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The Eleazer Everett orderly book is comprised of 66 pages of Revolutionary War orders, kept by an American soldier stationed at West Point, and 42 pages of hand-copied vocal music. The military entries date from July 2-8, August 15-25, and September 26-October 10, 1780, and contain general orders, garrison orders, and marching orders. Benedict Arnold's treason and the trial and execution of John André are mentioned in the orderly book.
Orders include specific instructions for the troops (rations of food and liquor, bathing requirements, etc) as well as orders to the officers concerning conduct: "The Major Generals to wear a blue coat with Buff under Cloaths, two epilates with two Stars on Each, a black & white Feather in the Hat..." (July 3, 1780). The volume also contains garrison orders issued by Major General Robert Howe, and extracts of general orders issued from Washington's headquarters, with mentions of other generals such as Jedediah Huntington and British General Henry Clinton.
- Copies of headquarters accounts of Arnold's treason and the capture of André, and the order to execute André (September 26 and October 10).
- A brief description of Fort Arnold (soon to be renamed Fort Clinton) (July 3, 1780).
- Comments on the court martial trial of Major Thomas Frothingham, commissioner of military stores in the Continental army, for disobeying an order (July 5, 1780).
- Description of punishment for desertion (July 8, 1780).
- Numerous passages of strong patriotic language.
In addition to the military orders, the volume contains 14 songs (42 pages) for four voices. The majority of the songs are unattributed, though two are by French, one by Morgan, and one by Everett (song titles are listed in the additional descriptive data). Lyric content is primarily religious in nature.
391 pages
The name of the intelligence officer who kept the "Union Intelligence Officer's" journal is unknown, as it probably should be. To use the term "spy" would probably be somewhat misleading, for the notebook consists of information culled largely from debriefings of deserters, prisoners of war, civilians, and refugees, rather than from the sorts of covert operations typically associated with spies. But it is clear that the man who kept the notebook was charged with obtaining, recording, and analyzing the immense volume of randomly scattered facts
The notebook includes meticulously recorded information on Confederate emplacements, strength, troop movements, and morale, and is made more valuable in that every informant is named and identified as to regiment and location. In many cases, the intelligence officer provided sketch maps of positions which, while skeletal, can be highly informative. At the end of the journal, perhaps in idle moments, he sketched out caricatures of a soldier, a civilian (?), and a Union shield.