1776 Brassier Map of Lake Champlain and Lake George: Scarce first state

This is William Furness Brasier's 1762 map of Lakes Champlain and George, in its rare August 5, 1776, first state. It is the first separate map of Lake Champlain and Lake George. It would certainly have been in the hands of the British officers leading the Fall 1777 campaign during the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783), which culminated in the pivotal American victory at Saratoga. Most examples of this first state that we have seen on the market were issued in the so-called 'Holster Atlas,' and as such exhibit significantly more folds and wear than does this example, which appears to have been preserved in a larger-format book.

First Detailed Map of Lake Champlain

The map is drawn from the surveys of William Brasier assisted by Dietrich Brehm, both of whom operated on behalf of the British Army throughout North America up until the Revolution. They began their surveys as early as 1758, including around Fort Ticonderoga, but action in the area during the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763) prevented their conclusion in time to be of utility during that conflict. General Jeffrey Amherst urged Brasier to finish the job in 1762, resulting in the present map.

The Map

Earlier maps distorted Lake Champlain. Even maps of the early 18th century saw this 'Lake of the Iroquois' misplaced far to the east. Here it is mapped precisely for the first time, showing many islands and coastal features clearly, along with the topography of the shorelines. Lead mines and quarries - sites of great military value - are marked as well. The map includes a detail map of Lake George, which bears such important features as Fort William Henry, lime kilns, and a brick yard. Throughout, fortifications are prominently noted: not just forts William Henry and Ticonderoga, but also Crown Point, and Iroquois strongholds.

Lake Champlain in the Montreal Campaign

The map also includes notes pertinent to the late conflict. Champlain was an important link connecting the Hudson River Valley with French strongholds in Quebec, and a force under the command of Lord Jeffrey Amherst moved to seize the lake and its forts as part of a pincer movement. The French had contested the lake against the British, but their commander, Jean de Laubaras, soon realized that his tiny fleet was cut off by a superior force and chose to scuttle his ships in 1759. This is noted just west of Grand Isle. On the northwest banks of Lake Champlain is noted a land engagement against the 'French and Indians' led by an American officer, Robert Rogers. His company, 'Rogers' Rangers,' had been attached to Lord Jeffrey Amherst's command in the Montreal Campaign. Amherst employed the Rangers as raiders, primarily. The unit was part of those which participated in the siege of Île aux Noix further up the Richelieu River. That siege is referenced in a note regarding the Ile de Hopital. Hospital island, upstream of Île aux Noix - that is to say, to the south - is noted on the map as the place 'where the sick and Wounded were Carry'd during the Siege of Isle aux Noix and where Capn. Lt. Glegg of the Artillery was bury'd'. The newly-captured forts of Crown Point, Fort William Henry, and Ticonderoga are all clearly noted.

Prelude at Lake George

The inset map of Lake George - based on an earlier survey of 1756 (by a Captain Jackson, regarding whom the historical record is silent) - notes in particular the site of the Battle of Lake George (September 8, 1755) fought between the British and the French by forces led by William Johnson and the Baron de Dieskau, respectively. The British were reinforced by Iroquois allies, the French by Nipissing and Abenaki. Prior to Johnson's arrival at the lake that August, it had been known as Lac du Saint Sacrement - it was not until 28 August that it was renamed Lake George in honor of the English King. Johnson's victory over Dieskau placed the frontier with the French at the top of Lake George; had he been defeated, the frontier likely would have been Albany itself, and the later maneuvers recorded on the map might not have been able to take place.

Drawn for the 'Last War,' Printed for the Next War

Brasier's work remained in manuscript after its 1762 completion. For the purposes of the war for which it was produced, it was too late. Although a treaty would wait until 1763, the war with respect to the New York theatre was over. By 1760, Montreal had fallen to the British. The British had made peace with France's Cherokee allies in 1761; the last French effort to retake Newfoundland failed in 1762. There was no longer any need for a map of lakes Champlain and George to be published.

That is, there was no need until the outbreak of the American Revolution. At the time of the opening battles of Lexington and Concord, Fort Ticonderoga was a neglected, skeleton-crewed supply and communication link between Montreal and New York. On May 10, 1775, the fort was taken by American forces commanded by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. The cannon captured by the Americans at Ticonderoga and magicked across the Massachusetts wilderness by Henry Knox broke the siege of Boston in March 1776. Even were it not for these indignities, General Burgoyne's plan to attack New York from Quebec the following year would underline the relevance of the region for the upcoming conflict. Thus, this edition printed by Sayer and Bennett in 1776.

Publication History and Census

This first state of this map was first printed August 8, 1776 for inclusion in the Sayer and Bennett American Military Pocket Atlas (the 'Holster Atlas') and the American Atlas. It is apparently that it was issued unbound or in larger book formats as well: the present example does not exhibit the multiple folds usually seen on examples included in the Holster Atlas. This first state is rare: we see a single example listed in the collection of the British Library. The second state, including detail pertinent to the battle of Valcour Island, was published in October 1776. That map is reasonably well represented in institutional collections and appears on the market from time to time.