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Fine Art Reproductions of Historical Maps & Charts

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Map/Chart > The Middle States

The Harbour of Charles Town in South Carolina with a view of the town from the south shore of Ashley River.

This chart depicts the coastline of South Carolina from Spences Inlet (now Dewees) north of Charleston Harbour*, down to what is now Folly Island and beach to the south.

Technical Information
Reference:	A303
Date	1776
Hydrographer/Surveyor/Artist:	J.F.W. Des Barres & Capt. Sir John Wallace
Size Of Original:	w 28" x h 36"
Paper Type	Hahnemuhle German Etching 310gsm (original size), Omnijet Superior Matt Graphic 180gsm (half size)

Description

The chart includes a beautiful view of Charlestown[1] from the south shore of the Ashley River, and gives a clear picture of how well-fortified the town was in 1777. Accurate soundings of the harbour and rivers are included, as one might expect of a survey intended for military use. Of great interest are the changes which have occurred in the geography of the harbour - for instance, the island upon which Fort Sumter now stands, and upon which the Confederate artillery fired the opening shots of the Civil war on April 12 1861, did not exist in 1777.

By 1779 the British had adopted a ‘Southern Strategy’ which sought to control the Southern States (North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) by isolating them from the more northerly regions of New England and New York. The strategy assumed that, by controlling the important ports of Charlestown[1] (Heritage Charts A308), Savannah (Heritage Charts A301 and A304), Port Royal (Heritage Charts A301, A304 and A306), St Augustin (Heritage Charts A414) and others, the Colonial army would be starved of funds and supplies coming-in from overseas.

These Southern States were also rich in tobacco, spices, rice and in slaves, a large number of whom the British hoped to induce into the British Army in return for their freedom. Underpinning the British strategy was the assumption that the large base of Loyalist supporters from around these states would rally to the King if they were given some military support. Charlestown was to be the center of operations for the execution of the ‘Southern Strategy’ and the town was finally taken by the British in May 1780 after a six week seige.

[1] Charles Town(e) or Charlestown was (re)named after King Charles II of England in 1670, and the city finally adopted it’s present name, Charleston, in 1783 after the War of Independence had ended. Wallace, as a newly-Knighted hero of the War of Independence, is afforded credit for the survey work presented here although in fact he was only one of many surveyors working in the region. J F W Des Barres, in typical style, includes detail of land relief at the time of publication.

Likely drawn in late 1776 after Captain Sir James Wallace and his ship ‘The Rose’ had served in the invasion of New York in 1776 and before Wallace left 'The Rose' in January 1777 to fulfil another post. ‘The Rose’ finally met her end in 1779 in Savannah, Georgia, where she was scuppered by the British to blockade the channel.

Worn around the edges through use, this is a beautiful chart of an important region and town and still retains its full range of colours and detail.