10/22/13
C-period
The Duel Essay
In chapter one of the book "The Duel" written by John Ellis, many different topics of how it all went down, and how the story actually went. Alexander Hamilton had expressed his feelings about Aaron Burr. I The duel was avoidable for sure, at least I think that. The Vice President of the United States wanted Hamilton killed. Hamilton thinks Burr is a venturesome man. In the end of the duel itself in the chapter, both Burr and Hamilton had suffered "casualties". The duel went down like this. Burr had challenged Hamilton to a duel. "Hamilton concluded he could not refuse the challenge without staining his honor." (Page 31-32) The duel was held at a small area of 10 feet wide
and 40 feet long and about 20 feet above the Hudson River. It was a popular place because no one was around and it was hard to get to. The duel was called "the interview" because dueling was illegal. It was only between these two people and some witnesses on the side and they both had the same doctor named Dr. David Hosack. Van Ness was there for Burr and Pedleton was there for Hamilton. So since Burr initiated the duel, Hamilton got to pick the side of his location he wanted, and the weapons. But Hamilton had signed a pre-duel pledge saying that he would not shoot Burr. In effect of this, Hamilton shot and it hit a tree behind Burr. Hamilton had aimed to shoot at Burr but he purposely missed because of the pledge. Then Hamilton looks at his eyeglass. After, Burr shoots at Hamilton and it hits him in the rib cage. "Burr was perfectly justified in taking deadly aim at Hamilton and firing to kill." As a result of Burrs action of shooting Hamilton he fled the scene hiding behind an umbrella with Van Ness. Burr had a surprised look on his face after it happened. This how the rumor got around that Burr is a murderer. They had gotten on a boat. As they were going down the river, Burr insisted he had to go back to check up on Hamilton. But Van Ness refused to go back and continued to go back to New York. Hamilton thinks Burr is a dangerous man for many reasons. Burr had tried taking and stealing the place of presidency, he wanted to be top dog. He was the governor of the state New York. Burr had also wanted to switch parties, he could do that just to sabotage the other, who knows what he was capable of. It was out there that Burr wanted to split the country and Hamilton could not have the happen. So of course the duel wasn't held in the same state Burr is the governor in. In the story both participants suffered casualties. Hamilton's was death, he had died. During the duel, Burr had shot at Hamilton's rib cage. The day after he was shot that was when he was officially dead. Burr had lost his reputation. That was the biggest mistake he could of ever done. "By killing Hamilton, Burr had nothing to gain and everything to lose." This is how it all happened, the duel was avoidable because Burr challenged Hamilton I mean, he could of refused it and then there would of been no story to make or tell. They both suffered casualties. Hamilton completely disliked Burr, and their was no doubt about it.