Becoming A Founding "Father"- Historical Hamilton

Chapter Twenty-One: Aftermath of Barren hill

*After an embarrassing amount of time, I realized that Solomon didn't have a cravat on the cover. So now that's fixed and we don't ever talk about it again.

The valediction Yours(or Yours Truly) at the end of a letter is actually an abbreviation of Your Servant.

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Spring had finally come, ending this terrible winter. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see the snow melt into muddy puddles, and to see the blinding sun again.

Much has changed during February and March. Baron von Steuben is quite a personality- I had met the man when he had first come into camp, and he left quite an impression. With butlers, cooks and a dog following the inspector, I instantly knew this man was going to be of the dramatics.

"Bonsior, messieurs," The baron says when he approaches us. Alexander and Tilghman nod with a smile, and I get a moment to look the man up and down.

He looks incredibly extravagant, with a sharp look in his eye and a tight smile. Even with my knowledge of French- or lack thereof- I felt his strong accent. After all, I spent enough time with Lafayette to be able to identify a French person from a mile away, and the Baron wasn't that.

"Bonsior. Je suis lieutenant-colonel Alexander Hamilton, et voici lieutenant-colonel Tench Tilghman. C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer." Alexander shakes his hand, and Tench does so, too, right after. "Comment s'est passé votre voyage?"

The conversation continued, and I remind myself that I need to start learning French soon. It's quite a handy language, I realize, when I can't understand a single word that the men are saying. Looking to the distance, I wonder why Alexander asked me to come, until the man asked something. "Qui est-il?"

Alexander looked at me, and that was my cue to zone back in. He said something back to the Baron in French, and suddenly the man turned to me, sticking his hand out. Once again, he said something, and Alex finally decided to make my like easier.

"I hear you are the man who deals with the numbers. Baron Von Steuben, a pleasure meeting you." I shake his hand while Alexander translates.

"Yes sir," I answer. "Lieutenant-colonel Layden at yours."

The Baron nods firmly at the translation, before saying something again.

"I am to be the inspector general of the army," Alexander translates. "I believe that we shall be working quite closely, as I already see much room for improvement that requires quite a bit of math."

"Money, numbers of people, et cetera," Tilghman clarifies, and I nod understandingly.

"Well, I am at your service, sir," And then I nod deeply- it's more a bow than a nod. Alexander translates with a smile, and the baron nods again, before departing with Tilghman and Alex, and leaving me be.

He wasn't exaggerating when he said that he needed my help. Since then, once every few days, his aide by the name of Ben Walker shows up to ask me various questions- some of which, frankly, were quite weird.

"Sanitary products?" I asked the young man. He nodded, so I check my papers. "No, I don't see any of our monthly funds going to any sanitary products."

He sighed, before smiling tightly. "Are there any funds that we can spare for such? The baron insists on them, and I doubt that he will take no for an answer, sir."

"Well-" I glance over my numbers again- my gaze landing on uniforms. "Not at the moment, no. But I'm sure that I could squeeze in a bit for them. Why does the baron insist on such, though?"