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[ Revolutionary War maps | 18th Century North America ]
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The rich lands which lay between and to the west of the French settlements of Canada and the British colonies along the east coast of North America were inevitably destined to become a battleground between the forces of these two European rivals. From 1754 to 1763, the British and French fought for this wilderness of huge potential in a conflict which, though part of the wider Seven Years War, has come to be known as the French & Indian War.
Begun in what is now western Pennsylvania with a battle involving a young Virginia officer named George Washington, this conflict waxed and waned in an arc running from that western wilderness, through the Great Lakes, over to Lakes George and Champlain, and as far north as the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence. When the fighting was finished and the Treaty of Paris signed, France had lost all her possessions in North America and Britain was mistress of the entire region extending from the entire Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River.
Go to short history of the French & Indian War
A very rare map and diagram of the Battle of Bushy Run from Jeffery's important General Topography. The Battle of Bushy Run was a very important event in the early development of the country, today unfortunately mostly forgotten. During the French and Indian War, the British had tried to win over from the French the tribes-Delaware, Shawnees and Iroquois-located in what is today western Pennsylvania and in the upper Ohio River basin. These tribes remained mostly neutral believing that this would lead to an end to British encroachments west of the Allegheny Mountains. This belief was shattered when, following the conclusion of the French and Indian War, European colonists began to move into western Pennsylvania and beyond in a steady stream, and the British continued construction of Fort Pitt, a large brick and stone fortification.
Meanwhile, Pontiac--an Ottawa war chief--was gaining a following in the mid-west for his campaign to drive the British out of the region. On May 8, 1763, Pontiac and his Ottawas lay siege to Fort Detroit, beginning what has been called Pontiac's Rebellion. Because of the British intrusions and broken promises, the eastern tribes decided to join the rebellion, destroying Forts LeBoeuf, Venango, and Presqu' Isle and attacking Fort Pitt in June 1763. Colonel Henry Bouquet was sent, with three regiments, to march west to relieve and resupply the hard-pressed defenders of Fort Pitt. After leaving Fort Ligonier, and about 25 miles east of Fort Pitt near Bushy Run, Bouquet was attacked on August 5 by a large force of Indians, who, once they learned of Bouquet's march, had left the siege of Fort Pitt to lay an ambush. Over the two days of the battle, about 50 British died and 60 were wounded, while the Indian force-described by Bouquet as numbering about 400 but by the Indians as about a quarter of that-lost between 30 and 50. The Indians were driven from the field and Bouquet marched on to rescue Fort Pitt. This battle off in the wilds of western Pennsylvania had an important impact on the course of American history, for it ended any hope the Indians, in western Pennsylvania, had of preserving their lands; it also opened up the entire region to more and more British settlement. This was, in effect, the beginning of the flood of colonists from their original settlements on the East Coast across the Allegheny Mountains and into the mid-west. $2,800
An excellent map of the "English Colonies…bordering on the River Ohio." This map was issued at the end of 1754, the year during which the first shots were fired in the war. The war was sparked by a dispute over control of the upper Ohio River, with the first engagement being George Washington's fight with the garrison at Fort Duquesne (today's Pittsburgh). Thus is was natural that the British reading public would want a map showing the lands in dispute. This map shows those lands put into the context of the colonies extending from New Hampshire in the north and the Carolinas in the South. In order to provide a map of the nascent conflict, the editors turned to somewhat out-of-date information. For instance, the map shows "F. Nicholson" at the "Great Carrying Place" between the Hudson and Lake George. This for had originally been built in 1709, but was replaced by two subsequent forts, including Fort Edward the year after this map appeared. In the area of the Ohio Indian settlements are shown, but no forts, though the French Fort Niagara is indicated on the shore of Lake Ontario. $450
This map, issued in the Gentleman's Magazine in mid-1755, was published just before the war was declared. It shows "French Incroachments" and includes detailed text explaining the British claims. Also indicated are the numerous French and British forts in North America. For its excellent and timely detail of the region where the coming conflict centered, this map would undoubtedly have been studied avidly by its readers in the months that followed. It is certainly worthy of our similar avid examination, for it gives us a wonderful look back at the beginnings of the war. $650
Another map of the continent on the eve of the war. This map is based on the John Mitchell map of 1755 and follows its source in showing the British colonies from Virginia south as extending well across the Mississippi River to the western edge of the map. Of particular note is the fact that the colony of Georgia is shown as dividing the "North Part of" and the "South Part of South Carolina." Also interesting is that settlements and forts are prominently indicated throughout. The title cartouche is a wonderful baroque construction and just to the left of it is an inset map of "Fort Frederick at Crown Point" $750
The publication of this map (which was first issued in 1740) was prompted by the beginning of the Seven Years War, of which the French & Indian War was the name of the American portion of the conflict. This war pitted the European powers against each other on the continent, in the Atlantic, in the West Indies and on the North American continent. This map depicts all these areas and so would have been an excellent general map to use to follow the events as the war progressed. $350
This map focuses on the arena of fighting up to the spring of 1757, just before the French capture of Fort William Henry. Forts under British control are shown, including "Gen. Johnson's Camp" (Fort William Henry), Fort Ann, Fort Nicholson, and Fort Edward. Forts depicted that were under French control include Forts Oswego, "Frantunac", and Frederick on Crown Point, as well as an indication of a "French Camp" to the southeast of Fort William Henry. The detail of rivers and towns is impressive, and color is used to indicate the political division, including New Hampshire, which takes up the entire region now consisting of New Hampshire and Vermont, as well "Eastern Massachuset," a district that was later to become Maine. The yellow color used for New York extends almost as far north as Montreal and crosses to the north side of the St. Lawrence River, with a note ("Extent of the French Settlements before they built a Fort at Crown Point") indicating the British viewpoint that the French claims to these lands were recent and unfounded. $750
This detailed map of Quebec is an excellent example of fine cartographic work published by the Universal Magazine. This city was the strongest fortress in Canada, the lynchpin of French power in North America. The British knew that if they were able to capture Quebec, the rest of the country would soon fall into their dominion, so in early 1759 they planned the largest attack of the war, a combined force of about 9,000 soldiers under General James Wolfe and a fleet of 20 ships under Admiral Charles Saunders. The British lay siege to Quebec from June 27th until September 18th, when the French surrendered their garrison in the city. This was the turning point of the war, with an eventual British victory all but certain. This map, issued as the attack on Quebec was forming, would have served the reading public in London both as a reminder of strength of the citadel, but also as a map upon which to follow the news of the attack as it progressed during the summer. $250
This map is of the region around Lake George--from Crown Point on Lake Champlain to Fort Edward on the Hudson. It shows the forts in the region, including besides the two mentioned above, Fort William Henry and Fort Ticonderoga. Also shown are trails in the area, and a large body of "Drown'd Lands" along Wood Creek to the south of Ticonderoga. $250
Another map of Quebec, this one issued within a month of the surrender of Quebec. It shows city and its environs including the Island of Orleans. As news of the great British triumph arrived in London, this map would have been studied with great interest by the readers of Gentleman's Magazine. $225
Another map issued shortly after the British capture of the city, showing the region immediately around Quebec. This comes from one of the rarer magazines of the period and it was issued along with an account of Wolfe's victory. In the top right corner is an inset showing the arrangement of the troops. $275
This fine map, issued shortly after the capture of Quebec, shows the positions of all the British and French troops during these events. The map shows the rivers, roads, towns around Quebec, and the lines of the armies, defensive works, encampments, and many ships in the river are all indicated and named. $275
Montreal was the capital of French Canada, their last stronghold in America after the British capture of Quebec in September 1759, just the month before this map was issued. Once Quebec was taken, the obvious next step was to capture Montreal, so a map of this city would have had great interest to the readers of the Universal Magazine. The detail in this map is most impressive, likely based on French sources. The layout of the city itself, and the lands surrounding, is clearly presented, with a few major features explained with a lettered key in the upper left corner. $350
This map illustrates the expedition led by General Lord Jeffrey Amherst against the French at Montreal in 1760, which led to the surrender of the city in September of that year. It shows the region along and south of the St. Lawrence River extending from Quebec to the Thousand Islands, and then around Lake Ontario and to the Niagara River. Forts, Indian tribes, rivers, portages, and other such information is clearly presented. Also included are insets of Montreal Island and of the city itself, indicating its major streets, buildings, and the surrounding fortifications. $275
The British initially invaded Martinique in January 1759, but the island was not captured for three more years. This map shows Fort Royal, finally taken by the British on February 13, 1762. This map was issued shortly thereafter. $225
A reissue of Schwartz's very good history of the French & Indian war. This book uses many contemporary prints and maps. This is a highly recommended volume for anyone interested in the French & Indian war. $30.00
Prints of the French & Indian WarMaps of the American Revolution
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