Faden, William

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

The Course of the Delaware River from Philadelphia to Chester, Exhibiting the several Works erected by the Rebels to defend its Passage.... London: William Faden: 30 April 1778

Copper engraved map with original outline color (21 1/2 x 29 1/2 ins; 540 x 750 mm). Matted and glazed.

Provenance

Martin P. Snyder

Literature

Nebenzahl, Atlas of the American Revolution, map 29; Nebenzahl, A Bibliography of Printed Battle Plans of the American Revolution 1775-1795,132, state 1; Snyder, COI 79 (this copy illustrated as Fig.55); Steven & Tree, “Comparative Cartography” in Tooley, The Mapping of America, 17 (a).

Catalogue Note

A major work of revolutionary war cartography

In September, 1777 the British retook Philadelphia, the Continental capital and the largest city in the American colonies. However, they knew that their hold on the city would prove fleeting unless they managed to secure its access to the sea, which was blocked by a formidable American cordon militaire. The Americans could cover the entire width of the Delaware River with artillery, as they controlled Fort Mercer at Red Bank on the New Jersey shore, and the adjacent Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island in the middle of the river. Menacingly they also constructed stockadoes, or Chevaux de fries, across the largest channel of the river, both under the American artillery positions at the aforementioned forts and at Billingsport, New Jersey. The placements were essentially caissons constructed in the river that were intended to ensnare and slow British ships, making them more vulnerable to attack. Their construction is depicted in diagrams on the lower—right of the map.