Punishment for Desertion
Item
Type
Autograph Letter
Title
Punishment for Desertion
Description
Hall ruminates on the possible punishments for desertion. He argues that death is too harsh for simple desertion and should be reserved for deserting one's post in the face of the enemy.
year created
1799
month created
10
day created
04
author
sent from location
Havre de Grace [Maryland]
recipient
in collection
in publication
notable person/group
Alexander Hamilton
Josias Carvel Hall
European armies
notable location
Havre de Grace, Maryland
notable item/thing
supplies
relative rank of officers
military routine
hand labor
ignominy
death
brand
hot iron
severe flogging
desertion
military crime
moral turpitude
punishment
American Constitution
running the gantlosse
notable phrase
my idea of substituting hand labor with ignominy to death was the crude suggestion of the moment
branding them on some conspicuous part of the face with a hot iron would not be an improper addition
severe flogging will never mend the principles of a soldier
in European armies desertion is punished with death
to American habits of thinking this appears inadequate
of those condemned very few are executed
Though a very high military crime, I confess I can not discover in [desertion] much moral turpitude
it generally arises from levity or that desire of change incidental to humanity
if death is to be the ordinary punishment of desertion, what is to be allotted to the high aggrevation of deserting from their post misbehaving before the enemy
the spirit of the American Constitution and laws will not admit of running the gantlosse [gauntlet]
you will devise some more adequate punishment from which no hope of escape will be left, reserving death for desertion with aggravating circumstances
document number
1799100460100
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Josias Carvel Hall | Havre de Grace [Maryland] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] | [n/a] |