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icarusbetide · 8 days

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connection between wartime administration & federalist-lean?

There's an argument that wartime service and experiencing Congress' failures firsthand as Washington's aide de camp pushed Hamilton further into the ideals that would later be seen as Federalist: a national instead of state outlook, a permanent military power, and a strong, efficient government.

I was wondering if that argument can be applied on a broader scale: is there an overall connection between revolutionary wartime administration and federalist-leaning political beliefs?

I'm by no means qualified but for my own curiosity's sake, I tried to find the political inclinations of former leaders in the war as well as members of Washington's family, who arguably should have seen the same inefficiencies as Hamilton.

Major Generals:

Washington: Tried very hard to be nonpartisan, but pretty federalist when all's said and done. Especially in 2nd term as president and in last years of life Horatio Gates: Supported Jefferson's presidency, so assuming he was leaning Democratic-Republican? Henry Knox: Federalist Philip Schuyler: Federalist William Alexander, Lord Stirling: Not sure John Sullivan: Federalist, led drive in New Hampshire for Constitution's ratification Thomas Mifflin: Federalist according to Wikipedia (was also aide to GW from June to August 1775) Arthur St. Clair: Federalist. Governor of Northwest Territory, removed by Jefferson in 1802 due to political party differences. Benjamin Lincoln: Federalist, strong policies and presence in Massachusetts Thomas Conway: Unreliable source says Federalist William Moultrie: Some sites say Federalist but he had falling out with Washington because of his pro-French actions towards Genet. Possibly nonpartisan.

Washington's family (Aides, Culper, Life Guard. If they died before we can quantify as "Federalist", then not included):

Note: I tried to include length of service and timeline, arguably important (there during Valley Forge or good period?), but it's difficult in consideration of leave and such. Used Wikipedia's dates.

Edmund Randolph (August - November 75): Wiki says Federalist but I know enough about him that he was often the swinging vote in Washington's cabinet, and that he didn't sign the Constitution because he thought it too strong. Tench Tilghman (August 76 - June 80 | June 80 - Nov 83): Died in 1786. I shouldn't include him but raise a glass for our hardworking Tilghman. Robert Harrison (Nov 75 - May 76 | Military Sec May 76 - 81): Died in 1790. Wikipedia says Federalist. John Fitzgerald (Nov 76 - July 78): Couldn't find John Walker (Feb - March 77): Unreliable source says Federalist Samuel Blachley Webb (June 76 - Jan 77): Couldn't find William Grayson (Assistant Sec. July - August 76 | Aide August 76 - Jan 77): Leader of Anti-Federalist faction with Mason, Monroe, etc. died in 1790 Alexander Contee Hanson Sr. (Assistant Sec. June - Sep 76): Federalist according to Wiki Alexander Hamilton (March 77 - April 81): Is this even a question? Stephen Moylan (March 76 - June 76 | Sept. 76 - Jan 77): "Firm Federalist" according to Founders Online James McHenry (May 78 - August 80): Federalist, GW's Secretary of War in 2nd term when cabinet members were much more partisan. Richard Kidder Meade (March 77 - November 80): Couldn't find. I know that he was very close with Hamilton, which makes me think it possible that their politics had some similarities? But entirely speculation. Hodijah Baylies (May 82 - Dec 83): Federalist. According to Founders Online, Gallatin was advised against Baylies because he was a "decided and we believe a sentimental federalist”. David Cobb (June 81 - Jan 83 | June 83 - Dec 83): Wiki says Federalist Peregrine Fitzhugh (July 81 - Oct 81): Not sure if same Peregrine Fitzhugh, but in a letter to Jefferson in 1807, said: "It is true I have been called a Federalist, and feel a pride in being so: but my Federalism is firmed in those principles which dictated the correct and memorable declaration that we were all Federalists all republicans" William Stephens Smith (July 81 - June 82): Federalist (member of Congress as Federalist in 1812) David Humphreys (June 80 - Dec 83): Federalist. He was part of the Hartford Wits and wrote the poem The Anarchiad. "In 1802, Thomas Jefferson...decided to replace Humphreys...Historians speculate that Humphreys's closeness to the Federalist Party motivated Jefferson’s decisions." from Mt. Vernon Richard Varick (Aide & Priv Sec May 81 - Dec 83): Apparently Federalist and later mayor of New York Benjamin Walker (Jan 82 - Dec 83): Federalist, elected to Congress as Federalist

Caleb Gibbs (May 76 - Dec 80): Couldn't find Nathaniel Sackett: Couldn't find Benjamin Tallmadge (1778 - 1783): Federalist, part of minority in Congress during Jefferson & Madison administrations

Other aides who might've had administrative work, although I'm not sure:

Aaron Burr: Very short run with Washington, and Israel Putnam's aide. Technically Democratic-Republican, but some historians have noted his politics did not always align with a party.

James Monroe: Aide to Stirling, Republican-Democratic

Concerns:

First concern: I'm not sure if the other major generals' aides would see as much administrative work directly with Congress as Washington's aides. I'm under the impression that other generals would report to Washington, than Congress, but I'm not sure.

Second concern: I also want to add that other factors would have most definitely played a role, such as familial and economic interests, which may or may not have been influenced by the war. Still, I thought it would be an interesting exercise.

Third concern: A lot of this is very shallow research as I did not have the time or energy to really dig into all of them. Please let me know if there is any inaccurate information (even Federalist or Democratic Republican is a very broad term and I'm sure their beliefs varied).

Please let me know if you see any inaccurate information, or anyone/some branch I did not consider!

#alexander hamilton #george washington #aaron burr #the aides de camp #amrev #amrev fandom #revolutionary war

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melpomeneprose · 11 months

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CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE !!

Tagged by: myself.

Tagging: @withinycu, @adrienne-lafayette-official, @johngravessimcoe, @cavalrylad, @musenssang, @philip-hamilton-official, @sharp-teeth-and-wide-grins, @virgosjukebox. 💙

✧･ﾟ 𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄.

► BENJAMIN TALLMADGE.

Name: Benjamin Tallmadge.

Alias(es): Ben, Major Tallmadge, 2nd Continental Light Dragoon, Tall-boy, & Captain Tallmadge. “Beagle tilting his head.” (Creator of Washington’s spies tv).

“Beagle” “Washington’s hunting dog” (affectionate & derogatory, from both sides)

Gender: male (he/him).

Orientation: not your business.

(Bi, repressed and ashamed about it, but bi, in my personal portrayal and reading/headcanons, having read his memoirs & letters, but the truth is… as with Alexander Hamilton, we’ll never know). Age: 22-24.

Date of birth: February 25, 1754

Place of birth: Setauket or Brookhaven, Long Island, NYC.

For simplicity he’ll say, New York, sometimes.

Spoken language(s): English, Latin, trying really hard for French thus far not succeeding. Do code books count?

Occupation(s): soldier, spymaster, congressman, statesman. (au: lawyer) (modern verse: law student).

★ ⸻ APPEARANCE

Eye colour: blue, the kind you can drown in, it’s his most attractive feature, according to popular opinion.

Hair colour: dirty blonde.

Height: 6’0” (tall by 18th century standards).

Other: rarely ever seen out of uniform.

Has anxiety & PTSD, should probably touch grass. Deserves a hug and deserves better.

★ ⸻ FAVORITE

Colour: red, white, gold and blue, neutral black that suits everything or gray works to.

Song: Benjamin’s playlist.

Food: bread, salt, cheese, or fish.

Drink: brandy or wine.

★ ⸻ HAVE THEY...

Passed university: Yale college, top of his class!

Had sex: not your business.

Had sex in public: no.

Gotten pregnant/someone else pregnant: wants kids, but not that way, and not at this exact moment. Given the war.

Kissed a boy: no. (Yes) Nathan Hale.

Kissed a girl: yes.

Gotten tattoos: no.

Gotten piercings: no.

Been in love: he’s not sure if it counts, to be blunt, but for reason of answering, yes.

Stayed up 24+ hours: for the cause, yes.

★ ⸻ ARE THEY...

A virgin: not your business, also a construct society cruelly and hypocritically only applies to the fairer sex. (No).

A cuddler: yes.

A kisser: circumstantially.

Scared easily: most certainly not!

Jealous easily: yes!

Submissive: switch.

Dominant: none of your business.

In love: verse/thread dependant.

Relationship status: I am married to honour and the revolution until this is over. (Single).

★ ⸻ RANDOM QUESTIONS

TW for self-harm/suicide mention.

Have they harmed themselves: not unless you count accidentally falling in the Delaware river.

Thought of suicide/ideated: under the pressure of war, atrocities, violence and bloodshed. Yes. But rarely.

Attempted suicide: only if you count a Protestant martyr complex, as the son of a preacher it runs in the family.

Wanted to kill someone: side eyes Simcoe.

But he didn’t enjoy the killing in question.

Have/had a job: Washington’s staff.

Fears: death, abandonment, losing control, not being enough, losing the war, tyranny, his own capacity to help vs harm and the moral dilemma of mundane human existence and soldiering.

Sibling(s):

Samuel Tallmadge.

William Tallmadge.

John Tallmadge.

Isaac Tallmadge.

Parent(s): Susannah Tallmadge (née Smith)(deceased)/Rev. Samuel Tallmadge sr.

Children: verse/thread dependant.

Children In history:

Frederick A. Tallmadge

Maria Jones Tallmadge

William Smith Tallmadge

Harriet Tallmadge Delafield

Benjamin Tallmadge Jr.

Henry Tallmadge.

Significant other(s): Nathan Hale (deceased), Sarah Livingston (ex lover, kinda, sorta, it’s complicated & traumatizing).

Significant other(s) in history:

Mary Floyd (1784 to 1805).

Maria Hallet (1808 til death in 1835).

Pet(s): he should like to have a beagle, or grey hound, but, none presently.

Benjamin’s Wikipedia.

Benjamin’s memoir.

In canon: TURN.

Culper ring.

#muse: benjamin tallmadge #about / to confide or confess #visage / merely aiding nature #meta #headcanon #headcanons #historical verse.#history #historical references

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theworstfoundingfathers · 1 year

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Who is the worst? Round 1: William Short vs Abraham Woodhull

William Short (1759–1849) was an American diplomat during the early years of the United States. He served as Thomas Jefferson's private secretary when the latter was a peace commissioner in France, and remained in Europe to take on several other diplomatic posts. Jefferson, later the third President of the United States, was a lifelong mentor and friend. In a 1789 letter, Jefferson referred to Short as his "adoptive son."

During his time in Paris as Thomas Jefferson's private secretary, William Short served as charge d'affaires in Jefferson's absence. Short's appointment to this role was President Washington's first appointment under the new Constitution, and thus Short holds the honor of being the first Presidential nominee in U.S. history. After Jefferson returned to America in 1789, Short continued as charge d'affairs, and since he was the highest ranking American diplomat in France he essentially served as the replacement U.S. Minister for three years. During this time, in what would become a lifelong correspondence, Short provided Jefferson with detailed reports on the progress of the French Revolution. After 1792, Short became increasingly disillusioned with the excessive violence of the Revolution, which resulted in several friends being arrested or murdered.

Abraham Woodhull (October 7, 1750 – January 23, 1826) was a leading member of the Culper Spy Ring in New York City and Setauket, New York, during the American Revolutionary War. He used the alias "Samuel Culper" (later "Samuel Culper Sr."), which was a play on Culpeper County, Virginia, and was suggested by George Washington.

The Culper Ring was a successful operation that provided Washington with valuable information on the British Army headquartered in New York from October 1778 to the end of the war. After the United States gained independence, Woodhull served as a magistrate, as had his father before him, and served as a judge in Suffolk County, New York.

Woodhull served as a lieutenant in the Suffolk County, New York, militia in the fall of 1775 but resigned after a few months.[4] He was motivated by the murder of his cousin Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull of the New York militia, who was wounded by sword and bayonet cuts after he had been captured on August 29, 1776.[5] According to some reports, he had been deprived of medical care and food and suffered an agonizing death on September 20, 1776,[2] and Abraham Woodhull was inflamed against the British by that event. He did not immediately take up arms or begin spying, however, and was more placid than some of his friends, who joined the Continental Army at the outset of the war.

His wife had the same name as his mother. A little weird :/

#founding fathers #founding father bracket #worst founding father #bracket #amrev #abraham woodhull #william short

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abe-woodhull · 7 years

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So I am yet again avoiding real-world responsibilities in favor of trying to find out more about the Culpers. I found some letters in the library of congress awhile back so I’m actually going over them now.

Abe’s handwriting is just totally illegible. Maybe it’s because I’m not accustomed to reading 18th-century letters with my 21rst century eyes and I’m completely out of practice, but I can’t read a word. I managed to get through one that was just about him traveling to New York soon that was like half a page. He signs Samuel Culper like this:

I’ve moved on to reading Robert’s letters because I’m praying he has better handwriting. He does, some of them are just faded to the point where I can’t make them out. He also writes “sir” in the most extra way possible:

I love these dudes, okay, they’re great.

#turn amc #amc turn #turn washington's spies #samuel culper #samuel culper sr.#samuel culper jr.#abraham woodhull #robert townsend

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annastrxng · 3 years

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My Text Meme & Edits: Abraham Woodhull

#Abraham Woodhull #Samuel Culper Sr #Abe Woodhull #annastrxng #my edits #my memes #turn washington's spies

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headoverhiddles · 7 years

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When they won’t pronounce your cabbage farming nemesis guilty

#simcoe #john graves simcoe #turn amc #turn #us history #samuel roukin #abraham woodhull #culper #culper sr #guilty #3x10 #jamie bell #amc tv #black petticoat society #turn washington's spies

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taraross-1787 · 3 years

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This Day in History: Agent 355

On or around this day in 1780, a female agent in one of Washington’s spy rings may have been arrested. Can you believe that this woman was so good at hiding her identity that we still do not know who she was!? We can mostly just guess at what happened to her.

The mystery lady, a.k.a. Agent 355, was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which operated in the New York area under the supervision of Benjamin Tallmadge. Other members included Abraham Woodhull (a.k.a. Samuel Culper, Sr.) and Robert Townsend (a.k.a. Samuel Culper, Jr.). They used business or family relationships in the area as cover for their activities.

The system used by the spy ring was perhaps a bit sophisticated for that time.

As Townsend collected information, he encoded it using a system of number sets that had been created by Tallmadge. These sets assigned numbers to 763 commonly used words, places, and people. If a word was needed outside of this set, then a mixed up alphabet was used to create it. Once created, the coded message was written in invisible ink, but a regular, mundane letter would be written on the same page, thus hiding the contents of any given secret message.

The story continues at the link in the comments.

#tdih #otd #on this day in history #on this day #history #history blog #america #american revolution #throwback #todayilearned #sharethehistory

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fanfics-andstuff · 3 years

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Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf

1755-01-11: Olivia and Alexander Hamilton’s Birth - Olivia and Alexander were born in Charlestown, St. Kitts, and Nevis.

1765-01-16: Hamilton’s Father Left - James Hamilton, Olivia and Alexander Hamilton's father, and a Scottish Laird, left Hamilton and his family, most likely due to the fact, Olivia, Alexander, and James Jr. were his illegitimate children. It was a relief for the children because he would always beat up James Jr. and Olivia, trying to protect their youngest sibling.

1766-02-17: Hamilton’s Mother Dies - Rachel Faucette Buck, Hamilton's mother, died on February 19, 1768. Cause of death: Yellow Fever. After her death, Alexander and Olivia moved to live with their cousin for a year. Before she died, she gave Olivia the Hamilton ring (gold ring, amethyst pearl-shaped center, and small emerald cut emeralds) that was said to be passed down from generation to generation and a navy blue and dark purple diary, she gave Alexander her necklace from George (5 sapphire petals, a red ruby center, and a thin gold chain).

1766-02-20: Hamiltons In Court - John Lavien (Rachel’s husband) arrived wanting a divorce decree. He wanted the court to reward the entire estate to his son, Peter because the twins were illegitimate. Alexander and Olivia had their uncle, James Lytton, sign a false birth year for court documents that had them add two years their senior. The only thing they got was books taken from Peter, thanks to their uncle.

1767-02-17: Hamilton’s Cousin Committed Suicide and James Jr. Left to Become a Carpenter- Peter Lytton committed suicide over the death of his wife. Alexander and Olivia are now, with no money and family, or destitute orphans. James Jr had to leave the twins behind to become an apprentice of a carpenter.

1771-01-16: Alexander In Charge Of A Trading Charter - Since girls couldn’t work, Alexander had to. Turns out, that Alexander had the perfect “age” for jobs.

1772-08-31: Hurricane Maria Hits - Hurricane Maria hit St. Croix, where Alexander was working and Olivia was nearby to look out for her younger brother.

1772-09-06: Alexander Writes About Hurricane Maria - Alexander wrote to his father describing the storm and gained the attention of the island’s elite. He “wrote his way out”.

1772-12-01: Olivia Receives a Letter That Alexander Died - Somewhere between these months, Olivia gets a letter that the ship Alexander was on sunk and there were no survivors. She was then sold to a family in Setauket, Long Island as a slave, where she meets Benjamin Tallmadge, Anna Smith, Abraham Woodhull, and Caleb Brewster.

1776-09-15: Olivia Gets Freed - Thankfully Olivia was considered white, so she was taught how to improve her grammar, writing, healing, cooking, etc. She still had her Nevis accent, but Olivia could play it off by saying Spanish was her native language. Speaking of languages, Olivia was fluent in French, Latin, Greek, Italian, Danish, and Hebrew. 4 or so years later, Olivia was a free woman.

1777-04-27: Olivia Reunites With Alexander - Olivia gets assigned as a spy for the continental army. The rest of the army gets word that she had the same last name as Alexander’s. After being reintroduced to each other, Olivia forces Alexander to take more care of himself (eating, sleeping).

1777-09-11: Olivia gets shot in the side during the Battle of Brandywine.

1777-10-18: Olivia And Alexander Presumed Dead - Both Hamilton twins jumped in the Schuylkill River and swam deeper, hoping the British Cavalry presumed them dead. They were washed down miles going with the current of the river. Alexander carried her unconscious body to the Patriot camp. Hercules Mulligan found the twins and helped them get to their destination quicker.

1777-10-19: Washington Finds Out The Twins Are His - Olivia woke first and told Washington to read her diary for answers because she was too tired. He found out about Olivia’s life story and found out Olivia Rachel and Alexander James Hamilton were his biological children. Washington then found out about the Hamilton family ring and Rachel’s flower necklace. Olivia and Washington swore to never tell this to Alexander and to any human being (not a certain diary written in code that no one, but Olivia and Alexander can understand).

1777-10-20: Olivia sneaks off to the Battle of Paoli, instead of resting.

1777-10-21: The Locket - Washington gave Olivia a gold locket engraved with ‘Together In Mount Vernon, Virginia’ complete with a gold chain. Inside was a portrait of the Hamilsiblings (Alex, Olivia, Ben, and Laf) on the right and a portrait of the Washington couple on the left.

1778-05-25: Olivia Comes Back - After disguising herself as a black-haired, Dutch woman, named Denise Melody, she returned to Washington about the British army. Olivia resigned as a spy because she didn’t want to come back to England ever again. But mostly, she was afraid that King George III would force her to marry him.

1778-05-26: Olivia Becomes The First Woman General - After listening from every soldier in the Continental Army, General George Washington makes Olivia a General. The only difference is that she would be traveling with the main camp because she doesn't have enough experience to lead her own army. She helped train the under-trained soldiers, sewed clothes for those who were practically naked, negotiated with wealthy families to give the army food, helped with the battle plans because of her knowledge as a spy, and her overall kindness and empathy to everyone helped her rise to the top to not only the soldiers but to the rest of the people in the Colonies.

1778-06-28: The Battle of Monmouth - Olivia saves Benjamin Tallmadge from William Bradford when Charles Lee ordered him to. The rest of the army arrives behind Washington. Olivia participates in the Battle of Monmouth.

1778-09-15: Olivia And Lafayette’s Relationship - In Olivia’s diary, she didn’t specify the date because she wrote “I believe it is the 15th of September 1778”. In the entry, she wrote about her and Lafayette’s relationship began as platonic but over time, it became romantic.

1778-11-01: Olivia Joins The Culper Ring - After begging and pleading to her father and Commander in Chief, Olivia joins the Culper Spy Ring with the rest of the members: Benjamin Tallmadge, Caleb Brewster, Anna Strong, Abigail, Abraham Woodhull, and Robert Townsend. Olivia gets a golden band from Apollo that helps disguise her appearance with the use of the mist, she gives the other rings to the other members. They created a cover that the golden rings were from their deceased family member. In reality, they used it to signal the others when they need help or have information about the British.

1778-12-15: Olivia As a Maid - Olivia disguises herself as a beaten and branded girl as a Caribbean slave, even though she was white by the Continental Army to John André's home to spy on him. She later resigns from her post before her next battle.

1779-07-16: Stony Point - Olivia helps capture Stony Point, New York with the army.

1779-11-17: Olivia And John Get Married - To keep the relationship between John and Alexander less suspicious, Olivia proposed a marriage proposal to John’s father; Henry, who knew about their secret relationship, agreed. Even though both adults were married, they had no love for the other than familial love. They agreed that their marriage was only public and behind closed doors, they would seek out their paramour (John-Alexander and Olivia-Lafayette).

1780-06-17: Olivia’s Quadruplets - 9 months later, Olivia gave birth to 4 children: Rachel Olivia, Alexander John, George Benjamin, and Elizabeth Gilberta Laurens from oldest to youngest. The godparents of each child were Olivia-Martha Washington, Alexander-George Washington, George-Benjamin Tallmadge, and Elizabeth-Lafayette. Because of this, Olivia took a break from the army for a while.

1780-09-23: Caleb Brewster and Olivia Find Out Arnold's A Traitor - After talking with Anna Strong, Brewster and Olivia ride full speed towards West Point, NY to deliver the message to George Washington. Ben and Olivia tried to shoot Arnold, but due to their closeness, they couldn't.

1780-10-02: John André Hanged - André was born a child of Athena and knew about the Greek Gods. He knew that Olivia was spying on him, but didn't comment on it until they were in private before his execution. The Fates had cut his string in front of him when Olivia posed as a maid and had demigod dreams of his death. John knew that Olivia was a legacy of Apollo and Athena, he didn't want to hurt his family.

1780-12-14: Alexander and Eliza Get Married - Eliza accepted John’s relationship with her husband as long as Alexander doesn’t cheat on her with other women.

1780-12-15: Olivia Boards L'Hermione - Olivia joins Lafayette to bring down turncoat Benedict Arnold. They join 1, 200 troops and sail south to Virginia.

1781-05-20: Abraham Boards L'Hermione - Abraham gets captured by the French and gave information to Lafayette, but before anything else happens, the ship gets attacked by cannons. When Brewster and Olivia identify Abraham as a spy for the Culper Ring named Samuel Culper Sr, they sail to Yorktown, Virginia.

1781-09-28: The Battle Of Yorktown - Olivia gets shot 3 times during the battle but recovered soon after. Lafayette soon bid Olivia farewell to sail back to France. Olivia gives him her very long lock of braided hair inside a portrait locket necklace of her for him to remember her by. He also gives her a braided lock of his hair and a portrait locket of himself.

1782-01-22: Olivia Becomes An Aunt - Phillip Hamilton was born.

1782-08-27: John Laurens Dies - Olivia, Alexander, Hercules, and Lafayette get letters from Henry Laurens that John died in South Carolina. In her letter, Olivia receives her husband’s wedding ring. Heartbroken, Olivia vows to never marry again.

1782-09-01: Olivia And Alexander Return To New York - Olivia gets a house in Harlem near her brother and his family. She led a quiet life with her children, unlike Alexander, for a while.

1783-01-01: Olivia Bids Angelica Farewell - Over the course of the years, Olivia and Angelica became best friends. She hated the fact that Angelica and her family would go back to the same country they fought for years.

1783-06-20: Pennsylvania Mutiny - Olivia watches the 10 leaders of the Pennsylvania Mutiny be gunned down by their own men beside Alexander and Ben.

1783-09-03: The End Of The Revolution - The Treaty of Paris was finally signed which negotiated between America and Great Britain, ended the revolution, and recognized America as an independent.

1787-10-?: Alexander Asks Olivia To Co-Write The Federalist Papers - Sometime before the writing of the Federalist Papers, Alexander asks Olivia to co-write it with John Jay, James Madison, and himself. Olivia politely declined because she believed that the three men could do it without her.

1787-05-25: The Twins Go To The Constitutional Convention - Olivia Hamilton Laurens and Alexander Hamilton were one-half of the New York delegates. The former was the only woman to go to the Constitutional Convention. Though the twins did little in writing the Constitution, they signed the paper anyway.

1789-02-04: Olivia Becomes The First Woman Vice President - Olivia ran for President all in good fun. The results were unanimous because she was one of the contributing factors that helped America become independent, only second to George Washington, and became the Vice President of the United States.

1790-03-22: Olivia Meets Thomas Jefferson - When Jefferson and Olivia met, let’s just say that they will forever be enemies. This is partly the reason why Alexander and Jefferson were also enemies.

1790-06-20: Olivia Refuses To Go To The Jefferson Dinner - Olivia doesn’t go to the dinner with Jefferson, Madison, Alexander, and a few others saying she had other things to do. But she doesn’t go because she didn’t want to be caught in the middle of a verbal fight between Alexander and Jefferson, again.

1791-07-05: Olivia Finds Out About Alexander’s Affair - Alexander needed to speak to someone about his affair with Maria Reynolds, so he went to Olivia (naturally). Olivia slaps him and tells him about his promise to Eliza when he married her. She tells him if her husband finds out and tells/writes you to give him money to keep the affair a secret, he himself would pay entirely.

1792-?-?: Olivia Receives Word About Lafayette’s Capture - Historians would never know the date when Olivia gets a letter that Lafayette fled from France and in prison because she only wrote the year and stopped writing in her diary for the rest of that year. They figured that she was extremely heartbroken to write.

1793-02-25: Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf - Olivia was poisoned by a loyalist named Micheal Key. Thankfully the poison was expired and went on to sit in Mount Vernon for hours talking about the establishment of the first U.S. bank. But due to Olivia’s frail and weak body for not eating and sleeping at the correct times, she became gravely ill. She sent her four children to Setauket with Abraham Woodhull. the week before. The four mentioned people came to her room in Mount Vernon. minutes before Olivia died. She gave Washington the locket he gave her all those years ago, gave Benjamin her sun hair comb he gave her when the war was over and her golden spy ring, gave Eliza her and John’s wedding rings and gave Alexander the Hamilton family ring and her diary (she instructed him to only read the entry about their true heritage when he is on his deathbed). She then instructed Ben to give Lafayette, her one true love, to give the gift he gave her when they started their relationship, a sapphire bracelet when he visits America once more. Olivia told the three to forgive her for leaving too early, she remembered the time she gave Washington piano lessons (which failed), the time where she forced Alexander to eat and sleep more regularly, and the time where she helped Eliza with her pregnancy with Phillip and her other children. She sang, “Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf,” which she does when she tries to reassure those around her. Olivia’s last words were, “I’ll see all of you on the other side, John, my love, I’m coming.” She was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery with a large monument. When the States learned of her death, the nation stopped working for days. Everyone who knew her (which was a lot) attended the funeral ceremony. Washington placed a bronze statue of Olivia depicting her holding a gun in her right hand and her diary in her left hand with the four rings on her fingers to show that women too, can be powerful.

1793-02-26: Micheal Key Hanged - Because he assassinated the Vice President, Micheal John Key was hanged the next day at noon.

1867-01-11: Olivia On Currency - In memory of Olivia, they put her face on the $20 on her birthday. However, in 1928, she was briefly replaced by Andrew Jackson but quickly regained her place after much controversy.

1999-12-15: Olivia Becomes Lyria - Olivia Rachel Hamilton Laurens, rebirthed to Lyria Eclair Graham de Vanily, the most powerful demigoddess of her century.

#oliviarachelhamilton #Olivia Hamilton #Alexander Hamilton #turn amc #turn: washington's spies #I finally figured out how to do the read more link

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unyieldingvalxr · 7 years

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My screencaps: Reverend Tallmadge, Major Hewlett, Abraham Woodhull, Captain Simcoe

#my screencaos #major hewlett #abraham woodhull #captain simcoe #reverend tallmadge #simcoe #hewlett #abe #turn amc #samuel culper sr #turn season 1 spoilers #something worth queueing for

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ao3feed-turn · 4 years

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Bound By Love

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/38KlN65

by IWroteTheOther51

When Alexander Hamilton, a young omega sneaks into the war with a beta scent, he comes across two alphas named John and Aaron, the two instantly click together,and things start to get very deep when John and Aaron get the news that their omega has been captured by enemies, more specifically the British. War is shit, no one is faithful and you can't trust absolutely no one when it comes to the war. Either your friend could possibly be a spy, or someone in hiding or looking to get away, but Alex got captured and John and Aaron freak out when they can't find the kits nor a single trace of Alex. Will they be able to find him?, or will they have to wait for it?, Read to find out!.

Words: 1403, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda, Turn (TV 2014)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, No Archive Warnings Apply, Rape/Non-Con, Underage

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi

Characters: Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Aaron Burr, Hercules Mulligan, George Washington, Angelica Schuyler, James Madison, Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Maria Reynolds, Philip Hamilton, Charles Lee, Theodosia Prevost Burr, Martha Washington, George III of the United Kingdom, Theodosia Burr Alston, Angelica Hamilton, John Adams, Frances Laurens, Henry Laurens (1723-1792), Dolley Madison, George Eacker, Philip Schuyler, Martha Laurens Ramsay, Alexander Hamilton Jr., Samuel Seabury (1729-1796), Theodosia Burr, Alexander Hamilton's Children, John Church Hamilton, Rachel Faucette Buck, Lafayette, Philip Hamilton (1782-1801), Sally Hemings, John Barker Church, James Laurens (1765-1775), John Jay, James Hamilton Sr. (c.1718-1799), Henry Knox, William P. Van Ness, Hugh Mulligan Jr., Nathanael Greene, Nathaniel Pendelton, Philip Schuyler (1733-1804), Charles Lee (1732-1782), Culper Ring (Characters), Aberdeen (Turn), Benjamin Tallmadge, Caleb Brewster, Corporal Eastin, Nathaniel Tallmadge, Samuel Tallmadge, Francis Marion (c.1732-1795), Charles Lee (1732-1782)'s Wife, Robert Townsend (1753-1838), Thomas "Sprout" Woodhull, Walter Havens, Mary Graves (1772-1860), Tench Tilghman, Richard Montgomery (1738-1775), Sarah Townsend (1724-1800), John Robeson, Akinbode | Jordan, Captain Wakefield, Abraham Woodhull, Mary Woodhull, John Graves Simcoe, Edmund Hewlett, Abigail (Turn), John André, John Baker White (1794–1862), Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis, Selah Strong, Lieutenant Gamble (Turn), Lucas Brewster, Thomas Lynch Jr

Relationships: Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens, Thomas Jefferson/James Madison, Angelica Schuyler/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens, Alexander Hamilton/Thomas Jefferson, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette/Hercules Mulligan, Maria Reynolds/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton/George Washington, Aaron Burr/Theodosia Prevost Burr, George Washington/Martha Washington, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette/Hercules Mulligan, Alexander Hamilton/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, John Laurens/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Theodosia Burr Alston/Philip Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton/Angelica Schuyler, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette/George Washington, Alexander Hamilton/Maria Reynolds, Benjamin Tallmadge/George Washington, Thomas Jefferson/Angelica Schuyler, Adrienne de Lafayette/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, George III of the United Kingdom/Samuel Seabury, Alexander Hamilton/Thomas Jefferson/James Madison, Thomas Jefferson/John Laurens, Aaron Burr/John Laurens, Alexander Hamilton/James Madison, Maria Reynolds/Angelica Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton/Hercules Mulligan, John Laurens/Hercules Mulligan, Dolley Madison/James Madison, Aaron Burr/Charles Lee, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette/Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Aaron Burr/Hercules Mulligan, Angelica Hamilton/Martha Jefferson, Sally Hemings/Angelica Schuyler, Francis Kinloch (1755–1826)/John Laurens, Alexander Hamilton/Angelica Schuyler/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, John Laurens/Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton/Benjamin Tallmadge/Original Male Character(s), Martha Laurens Ramsay/Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Rachel Faucette Buck/James Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson/James Madison/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, John Laurens/Maria Reynolds, Adrienne de Lafayette/Dolley Madison/Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Aaron Burr & Sally Burr Reeve (1754-1797), Cornelius "Burt" Cosgrove/Hercules Mulligan, Alexander Hamilton/Thomas Pinckney, Aaron Burr & Jonathan Dayton (1760-1824), John Adams/James Reynolds, John Adams/John Hancock/Charles Thomson, Jonathan Bellamy (d.1777)/Aaron Burr/Theodosia Prevost Burr, Alexander Hamilton & Hercules Mulligan, Theodosia Prevost Burr/Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Anastasie Louise Pauline du Motier/Frances Laurens, John Hancock (1737-1793)/Thomas Jefferson, Adrienne de Lafayette/Martha Washington, Hercules Mulligan/Nathaniel Pendleton

Additional Tags: Fluff and Angst, Smut, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Anal Sex, Rough Oral Sex, Love, Blow Jobs, Kissing, Family Drama, Pregnancy, Mpreg, Depression, Hand Jobs, Heavy BDSM, Jealousy, Eventual Smut, Swearing, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sad and Happy, Sad Ending, Porn, Getting Back Together, Rimming, Explicit Sexual Content, Mutual Pining, Dirty Talk, Masturbation, Daddy Kink, Gay Founding Fathers (Hamilton), Established Relationship, Past Rape/Non-con, Rape/Non-con Elements, Sexual Content, Abduction, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Abuse, Bathing/Washing, LGBTQ Character, Prompt Fic, Trauma, Self-Harm, Omega James Madison, Alpha Thomas Jefferson, Omega Alexander Hamilton, Inspired by Roleplay/Roleplay Adaptation, Praise Kink, Fingerfucking, Illnesses, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Multiple Orgasms, Period-Typical Homophobia, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Sad, Angst and Drama, Death, Dating, Dark, Roughness, Self-Hatred, Mental Health Issues, I'm Sorry, Love Triangles, Sexual Confusion, Sexual Fantasy, Sibling Incest, Crushes, Crying, Break Up Talk, Forced Pregnancy, American Revolution, Suicide Notes, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Attempt, Idiots in Love, Violence, Blood and Violence, Canon-Typical Violence, Pre-War, Culper Ring, Pregnant Sex, Gang Rape, Public Humiliation, Semi-Public Sex, Gangbang, Rope Bondage, Forced Orgasm, Forced Marriage, Major Character Injury, Timeline What Timeline, Forced Bonding, Cheating, Breakups, Omegaverse, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Knotting, Babies, Giving Birth, Miscarriage, Adopted Children, Cock Rings, Cock & Ball Torture, Cock Bondage, Alternate Universe, Face-Fucking, Unplanned Pregnancy, Loss of Virginity

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/38KlN65

#fanfic #turn: washingtons spies #turn amc #IFTTT #ao3feed

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ohbrightnewday · 4 years

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I saw you mention it and I've never heard of it before so,,, what's the culper spy ring?

Okay this took a bit to get around to but I WANNA INFODUMP NOW THX OK.

MAIN FOCUS:

The Culper Spy Ring begun in 1778 because George Washington didn’t have anyway to get intelligence from the British side, which was detrimental, as the British had set up Headquaters in New York; General Howe set it up and it was occupied from 1778-1783. It was created in the British Occupied New York, their Headquaters being in Setauket.

The Ring was organised by Major Benjamin Tallmadge who recruited Abraham Woodhull, Caleb Brewster, Anna Strong, and eventually, Robert Townsend. Washington didn’t know the identies of the spies.

Tallmadge convinced Washington that Woodhull (someone in a Loyalist area with Patrotic views) would be a good person to give them information from the British occupied New York. Abraham Woodhull’s “code name” was “Samuel Culper”. He was the primary agent of the Ring, hence why it was named after him. (Whenever Robert Townsend began in the Ring, he was deemed “Samuel Culper Jr.”, Abraham became Sr.)

Woodhull would gather the information, pass it over to Brewster, who was the courier, passing the information from Woodhull to Tallmadge, who passed it over to Washington. Once Woodhull gathered the information, Anna Strong would hang a black petty coat on a washingline to signal to Brewster that there was information to be given.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

They created their own Culper Ring Code, most of which you can still find online. (Yes, I have tried to memorise this, no, I have still failed). The Ring dispanded in 1783, and it was opperated soley in British occupied New York.

Tallmadge knew Brewster, Strong and Woodhull from childhood - all of whom were civilians, save for Tallmadge and Brewster. Tallmadge was a Continental Army Major, and Brewster was a Continental lieutenant. Woodhull was unmarried, living with his father, the local magistrate.

Okay so this wasn’t that detailed I know but this was as much as I remembered + a bit of google for fact checking for dates and Caleb Brewster’s position!

#that was so much fun ily dot #i LOVE the culper spy ring

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ao3feed-lams · 4 years

Text

Bound By Love

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/38KlN65

by IWroteTheOther51

Words: 1403, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda, Turn (TV 2014)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, No Archive Warnings Apply, Rape/Non-Con, Underage

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/38KlN65

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #Hamilton #lams

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ao3feed-whamilton · 4 years

Text

Bound By Love

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/38KlN65

by IWroteTheOther51

Words: 1403, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda, Turn (TV 2014)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, No Archive Warnings Apply, Rape/Non-Con, Underage

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/38KlN65

#ao3feed #fanfic #whamilton #hamilton #alexander hamilton #george washington

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ao3feed-hamilton · 4 years

Link

by IWroteTheOther51

Josiah Ezra Hewlett-Simcoe grew up on the wrong side of the war, growing up British during the American revolution is harder than it sounds, his friends all call him Josie for short and he's very stupid, not many suitors want to deal with him due to his stupiditiy, so his fathers just let him be since they know that he's a teenager and he needs his freedom to do whatever he wants. Josiah wants to go off and march in war but under his worried father's consent he's not aloud to.

Philip Hamilton grew up in a prestigious household with two dads as well, his father is mainly involved with politics, government, and law. If Philip destroys his name, he's basically destroying his whole family's name. Alexander Hamilton puts a lot of pressure on his son, even for a teenager, piano lessons, home-schooling, and a lot of private teachers, Alex knows whats best for his son, or does he?, When two unlikely pair of boys meet up in the midst of war, what will happen?.

Words: 2477, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda, Turn (TV 2014)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con, Underage

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi

Characters: Josiah Ezra Hewlett-Simcoe (Original Character), Philip Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Aaron Burr, Hercules Mulligan, George Washington, Angelica Schuyler, James Madison, Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Maria Reynolds, Charles Lee, Theodosia Prevost Burr, Martha Washington, George III of the United Kingdom, Theodosia Burr Alston, Angelica Hamilton, John Adams, Frances Laurens, Henry Laurens (1723-1792), Dolley Madison, George Eacker, Philip Schuyler, Martha Laurens Ramsay, Alexander Hamilton Jr., Samuel Seabury (1729-1796), Theodosia Burr, John Church Hamilton, Rachel Faucette Buck, Philip Hamilton (1782-1801), Sally Hemings, Philip Hamilton (1802-1884), John Barker Church, James Laurens (1765-1775), John Jay, Thomas Woodhull Sr, David Hosack (1769-1835), John Baker White (1794–1862), Levi Weeks (1776-1819), Henry Knox, James Reynolds (fl.1783-1792), William P. Van Ness, Hugh Mulligan Jr., Nathanael Greene, Nathaniel Pendelton, Philip Schuyler (1733-1804), Charles Lee (1758-1801), Thomas Conway (1735-c.1800), Richard Montgomery (1738-1775), Alexander Hamilton (Cat), Charles Lee (1732-1782)'s Wife, Benjamin Tallmadge, Caleb Brewster, Anna Strong, Abraham Woodhull, John Graves Simcoe, Edmund Hewlett, John André, Benedict Arnold, Mary Woodhull, Tench Tilghman, Peggy Shippen, Abigail (Turn), Richard Woodhull, Selah Strong, Nathaniel Sackett, Robert Rogers, Robert Townsend (1753-1838), Samuel Tallmadge, Samuel Townsend, Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis, Ensign Baker, Nathan Hale (1755-1776), Nathaniel Tallmadge, Akinbode | Jordan, John Parke Custis, Cicero (Turn), Philomena Cheer, Aberdeen (Turn), Elizabeth Gwillim Simcoe, Colonel Jonathan Cooke, Thomas Hickey (d. 1776), Elizabeth Lloyd Loring (1744-1831), William Howe 5th Viscount Howe, James Rivington, Bridget Graves (1750-1795), Rachel Peale, Becky Redman

Relationships: Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens, Alexander Hamilton/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, John Laurens/Martha Manning, Charles Lee/Samuel Seabury, George III of the United Kingdom/Charles Lee/Samuel Seabury, George Washington/Martha Washington, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette/Hercules Mulligan, Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton/Hercules Mulligan, John Laurens/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, George Eacker/Philip Hamilton (1782-1801), Theodosia Burr Alston & Philip Hamilton, Philip Hamilton/Original Character(s), Thomas Jefferson/James Madison, Maria Reynolds/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Philip Hamilton (1782-1801)/Frances Laurens, Dolley Madison/James Madison, James Reynolds/Maria Reynolds, Alexander Hamilton/George Washington, Alexander Hamilton/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton/Angelica Schuyler, Benjamin Tallmadge/George Washington, Thomas Jefferson/Angelica Schuyler, Adrienne de Lafayette/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, George III of the United Kingdom/Samuel Seabury, Alexander Hamilton/Thomas Jefferson/James Madison, John Barker Church/Angelica Schuyler, Aaron Burr/James Madison, Theodosia Prevost Burr/Angelica Schuyler, Sally Hemings/Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Hercules Mulligan/Nathaniel Pendleton, John Quincy Adams/Philip Hamilton (1782-1801), Theodosia Burr Alston/Marie Antoinette Virginie du Motier, Nathan Hale (1755-1776)/Benjamin Tallmadge, Robert Townsend/Abraham Woodhull, Abraham Woodhull/Mary Woodhull, Edmund Hewlett/Anna Strong, Edmund Hewlett/John Graves Simcoe, Benedict Arnold/Charles Lee, Abigail Adams/John Adams, John Adams/John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin/Henry Knox, John Adams/John Hancock/Charles Thomson, John Laurens & Martha Laurens Ramsay, Angelica Schulyer & Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Thomas Jefferson/James Madison/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, John Laurens/Hercules Mulligan, John André/Benedict Arnold, John André/Peggy Shippen, Philomena Cheer/Peggy Shippen, Anna Strong/Selah Strong, Anna Strong/Mary Woodhull, John Graves Simcoe/Elizabeth Gwillim Simcoe, John Graves Simcoe/Lola (Turn), Jonathan Bellamy/Aaron Burr, George Eacker/Frances Laurens, Theodosia Burr Alston/Philip Hamilton, Angelica Hamilton/Georges Washington de La Fayette, Benjamin Tallmadge & George Washington, Peggy Shippen/Mary Woodhull, John André/Robert Townsend, John André/Benedict Arnold/Peggy Shippen, Caleb Brewster & Nathan Hale (1755-1776), Caleb Brewster/Abraham Woodhull, Edmund Hewlett/Richard Woodhull

Additional Tags: Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, American Revolution, French Revolution, Major Original Character(s), Teen Pregnancy, British Slang, Romance, Eventual Romance, Drama & Romance, Teen Romance, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt/Comfort, Heavy BDSM, Period-Typical Homophobia, Homophobic Language, Developing Relationship, LGBTQ Character, LGBTQ Themes, Teenagers, Next Generation, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Multiple Orgasms, Smut, Fluff and Smut, Shameless Smut, Character Study, Canonical Character Death, Fingerfucking, Protectiveness, Secrets, Family Secrets, Spies & Secret Agents, Culper Ring, Dragoons, Sexual Inexperience, Butt Plugs, Gags, Gang Rape, Rape/Non-con Elements, Gangbang, Blood and Gore, Historical, Historical Inaccuracy, Religious Conflict, Mental Health Issues, 17th Century, 18th Century, Inspired by Roleplay/Roleplay Adaptation, Death, Graphic Description of Corpses, Mpreg, Post Mpreg, Child Loss, Discussion of Abortion, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Dysfunctional Family, Family Issues, Rope Bondage, Japanese Rope Bondage, Explicit Sexual Content, Slow Build, Slow Romance, Winter, Threesome, Foursome, Nonbinary Character, Trans Male Character, Trans Female Character, Original Character(s), Public Humiliation, Humiliation, Forced Orgasm, Forced Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy, Blood and Violence, War, Sad

from AO3 works tagged 'Hamilton - Miranda' https://ift.tt/3bKablH

#IFTTT #ao3feed #Hamilton #fanfic

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topworldhistory · 4 years

Link

Secret agents, invisible ink, ciphers and codes—the gritty and dangerous underworld of the colonial insurgency

How important was George Washington’s network of spies to winning the American Revolution?

It’s hard to imagine that the fate of the American cause would rest so heavily in the hands of a tailor, an enslaved African-American—or a judge’s wife who sent surreptitious signals on her laundry line. But as General Washington struggled to win a war with an army that was perpetually undermanned, undertrained and undersupplied, he relied increasingly on his unseen weapon: a secret intelligence network. Throughout the war, Washington’s spies helped him make bold, canny decisions that would turn the tide of the conflict—and in some instances, even save his life.

The story of Washington’s underground spy network, and how it helped Americans win their revolution, is replete with intrigue: letters written in invisible ink; a rare female agent who went by the mysterious moniker Agent 355; the gruesome execution of the spy Nathan Hale. Indeed, according to the Central Intelligence Agency, “General Washington was more deeply involved in intelligence operations than any American general-in-chief until Dwight Eisenhower during World War II.”

READ MORE: 5 Patriot Spies of the American Revolution

Learning the power of intel

Thomas Knowlton, illustrated standing left in white, during the Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. Painted by John Trumbull.

From the beginning of Washington’s meteoric rise, intelligence gathering helped shape his military career. He first learned to use on-the-ground information from Native Americans and deserting French soldiers during the French and Indian War. Intelligence, he learned, could make the difference between victory or death.

So in 1775, when the Second Continental Congress chose Washington as commander in chief of the Continental armies, Washington appointed a soldier named Thomas Knowlton to organize the war’s first spy unit. The roughly 130-man group, known as “Knowlton’s Rangers,” played a key role in the 1776 battle of Harlem Heights in New York, scouting out the British advance guard. In the blazing musket fire of the skirmish that followed, Knowlton was killed, his place in history cemented. Even today, the seal of the U.S. Army intelligence service bears a “1776” stamp, in honor of his unit.