Hamilton's Horse Shot at Monmouth

During the Battle of Monmouth, Alexander Hamilton — serving as Washington's aide-de-camp — rode forward with the commander-in-chief to rally the retreating troops and direct the formation of the new defensive line. During the engagement, Hamilton's horse was shot from under him, and Hamilton was reportedly injured in the fall but continued to participate in the battle. Hamilton's actions at Monmouth were characteristic of his aggressive temperament and desire for combat glory — a desire that would be fulfilled at Yorktown in 1781 when he led an infantry assault on a British redoubt. His conduct at Monmouth reinforced his close relationship with Washington and demonstrated the physical courage that complemented his intellectual abilities.