BEFORE THE DUEL
The final, fateful disagreement between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr began in June 1804, when Burr discovered that Hamilton had made some disparaging remarks about him. The remarks were referenced in a letter published by Dr. Charles Cooper, who had overheard Hamilton's statements at a dinner party in Albany, New York.
When Burr read Cooper's account of Hamilton's statements, Burr sent a letter to Hamilton demanding an explanation. . . .
FOR ALL PRIMARY DOCUMENTS IN ONE PDF FILE CLICK HERE
Aaron Burr to Alexander Hamilton -- 18 June 1804 | link
Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr -- 20 June 1804 | link
Aaron Burr to Alexander Hamilton -- 21 June 1804 | link
Aaron Burr to Alexander Hamilton -- 22 June 1804 | link
Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr -- 22 June 1804 | link
Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Pendleton (friend and second) -- 27 June - 4 July 1804 | link
Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton (wife) -- 4 July 1804 | link
Nathaniel Pendleton's rules for the duel | link
ACCOUNTS OF THE DUEL
Duels were private affairs between gentlemen. They were technically illegal and thus occurred under the cloak of secrecy. Three witnesses provided testimony about the events on July 11, 1804.
1) Nathaniel Pendleton (Hamilton's friend and second) and William Van Ness (Burr's friend and second) wrote a joint statement a few hours after the duel -- 11 July 1804 | link
2) A week later, Nathaniel Pendleton elaborated on his account to demonstrate that Alexander Hamilton had not fired at Aaron Burr -- 19 July 1804 | link
3) William Vann Ness responded to Nathaniel Pendleton's revised account -- link
4) Five weeks after the duel, Dr. David Hosack -- a physician who cared for Hamilton (but did not see the duel itself) -- wrote to a friend confirming the statements of Pendleton -- 17 August 1804 | link
Documents: The Duel -- Hamilton and Burr, 1804