyal friend Samuel Swartwout accompanied him for a few miles, but turned back. He went first to New Jersey, where he was welcomed by his and Hamilton’s intimate friend Commodore Truxtun. Truxtun observed that “He appeared to me to feel much more sorrow and regret than I have observed in any other person on the occasion,” although one does wonder how much was for Hamilton and how much a reaction to the unexpected hatred and persecution.

From there he went to his friend Biddle in Philadelphia. There were rumours of assassination attempts, but he assured Theodosia that he went about openly as usual without any trouble. He also continued to court the lady ‘Celeste’, whom he hoped to marry; unsuccessfully.

CO of USS Truxtun Removed from Command after Oiler Collision Source link

Yes, that was the same Commodore Truxtun with whom he’d stayed while fleeing town after the duel. The same Commodore Truxtun who was shocked that his good friend Burr seemed uncertain of his welcome, and who wrote sympathetically of Burr’s “sorrow and regret”.

Truxtun was called by the prosecution because he had been named in the famous (and forged) ‘cypher letter’. By the time of the trial, he was convinced that Burr had never sent such a communication. His dignity on the stand, his consistency under questioning, and his frankness about his own disaffection with the regime, went a long way towards impressing the jury and getting Burr acquitted.

—

Mr Burr: Had I not frequently told you, and for years, that the government had no serious intention of employing you, and that you were duped by the Smiths? And do you not think that I was perfectly correct in that opinion?

Commodore Truxtun: Yes; I know very well I was.

…

Mr MacRae: Did he wish to fill your mind with resentment against the government?

Commodore Truxtun: I was pretty full of it myself, and he joined me in opinion.

—