Rare Revolutionary War Battle Plan, depicting the action at Bunkers Hill and surrounding area on June 17, 1775, based upon an original sketch by Henry De Berniere.
Berniere's manuscript was apparently discovered in a trunk in the early 19th Century and ultimately issued in printed form for the Analectic Magazine in 1818. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first significant battle of the American Revolution. Following the Americans' fortification of Breed's Hill on Charlestown peninsula, the British attacked the Americans, not realizing that the Americans had significantly strengthened their position over the previous several days. After fierce resistance and hundreds of British casualties, the Americans were ultimately forced to give up the position.
This interesting plan by De Berniere provides topographical details of the Peninsula, including the layout of Charlestown itself, roads, dwellings, and both Bunkers and Breeds Hill The positions of the American and British forces are shown, along with British batteries in Boston proper. Berniere was an ensign in the British Army's 14th Regiment, under the command of General Gage, where he worked in intelligence. He scouted Concord in early 1775 and helped guide the British attack on Concord on April 17, 1775, when they entered the town in search of arms and the Rebel leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
This is a nice example of the first edition of De Berniere's map, engraved by Harrison Hall in Philadephia. It includes a reference key, with battle annotations and other information. The Hall map differs from a more simple version and less well engraved version of the map published by Kneas, Young & Company, published in the same year. /gallery/detail/14719 .
The map is rare, with no examples offered in dealer catalogues in the past 25 years. The map appeared in the Portfolio, published in Philadelphia in 1818 There is also apparently a later edition of the map, issued by John Melish in 1824. The original, with manuscript annotations by Maj. General Dearborn, resides in the American Philosophical Society. A very nice example of this rare American printed battle plan and one of the few obtainable battle plans of the Battle of Bunker Hill published in America.