Attacks of Fort Washington by His Majesty s Forces under the Command of Gen.l Sir Willm Howe K:B. 16 Nov.r 1776
New York: For D.T. Valentine’s Manual for 1861 by Geo Haywood, 1861. Disbound. The hand-colored, lithographed map image measures 22” x 16.5” and has a 7/8” margin at top, a 5/8” margin on the right and bottom, and a 1/8” margin along most of the left edge where it had been trimmed when bound into David T. Valentine's Manual of the Common Council of the City of New York. It is oriented with north to the right. Hachures show relief, and military units are depicted in red and blue. The map was said to have been “copied from an original map kindly loaned to the compiler by Mr. A. Suart." There is some light toning along the binding folds and sheet edges. Some of the folds have short splits. There is a small (1/4”) hole above the ‘s’ in “Hudson’s” and a ¾” closed tear at the left edge of the Hudson River. Very good. Item #009059 Although the fort’s defenders were initially able to provide stiff resistance, they were eventually outflanked, and the the 3,000 man garrison was captured. The Americans were then imprisoned within British prison ships anchored in New York Harbor where a great many died of starvation and disease.
John and Margaret Corbin were both casualties of the battle. John was an artilleryman who was killed in the midst of the fight. When he fell, his wife Margaret (Molly), who had accompanied him as a camp follower, took his place at the cannon and continued to clean, load, and fire the gun until she was severely wounded in the left arm. Three years later, “Captain Molly,” who had lost the use of her arm, became the first woman to receive a military penison from the United States.
This map is in better condition with wider margins than usually found, and it is surprisingly scarce as well. At the time of listing, one other example is for sale in the trade. OCLC shows only two physical examples held by institutions; Worthpoint and the Rare Book Hub list only four auction results.
On 16 Novembe 1776, the Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen and his army of of 8,000 German mercenaries and British regulars attacked Fort Washington (now the location of Bennet Park at the intersection of Fort Washington Avenue and 183rd Street) making use of information provided by the first American traitor, William Demont, the fort’s adjutant.
Price: $400.00