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Auction archive: Lot number 148

HILLS, John. - Sketch of the Surprise of German Town, by the American Forces commanded by General Washington. October 4th 1777.

Estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
ca. US$12,269 - US$18,404
Price realised:
£12,000
ca. US$18,404
Auction archive: Lot number 148

HILLS, John. - Sketch of the Surprise of German Town, by the American Forces commanded by General Washington. October 4th 1777.

Estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
ca. US$12,269 - US$18,404
Price realised:
£12,000
ca. US$18,404
Beschreibung:

Sketch of the Surprise of German Town, by the American Forces commanded by General Washington. October 4th 1777.
London: William Faden 12 March 1784. Double-page engraved map (465 x 540 mm). Disposition and movement of forces colored in red (British), blue (Hessian) and yellow (American). 17 lettered references. Condition : light browning along the fold, minor toning at the sheet edges, wide margins. Provenance : Martin P. Snyder. washington’s surprise attack on the british position at germantown. Following defeats at Brandywine and Paoli, Washington decided to attack the British encampment at Germantown as the last engagement before winter. Upon the occupation of Philadelphia, Howe had divided his forces between the city and Germantown, intending to use the latter as a base from which to engage the American forces. Washington attempted to envelop that British position by launching a four column attack. Fought on 4 October 1777, this battle, although another defeat for Washington, would elevate the status of the Continental Army and was seen as attempting an incredibly bold maneuver for such a young military force. “Everything is shown [on this plan] except the dense fog that confused Washington’s attacking columns. The lengthy references are keyed to the lines of march of the three-pronged attack and the deployment of the defensive forces. Several stages of the engagement are indicated by symbols representing various identified units; names of commanders are given” (Nebenzahl, Bibliography of Printed Plans of the American Revolution). The map itself is based on surveys by John Hills, who during the war served as a British officer but would later publish in Philadelphia the most important early 19th century map of the city. “[Hills] was active in America as early as 1777, but it is not known whether he was at Germantown or copied earlier plans in preparing his drawing of it” (Snyder). Although not published until 1784, this is the first state of the rare plan. Nebenzahl, Atlas of the American Revolution 28; Nebenzahl, Bibliography of Printed Plans of the American Revolution 129; Snyder, COI 57 (this copy illustrated as Fig. 52); Streeter Sale 806.

Auction archive: Lot number 148
Auction:
Datum:
19 Nov 2008
Auction house:
Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions
16-17 Pall Mall
St James’s
London, SW1Y 5LU
United Kingdom
info@dreweatts.com
+44 (0)20 78398880
Beschreibung:

Sketch of the Surprise of German Town, by the American Forces commanded by General Washington. October 4th 1777.
London: William Faden 12 March 1784. Double-page engraved map (465 x 540 mm). Disposition and movement of forces colored in red (British), blue (Hessian) and yellow (American). 17 lettered references. Condition : light browning along the fold, minor toning at the sheet edges, wide margins. Provenance : Martin P. Snyder. washington’s surprise attack on the british position at germantown. Following defeats at Brandywine and Paoli, Washington decided to attack the British encampment at Germantown as the last engagement before winter. Upon the occupation of Philadelphia, Howe had divided his forces between the city and Germantown, intending to use the latter as a base from which to engage the American forces. Washington attempted to envelop that British position by launching a four column attack. Fought on 4 October 1777, this battle, although another defeat for Washington, would elevate the status of the Continental Army and was seen as attempting an incredibly bold maneuver for such a young military force. “Everything is shown [on this plan] except the dense fog that confused Washington’s attacking columns. The lengthy references are keyed to the lines of march of the three-pronged attack and the deployment of the defensive forces. Several stages of the engagement are indicated by symbols representing various identified units; names of commanders are given” (Nebenzahl, Bibliography of Printed Plans of the American Revolution). The map itself is based on surveys by John Hills, who during the war served as a British officer but would later publish in Philadelphia the most important early 19th century map of the city. “[Hills] was active in America as early as 1777, but it is not known whether he was at Germantown or copied earlier plans in preparing his drawing of it” (Snyder). Although not published until 1784, this is the first state of the rare plan. Nebenzahl, Atlas of the American Revolution 28; Nebenzahl, Bibliography of Printed Plans of the American Revolution 129; Snyder, COI 57 (this copy illustrated as Fig. 52); Streeter Sale 806.

Auction archive: Lot number 148
Auction:
Datum:
19 Nov 2008
Auction house:
Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions
16-17 Pall Mall
St James’s
London, SW1Y 5LU
United Kingdom
info@dreweatts.com
+44 (0)20 78398880
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