Map/Chart > New York

Plan of New York Harbour and part of North River in 1776.

This previously unpublished manuscript plan provided the basis for a later, historic, Des Barres map of the Operations of His Majesty's Fleet and Army in New York in 1776.

Further Information

This never seen before manuscript plan was drawn in 1776, just after the British had taken Manhattan and following the ensuing skirmishes between the British and the Americans from August through to November of that year.  This 'rough' plan is especially important because it is unquestionably the source from which J. F. W. Des Barres  published his historic 'A Sketch of the Operations of His Majesty's Fleet and Army Under the Command of Vice Admiral the Rt. Hble. Lord Viscount Howe and Gen./Sr.Wm.  Howe, K.B. in 1776.' in London Jan 17, 1777.

The plan presented here gives, through its 'References', the story of events which eventually saw George Washington and his beleaguered army escape the clutches of a much superior British force.  Des Barres 'Sketch' was not the only plan or map produced around this time depicting the extraordinary events which saw George Washington out-numbered and increasingly desperate to keep the resistance alive.  Amongst those who contributed to feed the thirst of both governments and the news-hungry British public for news and accounts depicting events in this theatre or war, were: Samuel Holland, George Sproule, J. F. W. Des Barres, John Bowles, William Faden, Charles Blascowitz & Claude Joseph Sauthier (see Heritage Charts A204) and Montresor.  The Des Barres map which derived directly from this 'rough', likewise covers the area from Sandy Hook to Haverstraw, and Jamaica Bay to the western New Jersey.  The Des Barres 'Sketch', in typical style, goes beyond the core information provided by this succinct plan.  Des Barres depicts in detail the geographical setting for the war as it took place in this region in great topographical detail.  He shows troop positions and strengths, fortifications and battle sites, topography of roads, towns, houses; shoals, sand-banks, soundings in the bay and on the rivers and land relief.  On Des Barres edition Captain "Larry" Sneden house is marked at Snedens Landing on the western bank of the Hudson River. Note that this 'rough' only indicates 'Sneedings Bluff'. As with this plan, the published Des Barres 'Sketch' includes an inset of References, which tells the story of all of the major places and events from the initial invasion up to and including the battle at Fort Washington.  A comparison of the two 'References'; that of this plan and that of Des Barres confirms, for the first time, the link between the two documents and the historic significance of this 'rough' plan.  For a full list of the References, and other comparative material please visit the Heritage Charts 'Logbook'. A close examination of this 'rough' plan raises one question above all others:  Who is responsible for the work?  Whoever it was, if Des Barres had exclusive access to such a contemporary document, was likely to be one of the trusted and talented team of surveyors and hydrographers working in the area at the time. The most likely candidate for this work would be Lieutenant John Hunter.  Hunter is known to have been aboard Vice Admiral Richard Howe's flagship MHS Eagle in New York harbor in 1776.  Whoever it was, it was someone with training as there are tantalizing clues included in the plan which uses (by then) standardized symbols for sand-banks and even land relief, despite the rather rushed nature of the work.  The bold lettering on the chart such as  'HUDSON OR NORTH RIVER', along with a few other examples follows a recognizable format.  Other script on the page varies greatly in style but that is not, especially in  the case of such surveys produced under fire.  Finally, it worth noting that the chart was transmitted back to England for dissemination, and the eyes of Des Barres, by Captain (later Admiral) Hyde Parker, commander of HMS Phoenix.  Once again a Naval connection to be considered.