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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 Genl. Sr. W. Howe K: B: in 1776.

This historic 'sketch' was produced by J. F. W. Des Barres in 1777 whilst in London, making use of surveys made by surveyors working for the Lords of The Board of Trade, The Plantations Office and of course the British Admiralty.

Further Information

The 'Sketch' is an excellent example of Des Barres's eye for a profit.  Although he was working for the Lords of the Admiralty in producing his magnificent collection of charts of the eastern seaboard of north America he was, quite uniquely amongst surveyors, officially allowed to make a profit from sales of his work.  As such Des Barres, in this example, includes not only hydrographical information befitting a sea chart but he also supplies military information in the form of a full account of the operations and movements by the army in the campaign to drive the Continental army under George Washington out of New York.

Des Barres was clearly well aware, in 1777, as to what would sell to the greater public; the armchair strategists, the politicians and the business elite. It is also significant that this is Des Barres response to the likes of Claude Joseph Sauthier, William Faden and a multitude of other surveyors and map publishers who were also, at the time cashing-in on what was to prove to be the single most successful campaign of the entire war for the British. As with a good deal of Des Barres work there are questions over the accuracy of the information contained within the map which is hardly surprising as he was compiling the data from the work of others and from three and a half thousand miles away.  Des Barres was, first and foremost an artist and he was certainly not above interpretation and artistic license in his work. All of that said, this remains a major and significant work, far superior in many ways to that of the Sauthier Plan. The map includes a panel of References under the title cartouche.  The Alphabetical list makes reference to naval events up and down the Hudson river in 1776.  These references, along with the hydrography in New York harbor and up the Hudson were, likely the work of Lieutenant John Hunter.  Hunter was one of the Admiralty's most trusted surveyors working as part of the Des Barres team from before the outbreak of the war.  He is known to have been aboard Lord Richard Howe's flagship HMS Eagle during 1776.  This original survey of the Hudson may be found in the Heritage Charts collection [A212] 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'. At the time of publication of this 'sketch' Des Barres also produced a full page list of Military references to compliment those predominately Naval references on the map itself.  Those references follow here: Military references '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 Genl. Sr. W. Howe K: B: in 1776. Publish'd according to Act of Parliament Jany. 17, 1777, by J. F. W. Des Barres, Esq. a    The Enemy's Lines at Brooklyn, Redoubts, &c b    Encampment of the Army from the 22nd to the 26th August c    Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis on March to Flatbush with the Reserves & battalion Light Infantry.  Colonel Donop’s (1) Corp and its Field Pieces. d     Lieutenant General Dalrymple with one Brigade of Hessians, a detachment of the 14th Reg.t some Recruits and Convalescends left for the security of  Staten Island. e     Lieutenant General Clinton disposition for the attack of the Pass before day-break on the 27th with the Van of the Army consisting of the Light Dragoons and Brigade of Light Infantry.  The Reserve under Earl Cornwallis excepting the 42nd Reg.t which was posted on the left of the Hessians, the 1st Brigade and the 711st Reg.t with 14. Field Pieces. f     A Party of the Enemy endeavoring to occupy the Pass. g    The main body of the Army cutting off the Enemy's retreat to their lines at Brooklyn. h     Major General Grant with the 4th and 6th Brigades, the 42nd Reg.t , 2 companies of New York Provincials and 10 Field Pieces, diverting the Enemy's attention on the Left. i     The Hessians under Lieutenant General De Heister, advancing to the Attack of the Hill near Flatbush. k     Seven row gallies carrying 24 and 18 pounders with Crews of about 250 men each 12  Flat-bottomed Boats with  60 to 100 men each. l     The Enemy's Post the 12th of October. m     The Phoenix, the Roebuck and the Tartar. n      Lieutenant General Earl Perry with two Brigades of British and one of Hessians left to cover New York. o     The Carrysfort Frigate. p    March of the Enemy's Army from King's Bridge to the White Plains. q     A chain of the Enemy's entrenched camps between Kings Bridge and the White Plains from the 18th to the 21st. r     Encampment of the King's Troops from the 18th to the 21st. f     The Queen's Rangers the 21st and Camp of the 6th Brigade the 22nd. t     Lieutenant General Knyphausen covering the disembarkation of the stores and provisions on the 22nd. u     A detachment of the Enemy. v     British encampment from the 21st to the 25th w     The Army on March the 25th x     The Enemy's Army the 25th y     Encampment of the King's Army from the 25th to the 28th z     The Kings Army on march early on the 28th a     Lieutenant General Knyphausen  with 6 Battalions of Hessians the 28th b     Encampment of the King's Army the 28th and 29th c    The Enemy's army the 29th d    Brigadier Spencer's Corps which retreated to, e. f    Colonel Raille, with one Brigade of Hessians on the Flank of the Enemy g    The 28th and 35th Reg.ts supported by the 5th and 49th Reg.ts under the Command of Lieutenant General Leslie h    2 Battalions of Grenadiers under command of Colonel Dunop i    Retreat of the Enemy from the White Plains the 1st of November k    The King's Troop driving the Enemy from the Heights towards Crotton Bridge l    Encampment of Lieutenant General Knyphausen the 2nd m    Major General Grant with the 4th and 6th Brigades and Waldeck Regiment on the 4th. n    Encampment of the King's Army on the 6th o    The Park of Artillery the 7t p    2 Battalions of Light Infantry the remainder of the Hessians with the Field Pieces on the 8th q    March of the Kings Army on the 12th r    Encampment of the Kings Army on the 13th s    3rd Brigade:  British Reg.rs; 37th, 52th, 38th, 10th:  Maj .Gen G.t Jones       Attack on Fort Washington under command of Lt. Gen. Earl Perry       Hessian Brigade Reg.ts: Hered: Pribce, Dunol: B:.Gen. Stern t     Hessian Regiments: Knyphausen, Raille, Wilgenen, Waldeck, 4 Garrison Reg.ts,  1 Batt. Of Grenedier:  Brig. Gen. Smidt, Col.l Raille:  Lieutenant Gen. Knyphausen u    2 Battalions Light Infantry, 2 Battalions Guards, 2 Battalions Grenediers, 33 Regiment: Brig. Gen.l Matthew: lieu.t General Earl Cornwallis v    Brigade of Highlanders, 2 Battalions of the 42nd Reg.t : Lieu. Col. Sterling 5th, 49th Regiments.  2 Field Pieces to each Battalion: Brig. Gen. Leslie w    Lord Cornwallis with two Battalions of Light Infantry, two Companies of Chasoeurs, 2 Battalion of British and two Hessians Grenadiers, two Battalions     Guards 33rd & 42nd Regiments on the 18th of November x    Retreat of the Enemy from Fort Constitution towards Brunswick y    Lord Cornwallis following the Enemy leaving the 2nd Brigade in protection of the Fort