The spectacular legacy and importance of early American cartographers. Historians of the Revolutionary War in America have been fortunate in their resources: few wars in history have such a rich literary and cartographic heritage. The high skills of the surveyors, artists, and engravers who delineated the topography and fields of battle allow us to observe the unfolding of events that ultimately defined the United States. When warfare erupted between Britain and her colonists in 1775, maps provided graphic news about military matters. A number of the best examples are reproduced here, including some from the personal collections of King George III, the Duke of Northumberland, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Other maps from institutional and private collections are being published for the first time. In all, sixty significant and beautiful cartographic works from 1755 to 1783 illustrate this intriguing era. Most books about the Revolution begin with Lexington and Concord and progress to the British surrender at Yorktown, but in this rich collection the authors lay the groundwork for the war by also taking into account key events of the antecedent conflict. The seeds of revolution were planted during the French and Indian War (1755-1763), and it was then that a good number of the participants, both British and rebel, cut their teeth. George Washington took his first command during this war, alongside the future British commanding General Thomas Gage. At the Treaty of Paris, the French and Indian War ended, and King George III gained clear title to more territory than had ever been exchanged in any other war before or since. The British military employed its best-trained artists and engineers to map the richest prize in its Empire. They would need those maps for the fratricidal war that would begin twelve years later. Their maps and many others make up the contents of this fascinating and beautiful book. 60 maps.

Includes maps of: Plan of the City of New York in North America, Surveyed in the Years 1776 and 1777; Carte Topographique du Port et la Ville de Louisbourg, 1758; New and Accurate Map of the English Empire in North America 1755 (2); Plan of Fort Duquesne, 1755; Map of the Country between Wills Creek and Monongahela River, 1755; Plan of the Field of Battle and Disposition of the Troops [Lake George], 1755; Prospective View of the Battle Fought near Lake George on 8 SEP 1755; Plan of the Hudson RIver from Albany to Fort Edward, 1756; Plan of the City of Albany in the Province of New York, 1756; Carte Topographique du Port et de la Ville de Louisbourg, 1758; New and Accurate Map of the English Empire in North America, 1755; Plan of the Town of Quebec in Canada, ca. 1757-1758; Plan of the Traverse or Passage from Cape Torment, ca. 1758-1759; Plan of the Town of Quebec, the Capital of Canada, 1759; View of Boston, the Capital of New England, 1773; Plan of the Castle Tyrim, 1748; Plan of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, 1779; View of Boston, the Capital of New England, 1773; Plan of the City of New York in North America, Surveyed in the Years 1766 and 1767; Plan of Boston and Its Environs; Cantonment of His Majesty's Forces in North America, 29 MAR 1766-Summer 1767; New York - A Perspective View across the North River, 1 NOV 1765; Plan de la Ville, Port et Rade de Newport, 1781; Plan of the Town and Harbour of Boston, Shewing the Place of the Late Engagement between the King's Troops and the Provincials, 1775 (2); Draught of the Towns of Boston and Charles Town [Charleston] and the Circumjacent Country, Shewing the Works, 1775; Plan of the Action which Happen'd 17 JUN 1775 at Charles Town [Charleston], 1775; Plan of the Town and Environs of Halifax in Nova Scotia, 1779; Arrangement of the Army Commanded by General Howe, Agreeable to the Orders of 15 MAY 1776; Plan of the Scene of Action at Charlestown in the Province of South Carolina, 28 JUN 1776; Three Views of the Action at Charlestown, South Carolina, 1776; Plan of New York Island, and Part of Long Island, 1777; Plan of the City of New York as it was when his Majesty's Forces took Possession of it in 1776; Plan of a Rout Undertaken in Winter, 26 JAN from Quebec, 1760; Plan of the City and Environs of Quebec, with Its Siege and Blockade by the Americans from 8 DEC 1775-13 MAY 1776; Attack and Defeat of the American Fleet under Benedict Arnold by the King's Fleet Commanded by Sir Guy Carleton upon Lake Champlain, 11 OCT 1776; Plan of Carillon ou Ticonderoga, which was Quitted by the Americaines in the Night from 5-6 JUL 1777; Sketch of the Engagement at Trenton, Given on 26 DEC 1776; Battle of Brandywine on 11 SEP 1777; Plan of the Progress of the Royal Army from Their Landing at Elk Ferry to Philadelphia, 1777; Plan of the Battles of Saratoga, 1777; Plan of the Position of the Army under the Command of Lieut. Genl. Burgoyne near Still Water, in which it Encamped on 20 SEP 1777; Plan of the Town of Newport with Its Environs, 1777; Plan de Rhode Islande, les Differentes Operations de la Flotte Francoise et des Troupes Americaines, 1778; Carte des Positions Occupees par les Troupes Americaines Apres Leur Retraite de Rhode Island, 30 AUG 1778; Plan of the Town of Savannah, Shewing the Works Constructed for Its Defense, also the Approaches and Batteries of the Enemy, Together with the Joint Attack on the French and Rebels 9 OCT 1779; Siege de Savannah Fait par les Troupes Francoises aux Orders du General d'Estaing, Vice-Amiral de France, 1779; Plan de la Ville du Cap Francois et de Ses Environs Dans L'Isle St. Domingue, 1786; Investiture of Charleston, SC, by the English Army in 1780; Sketch of the Dispostion and Commencemt. of the Action near Camden in South Carolina, 16 AUG 1780; Plan de la Ville, Port et Rade de Newport,...1781; Camp a Baltimore, 1782; Carte de la Campagne en Virginie du Major General Mis. de la Fayette; Plan of Investment of York and Gloucester Has Been Surveyed and Laid Down, 1781; Plan of Investment of York and Gloucester Has Been Surveyed and Laid Down, 1782; Map of the British Colonies in North America, 1755/1775/1782.

The French and Indian War. The Anti-Gallican map ; Braddock's march ; The battle of Lake George ; Albany ; Louisbourg ; The 1759 battle of Quebec -- Between the wars. British military engineers map North America ; The Cantonment maps ; The Stamp Act crisis -- The American Revolution. Lexington and Concord ; Bunker Hill ; Halifax ; Charleston 1776 ; New York ; Quebec 1775 ; Valcour Island ; Fort Ticonderoga ; Trenton ; Philadelphia ; Saratoga ; Newport ; The battle of Savannah ; Charleston 1780 and Camden ; Rochambeau's march ; Yorktown ; Peace.