Map of encampment on Warley Common and Brentwood, 1778 (Great Warley Street, Essex, UK) 51°35'34"N 00°17'03"E; (Brentwood, Essex, UK) 51°35'34"N 00°17'03"E

A map of the encampment on Warley Common, Brentwood, and the manoeuvres performed before George III on 20 October 1778. American War of Independence (1775-83). Oriented with north to top (cardinal points).

This plan shows not only the encampment but also the ‘Line for Review by His Majesty’, as well as a plan of the mock battle on Little Warley Common. The explanation to the letters on the map, which denote the different positions of the regiments in this battle, is given on the facing page (p.52) and entitled: ‘REFERENCE to the MANŒUVRES represented in the Plan of Warley Camp’. The encamped regiments, with the colour of their facings in parentheses are: 6th Foot (deep yellow); 69th Foot (willow green); 79th (Royal Liverpool Volunteers) Foot (blue); 25th Foot (Deep Yellow); East Riding of Yorkshire Militia (Buff); 2nd or North Gloucester Militia (blue); Worcestershire Militia (green); Northamptonshire Militia (black velvet); 2nd or East Suffolk Militia (plain red); Glamorganshire Militia (black); Royal North Lincolnshire Militia (blue); East Kent Militia [Lawson 1961, p.156: in 1779 the clothing for this regiment was non-regulation; in 1780 the facings were Kentish grey, as shown on this plan which, however, is meant to show the colours for 1778]; Rutland Militia (yellow); Monmouthshire Fusiliers [Lawson 1961, p.157: blue facings in 1779].

This is one of 31 maps of encampments which are likely to have been drawn up as a set from original field surveys and draft maps between about 1782 (the last encampment ended on 13 November 1782) and sometime in or after 1784 (the date of Bowles's plan of London, RCIN 734032.am). The original field surveys and draft maps from which they will have been compiled would have been made between 1778 and 1782, according to the actual dates of the encampments. The execution date for the fair drawings of the maps of 1783 or later has, however, been assigned to all the encampment maps, consistent with the date of Paterson's commission as Captain in the 36th Foot, with which rank he styles himself on the title page of the volume.

In: ‘Plans of Encampments and Dispositions of the Army in Great Britain from 1778 to 1782. Presented to King George III by George Morrison, Quarter Master General. Drawn by Captain Dan. Paterson, 36.th Reg.t Assistant to the Quart. Mast. General.’ See main entry under RCIN 734032.

BL Add MS 15533: p.53 PLAN of the / ENCAMPMENT / on / WARLEY COMMON / near BRENTWOOD in ESSEX / from the 28:th of May to the 11:th of Nov:r / Together with the / MANŒUVRES performed before / HIS MAJESTY / on the 20:th Oct:r 1778. [Bottom right, outside border:] By Lieut. Paterson Ass.t to the Quar. Mast. General. Watermark: fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, the letters G [R?] below.

For further reading, see:
C. Lawson, A history of the uniforms of the British Army, vol. III, London, 1961.

Condition: flat; no fold lines.