Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-07-10
Hawks Orderly Book.

One of the most valuable donations to the
Vermont Historical Society during the cur
rent year, is Major John Hawks Orderly
Journal Book" manuscript volume Of
several hundred pages, written in 1859 and
l760. The book is somewhat dingy, as
might be expected from its age of more than
hundred years, but is in excellent preserya-
ton, and every page is as legible as when
first written. The author was an inhabi-
tant of Deerfeld, Mass, and saw much ac-
tive military service both in the war of 1144
and 1745. In 1850 he rose to the rank of
Lieut.. Colonel. This volume was his Order
ly Book in the campaigns of 1859 and l760,
on the upper Hudson, Lake George and Lake
Champlain. In lS42 the volume fell into
the hands of Ephraim Hoyt of Deerfeld,
who enriched it with copious historical notes,
some of which are as many as twelve pages
in length. Subsequently 1t came to the pos
session of the Rev. George B. Spalding Of
Hartford, Ct, by whom it is now presented
to the Historical Society of his native State.
1t were a good thing if other sons of Yer
mont, who have left the State of their ma
tiyity, would emulate this good example, and
would show by similar thoughtful acts, that
they do not forget the mother that bore them.
Many of these orders and notes are of
great interest to the general reader. There
is evidence that the vice for which " our
army in Flanders" was so notorious, pre-
vailed in the American army also:
=. As it is VIGOROUSLY true that profane
eursing and swearing prevails in the camps,
it is not only very far from the Christian
soldiers duty and very displeasing to the
Lord Of hosts and God of armies, but dis
honorable before men, it is therefore requir-
ed and expected that for the future the Odi-
Gus sound of cursng and swearing is turned
into n profound silence If after the pub
fishing Of these orders any is found guilty of
the violation of these orders, they may ex
pect such punishment as a Court Martial
may Judge for dlsobedience.
Here Is the record Of the fate of desert
er - George Edwards, a deserter in the
18th Regiment, is to Suffer Death the Pic
quits of the Line is to assemble Immediately
in the front of Montgomerys the Command
ing Officer of forbs (Forbes's Regiment p
will order that Regiment to erect gallows
on the battery Immediately in front Of Mont
gomerys where the prisoner George Edwards
is to be Hanged in his french Coat with
Iybill on his Breast Hanged for Desertion
to the French he is to be left Hanged all
Day and at Retreat beating to be buried
Very Deep under the Gallows and his french
Coat with him this is to be put into Execu-
ton Immediately and if the provost Marshal
Doth not find A Hangman the Commanding
officer of the Piquit will order that the Pro-
yost Marshal Doth it himself.
Occasionally there occurs brief memo
nndum of some important event in the cam
paign AZ for example:
-. July 9th, 1853 About Of two O'clock
att Night the French Blew up Fort Tyanter-
ogue after we besicged it / days"
The volume contains a large amount of
the materials of which genuine history is
composed. What would We not give for the
orderly books of Ethan Allen, Col. Francis,
and others who had to do with the military
history of Vermont in the early days?
z. II. ".
Coventry, May 80, 1865.