Alexander Hamilton chose Nathaniel Pendleton as his “second” for the duel.  Pendleton had distinguished himself in several battles during the Revolutionary War in the South.  After the war he put roots in Georgia and became a federal judge.  In 1796 he resigned his judgeship, due to the Yazoo River land deal, and moved to New York.  Hamilton helped his friend get contacts in New York’s legal circles.  This land deal involved the sale of land, what is Alabama and Mississippi today.

If you have been reading Rhonda’s posts, you will also see Pendleton there.  He delivered and accepted the letters between Burr and Hamilton.  During the receipt of these letters, it became clear to Pendleton that the duel would happen.  He went to great lengths to stop the duel.  He met with Burr’s “second” Van Ness to attempt a settlement.  He tried to get Burr to take back his second letter and rewrite it asking Hamilton for a specifics about his insult from the Dr. Cooper letter.  Pendleton even withheld a letter written by Hamilton on June 22.  Van Ness found out about this letter from Hamilton personally and asked Pendleton for it. 

Although Nathaniel Pendleton showed incredible loyalty to Hamilton, it was a mistake to choose him as a second.  Pendleton did not know that Hamilton had been smearing Burr for over a decade.  In his willingness to prevent the duel, Pendleton agreed that Hamilton would make a large apology covering any instance of insult against Burr.  A blanket apology was not politically possible.  This assured dueling on the grounds at Weehawken.