Prints and Maps of the War of 1812

War of 1812
Page 2

Prints from: [ The Port Folio | Naval Monument | Naval Battles of the United States ]
[ General selection of prints | Naval Officers ]

On June 19, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain, thus beginning what is known as the War of 1812. Though the official reasoning for the declaration was to defend the doctrine of “freedom of the seas,” the factors involved were many, including British support for Native Americans in the mid-west, British actions taken against American ships as part of their fight with Napoleonic France, British impressment of American sailors, and not least, American dreams of annexing Canada. Action during the war was primarily naval: on the high seas, on the Great Lakes, and on Lake Champlain. Land battles were fought mostly in the region of Detroit, along the Niagara frontier, and in the south. Neither side gained much advantage during the war, which was ended by the Treaty of Ghent signed December 24, 1814. The war didn't really decide anything, though the British never again were quite as highhanded in their treatment of American shipping and the Americans never again tried to annex Canada.

The Port Folio

The Port Folio was a new type of American magazine, “Devoted to Useful Science, the Liberal Arts, Legitimate Criticism, and Polite Literature.” It was a product of the new century, appearing first in January 1801. It began as a weekly issue until 1809, when it became monthly until its demise at the end of 1827. As with the many magazines that followed it, The Port Folio included numerous illustrations, views, and portraits (cf. above), and during the War of 1812, it contained a number of fine images of the battles and sites of that war. Contemporary images of the war are quite scarce and these are some of the most interesting.

“View of Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario from the Light House on the British Side.” October, 1812. 4 x 7 1/4. Engraving.
The Niagara Frontier was the scene of most of the military activity during the war and the major fortification in the region was Fort Niagara, located on the present-day New York side of the Niagara River where it empties into Lake Ontario. This fine engraving shows the fort from across the river in Newark (present-day Niagara-On-The-Lake). Also shown is the British Fort George on the Canadian side of the river. It thus provided readers of The Port Folio with an image of two competing fortifications on this significant front during the war. $275
William Strickland. "A View of Quebec from Point Levy." April 1813. Engraving by W. Kneass. 4 1/4 x 7 1/8.
Quebec City was the key to British control of Upper Canada, protecting the waterway needed to bring in provisions from England. The Americans attempted invasions of Canada in 1812 and then again in 1813, neither of which was successful. This view shows the fortified city with British naval vessels sailing the St. Lawrence in the foreground. $275
"A View of New-London from Manwaring's Hill." February, 1814. 4 3/8 x 6 7/8. Engraving. Fielding: 1852.
A view of New London, Connecticut. In the distance, off the port entrance, is a small depiction of the British squadron under Hardy, which was blockading New London during the War. $225
“Fort Niagara taken from the British side of the River at Newark.” April, 1814. 4 x 6 7/8. Aquatint and etching by William Strickland. Stauffer: 3056.
A closer image of this important fort, taken from just across the river. The imposing walls and numerous interior buildings, including the famous “French castle” are clearly depicted. $275
“Queenstown, upper Canada.” August, 1814. 4 x 7. Aquatint by W. Strickland. Stauffer: 3059.
A lovely view of this small Canadian town, nestled beneath the embankment on the Niagara River. This quiet image belies the fact that this was the scene of a fierce battle on October 13, 1813. $225
Thomas Birch. "South-east view of Sackett's harbour." May 1815. Aquatint and etching by William Strickland. 3 7/8 x 7 1/2.
Sackets Harbor, located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, was the most important American naval base and yard on the Great Lakes, the naval headquarters during the war. The British tried twice to capture the base, both times unsuccessfully. This image shows the tow surrounded by barracks and fortifications, the harbor filled with American vessels. $250
"Attack on Fort Oswego." July 1815. Aquatint and etching by William Strickland. 3 3/4 x 7 1/2.
Fort Oswego was an important American staging point and base at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. On May 6, 1814, the British navy and marines, under Sir James Yeo, attacked the decrepit American fort, forcing the Americans to abandon the fort and seizing considerable supplies and ordnance. This print shows the British marines attacking the fort, which is being shelled by the British squadron in the background. $275
"A view of the Port of Buffaloe on Lake Erie." August 1815. Engraving. 4 x 7.
With the Niagara frontier being one of the most important fronts during the war, Buffalo and its harbor were crucial to the American forces. This print shows the entrance to the Buffalo River, with many American troops marching or loaded onto barges bringing them in from the fleet shown off shore on Lake Erie. $275
Major Riddle. "Battle of Niagara. from a sketch by Major Riddle." September 1815. Aquatint and engraving by Strickland. 3 7/8 x 7 1/2. Chip in bottom right corner.
This is a dramatic scene of the Battle of Niagara, also called the Battle of Lundy's Lane, based on a sketch by a participant. This was one of the most bloody battles of the war, and though the Americans captured the British position, they were so badly mauled that they had to abandon the field in the end and retreat back towards Buffalo. In this battle, Winfield Scott was wounded, but his training and leadership proved decisive in the Americans temporary triumph. $275
"Capture of Fort George." July 1817. Aquatint. 4 5/8 x 8 1/8.
This is a dramatic scene of capture of Fort George in May 1813. The Americans held Fort Niagara, on the eastern side of the Niagara River where it empties into Lake Ontario. This fort was faced across the river by the British Fort George, which the Americans attacked on May 27th. The American troops, led by Winfield Scott, were supported by a number of naval ships under the command of Oliver Perry. This print shows the ships off the mouth of the river, with numerous boats beginning to ferry the American troops to the shore. Fort Niagara is shown bombarding the British forces on the Canadian side. The town of Newark, now Niagara-On-The-Lake, is nicely pictured. $325

The Naval Monument

Prints from The Naval Monument, Containing Official and Other Accounts Of All The Battles Fought Between the Navies of the United States and Great Britain During The Late War. Boston: A. Bowen, 1816. Octavo: ca. 4 x 7 3/4. Copper and wood engravings. Very good condition.

The most stirring and, for the United States, successful action during the War of 1812 were fought by the young U.S. Navy. With glorious victories on Lake Champlain, Lake Erie and on the high seas, the captains and ships of the U.S. Navy were the greatest heroes to come out of this war. The demand by the military and the public for information and illustrations of these battles and figures was satisfied by the publication, in 1816--shortly after the war ended--of The Naval Monument. This included descriptions of the naval battles fought during the war, along with twenty five illustrations of those battles, produced in both copper and wood engravings. These are some of the best contemporary images of these battles and this combined with the scarcity of these prints makes them most desirable.

Copper Engravings:

J.B. Fanning. "United States Squadron under Com. Bainbridge returning triumphant from the Mediterranean in 1815." Engraving by G.G. Smith. $250
J. R Pennimen. [Frontispiece Allegory]. Engraved by W. B. Annin. A stirring and patriotic allegory of the American naval victories during the War of 18 12. Columbia is standing on a clam shell, holding an American flag and is being pulled by a team of sea horses thru the water. In the foreground is several canon and cannonballs with the motto on a banner uttered by Perry during the Battle of Lake Erie: "We have Met the Enemy and they are Ours." In the background is a small obelisk monument with the name of Washington and Independence chiseled into it. Above are heraldic shields with the names and portraits of the American naval hero of the war. $85

Wood Engravings:

All engraved by A. Bowen unless noted.

M. Cornè. "The Consitution Taking The Cyane and Levant." Engraving by A. Anderson. $165
M. Cornè. "The Java Surrendering to the Constitution." $165
M. Cornè. "The Wasp and Avon." $165
M. Cornè. "The Wasp and the Reinder." $165
M. Cornè. "The Wasp Boarding the Frolic." $165
M. Cornè. "The Hornet Sinking the Peacock." $165
M. Cornè. "The Hornet's Escape from a British Seventy-Four." $165
M. Cornè. "The Hornet and Penguin." $165
M. Cornè. "Capture of the Essex." $165
M. Cornè. "The President Engaging The Endymion, Pursued By The British Squadron." $165
T. Birch. "The Peacock and the Epervier." $165
Anon. "The United States and Macedonian." $165
Anon. "The Hornet Blockading the Bonne Citoyenne." $165

Prints from the 1836 edition of The Naval Monument, Containing Official and Other Accounts Of All The Battles Fought Between the Navies of the United States and Great Britain During The Late War. Boston: George Clark, 1836. Copper and wood engravings. Very good condition.

M. Cornè: "First View of Com. Perry's Victory" and "Second View of Com. Perry's Victory." Engravings by W.R. Annin. For the pair, $375
"Com. Macdonough's Victory on Lake Champlain Sept. 11th., 1814." Engraving. $250
T. Birch. "The Peacock and Epervier." Wood engraving. $165

Naval Battles

Horace Kimball. Prints from Naval Battles of the United States. Boston: B. Badger(?), 1857. Octavo. Wood engravings. Very good condition. Ref: Howes, U.S.Iana: K135

Prints from an illustrated history of naval engagements of the United States. First issued in 1816 under the title of The Naval Temple…, this publication included illustrations of naval battles of the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars. The demand by the military and the public for information and illustrations of these battles was satisfied by this and other illustrated publications shortly after the war ended. Naval Battles was issued in several editions, under three different titles, with the last edition published in 1857. It is interesting to note that all of the later editions used the original wood block illustrations from the first edition (1816). Even though the prints from this edition were published long after the War of 1812, their style is indicative of printmaking of that period. Overall, a wonderful series of nicely engraved naval prints originally issued not long after these historic events.