My Dear Sir The letter accompanying this has lain by two or three days for want of an opportunity - I have hear[struck: e]d since of Gates' defeat a very good comment on the necessity of changing our system - His passion for Militia I fancy will be a little cured; and he will cease to think them the best bulwark of American liberty - What think [inserted: you] of the conduct of this great man? I am his enemy personally for unjust and unprovoked attacks upon my character, therefore what I say of him ought to be received as from an enemy, and have no more weight than as it is consistent with fact and common sense - - - - But did ever any one hear of such a disposition or such a flight? - His best troops placed on the side strongest by nature, his worst on that weakest by nature, and his attack made with these - "Tis impossible to give a more [2] complete picture of military absurdity - It is equally against the maxims of war and common sense. We see the consequence, his left run away and left his right uncovered - his right wing turned on the left has in all probability been cut off; though in truth the General seems to have known very little what became of his army - Had he placed his mi[inserted:li]tia on his right supported by the Morass and his Continental troops on his left, where it seems he was most vulnerable - his right would have been more secure, and his left would have opposed the enemy better; and instead of going backward, when he ordered to attack, would have gone forward. - The reverse of what has happened might have happened - But was there ever an instance of a General running away as Gates has done from his whole army, and was there ever so precipitate a flight? One hundred and eighty miles in three days and a half. It does admirable credit to the activity of a man [3] at his time of life - But it disgraces the General and the Soldier - I always believed him to be very far short of a[struck: n] Hector or an Ulysses - All the world I think will begin to agree with me - But what will be done by Congress? Will he be changed or not? If he is changed, for God's sake overcome prejudice and send Greene - You know my opinion of him - I stake my reputation on the event, give him but fair play. But, above all things, let us have without delay a vigorous government, and a well-constituted army for the war. Adieu My Dear Sir A Hamilton Sepr. 6th. 80 To Judge Duane [address leaf] Hon James C Duane [docket] Colo Hamilton Aug 6 1780