One of the Hamilton Library's oldest 18th century manuscripts provides a unique glimpse into what life was like for Pennsylvania's soldiers serving in America's French and Indian War, the 250th anniversary of which is now being commemorated. A small journal preserved in the library archives contains records-principally daily assignments and directions (orders)-for a company of Pennsylvania troops serving under British Army command during military operations in Western Pennsylvania in the summer and fall of 1759. Although excerpts from the journal have been published over the years, the manuscript had yet to be fully transcribed. This article provides highlights from a newly prepared transcription and insights gained about Pennsylvania's soldiers from a comparison of the entries in the "Orderly Book of Captain Hamilton's Company" with other published accounts of the period.
What is an Orderly Book?
Into the 20th century, military units used 'orderly books' to record orders, directions, and assignments coming through subordinate levels from the senior command. Personnel assigned 'Orderly' duty would attend staff meetings at the next higher echelon and use the books to take notes about information pertinent to their own organization. Unlike ordinary journals, Orderly Books are the records of a unit rather than an individual; they convey information rather than interpretations or opinions and focus principally on what is to be done, not what has happened. Despite the passage of nearly 250 years, the "Orderly Book of Captain Hamilton's Company" remains in remarkably good condition, although sadly a few pages are missing. Most of the entries, for a total of about 120 days, are legible. Spelling is largely phonetic and chaotic, reflecting the lack of standard rules for spelling in the 18th century and possibly the educational level of the recorders. Differences in the handwriting suggest that entries were made by at least three individuals - probably the two sergeants and possibly a corporal. Each entry begins with the place, date and a "Parole" for the day. Like a modern day password, the Parole (from the French 'word') was given out to the camp guards for use in challenging anyone approaching the camp at night. Only persons calling out the correct "parole" were allowed to pass. The type of information in an Orderly Book includes general or standing orders and schedules and duty assignments for the next day.
The War in Pennsylvania
The French and Indian War was a part of a global conflict that began in 1754 with a clash between French and British troops in the forests of what is now western Pennsylvania (and for governmental purposes was part of Cumberland County). This was not the first time France and Britain had gone to war over their colonies in North America. There had been intermittent hostilities since the 1600's, stemming from competition over the lucrative trade in furs with native peoples and from the continual westward expansion of British colonials into territory claimed by the French as "New France." When Britain sent fur traders and land surveyors to establish claims in the Ohio River Valley, French troops moved to the area to assert their trade monopoly and to protect the river as the principal route between French settlements on the Great Lakes and the Mississippi. Tensions escalated in 1753 when the Virginia Colony sent a young George Washington to deliver a letter demanding that the troops withdraw from what London claimed as British territory. Rebuffed in diplomacy, Virginia sent troops to erect a fort at the forks of the Ohio River (present day Pittsburgh). The French drove the troops out and began construction of their own fort; Virginia then sent colonial troops to retake the fort. A brief skirmish led to a pitched battle at Great Meadows (near present day Brownsville, Pennsylvania) in which British colonial troops, including George Washington, were forced to surrender on (ironically) July 4, 1754. The epic battle for North America had begun. Ultimately the fighting would spread beyond North America to the West Indies, Europe, and Asia. The worldwide conflict, known as the Seven Year's War, would continue until 1763. Britain would emerge victorious, but taxes imposed to cover the high cost of the war would help set the stage for the American Revolution.
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