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Revolution: Mapping the Road to American Independence, 1755–1783
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.
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.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2015
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 19, 2016
The authors noted that successful generals “covet” maps. Students of history likewise. This is a book of maps to be coveted. Better yet, purchased.
Normally, I interleave quotes from books in my reviews; if I could I’d insert maps. But I can’t. If you are at all interested in maps or the American Revolution, find this book. The maps featured not only recorded but, in a few cases, helped make history. Several are newly discovered. “Many had never been reproduced before.” All are beautifully duplicated in this full-color 12 x 13 volume.
The “making history” claim is based on maps which were used contemporaneously by participants in the struggle. Some mislead combatants into blunders that better maps would have identified.
Finally, the volume includes the famous 1782 “red-lined map” by which the peace negotiators in Paris drew the boundaries of the new country. Had British delegate Richard Oswald chosen to guide his pen up the Illinois River, rather than the Mississippi, the fledging nation might have been deprived of much of current Illinois, Iowa Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas. And Ben Franklin et al. would still have been pleased with Oswald’s generosity.
Quibbles: The authors are map experts not historians. They misunderstood either the location or the significance of Forts Washington and Lee guarding the Hudson River above New York, as documented by their statement, “But Fort Washington and Fort Lee proved ineffective when the combined might of His Majesty’s army and navy sailed blithely into New York harbor.”
Their accompanying narrative skips several significant battles, perhaps because they lacked good maps of them. Occasionally they threw in what maps they had, for example Cap François on St. Dominque (now Haiti), regardless of their irrelevancy.
My last quibble is that the maps were not reproduced is sufficient quality to allow the viewing of minute details. Yes, I mean, with a magnifying glass. Some of the originals were obviously very large. Reducing them to fit necessarily reduced them too small to read. What’s the point of a book of maps you can’t read? (Should have cost them a star, but this book is too significant to be so petty.)
Normally, I interleave quotes from books in my reviews; if I could I’d insert maps. But I can’t. If you are at all interested in maps or the American Revolution, find this book. The maps featured not only recorded but, in a few cases, helped make history. Several are newly discovered. “Many had never been reproduced before.” All are beautifully duplicated in this full-color 12 x 13 volume.
The “making history” claim is based on maps which were used contemporaneously by participants in the struggle. Some mislead combatants into blunders that better maps would have identified.
Finally, the volume includes the famous 1782 “red-lined map” by which the peace negotiators in Paris drew the boundaries of the new country. Had British delegate Richard Oswald chosen to guide his pen up the Illinois River, rather than the Mississippi, the fledging nation might have been deprived of much of current Illinois, Iowa Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas. And Ben Franklin et al. would still have been pleased with Oswald’s generosity.
Quibbles: The authors are map experts not historians. They misunderstood either the location or the significance of Forts Washington and Lee guarding the Hudson River above New York, as documented by their statement, “But Fort Washington and Fort Lee proved ineffective when the combined might of His Majesty’s army and navy sailed blithely into New York harbor.”
Their accompanying narrative skips several significant battles, perhaps because they lacked good maps of them. Occasionally they threw in what maps they had, for example Cap François on St. Dominque (now Haiti), regardless of their irrelevancy.
My last quibble is that the maps were not reproduced is sufficient quality to allow the viewing of minute details. Yes, I mean, with a magnifying glass. Some of the originals were obviously very large. Reducing them to fit necessarily reduced them too small to read. What’s the point of a book of maps you can’t read? (Should have cost them a star, but this book is too significant to be so petty.)
October 22, 2015
As a general rule, dudes aren’t terribly enthusiastic about books as objets d’art, but this is a beautifully crafted, stylish and amazing exception assembled with insight and scope by Brown (Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library) and Cohen (Mapping the West). The titular journey begins with the French and Indian War (that’s 1755–63, Chumley), precursor to the American Revolution. Readers learn that the map created by the British Society of Anti-Gallicans (who, incidentally, stole the name for my next band) “…extended and dramatized [the] territorial claims” of Britain and really pissed off the French. We then learn of British Gen. Edward Braddock’s March on Fort Duquesne which, given the beauty and precision of Captain Robert Orme’s two exquisite manuscript (hand-drawn) maps, put the accomplishment into a humbling perspective for those of us who think we’re tough guys. Cumberland, MD, to Pittsburgh is only about a 100 miles, but back in those days, with 2,000 guys and 600 horses, even with George Washington leading the advance scouts, it took a month with “…an advance army of three hundred ax men [clearing] a twelve-foot roadway.” True to the authors’ intent, readable text highlights the cartography, be it the Battle of Lake George through Samuel Blodgett’s mind-blowing, tapestry-esque work or the Battle of the Monongahela. There Braddock’s advance column of guys freaked out and retreated smack into their own backups coming toward them, “…was compressed in the 12-foot wide roadway” is put into perspective by two wonderful, inaccurate (by today’s standards), informative maps by Robert Orme. VERDICT Oversized, ideal for the coffee table and a curious mind, this glorious book has immense appeal.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
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March 21, 2016I picked this up at the library thinking that looking at maps might be an interesting angle to learning about the American Revolution. I figured the changes in boundaries and borders might resonate more with kids who are spatially oriented, as opposed to memorizing dates and events that occur over a period of time.
Perhaps this is a book one of those kids could sit with and dig into. But for me, it wasn't suited for the kind of lesson plan I was thinking of writing. I like the idea of looking to the actual maps from the time of the Revolution (primary sources and all that) which could make this book a great reference. But the way the maps are presented in the book, as a means of telling the story of the Revolution, is suited for an older audience.
So, not for me and my purposes, but this book might be of great interest to others.
Perhaps this is a book one of those kids could sit with and dig into. But for me, it wasn't suited for the kind of lesson plan I was thinking of writing. I like the idea of looking to the actual maps from the time of the Revolution (primary sources and all that) which could make this book a great reference. But the way the maps are presented in the book, as a means of telling the story of the Revolution, is suited for an older audience.
So, not for me and my purposes, but this book might be of great interest to others.
December 28, 2019
I LIKE THIS BOOK I CAN READ IT OVER OVER
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November 9, 2015Paul E. Cohen, AM'75
Coauthor
From our pages (Fall/15): "Rare book dealer Paul Cohen helps provide a cartographical account of the American Revolution, using historical maps and drawings to illustrate how, and where, the conflict unfolded. From maps of land claims in North America before the war to a battlefield diagram of Yorktown, the 60 images and accompanying essays in Revolution provide a fresh perspective on America’s beginnings."
Coauthor
From our pages (Fall/15): "Rare book dealer Paul Cohen helps provide a cartographical account of the American Revolution, using historical maps and drawings to illustrate how, and where, the conflict unfolded. From maps of land claims in North America before the war to a battlefield diagram of Yorktown, the 60 images and accompanying essays in Revolution provide a fresh perspective on America’s beginnings."
May 19, 2016
I simply love this historical book of maps.
My dad dabbled in cartography during WWII, and passed on to me the value of being able to read, and own, maps.
Just buy this book. You will not regret the decision to do so!
My dad dabbled in cartography during WWII, and passed on to me the value of being able to read, and own, maps.
Just buy this book. You will not regret the decision to do so!
June 19, 2024
OK I love maps. What could be more interesting than seeing amazing maps about a topic where very few visual images exist?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews