American War of Independence (1775-83)
George III’s maps and views showing the development of the war at home and abroad, from North America to India
Newport, 1778
PLAN of the ENVIRONS and TOWN of NEWPORT / RHODE ISLAND / Exhibiting its defences form’d before the 8.th of Aug:st when the French Fleet engag’d and / passed the Batteries; the Course of the French Fleet up the Harbor, the Rebel...
c.1778Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour. Drawn on four sheets of paper, joined; edged with paper strengthening; laid down on two pieces of coarse linen, stitched together; edged with cerise silk ribbon; two brass ties for hanging missing from top corners; two pink linen ties to bottom edge. | Scale: 1:6,000. | RCIN 734044
Newport had been seized by the British in late 1776. A British garrison was established and occupied Newport for the following eighteen months. The town became the focal point of the war in the summer of 1778, when the French made their first appearance in support of the Americans. The comte d'Estaing, with 16 warships and 4,000 men agreed to combine operations against Newport with Maj.-Gen. John Sullivan, who, by August 5th, commanded 8,500 men. The British garrison of 3,000 men was commanded by Maj.-Gen. Robert Pigot. A naval battle was fought between 9 and 11 August, from which the French retired, unvictorious. On land, Sir Henry Clinton arrived with 4,000 reinforcements on 30 August, and, following an engagement in which the losses were equal on each side, the Americans retreated. Newport remained in British control until 1779 when, faced with French naval superiority, the post was abandoned.
This map shows the British defensive works and the American batteries which were dug at the beginning of the siege operations on 15 August. The positions of the sunk British frigates, which were deliberately wrecked to prevent their capture, are shown by brown symbols. Captain Lieutenant Abraham D'Aubant, who signed this map (but who did not necessarily make the survey or draw it), saw service in America between 1776 and 1782. He was, in 1804 (now a Colonel), one of the committee of engineers who planned the construction of Martello Towers along the south coast of England during the Napoleonic Wars.
Additional text: [below title, in title panel, a key A-Z:] EXPLANATION. In which an Asterisk * preceeds / each article that was performed before the Eight of August 1778.
Condition: three fold lines; brown discolouration; surface dirt along top edge. Verso: brown discolouration; heavy surface dirt along bottom edge, consistent with having been rolled.
Abraham d'Aubant (active 1759-d. 1805) (surveyor and draughtsman) [signed, bottom right of title panel:] Abr:m D’Aubant Commanding Engineer.
Watermark: JWHATMAN
Condition: three fold lines; brown discolouration; surface dirt along top edge. Verso: brown discolouration; heavy surface dirt along bottom edge, consistent with having been rolled
Scale: 1:6,000. Scale bar: Scale 500 Feet to an Inch [203 mm =] 4000 Feet.
123.8 x 127.7 cm (image)
125.9 x 129.9 cm (sheet)
Manuscript title:
PLAN of the ENVIRONS and TOWN of NEWPORT / RHODE ISLAND / Exhibiting its defences form’d before the 8.th of Aug:st when the French Fleet engag’d and / passed the Batteries; the Course of the French Fleet up the Harbor, the Rebel Attack: / and such defensive Works as were erected since that Day untill the 29th of August when / the Siege was rais’d. [top right, in rectangular panel]
Additional text:
[below title, in title panel, a key A-Z:] EXPLANATION. In which an Asterisk * preceeds / each article that was performed before the Eight of August 1778.
Annotations:
George III heading: [black pencil:] Military.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, red felt tip pen on 1980s red-printed Royal Library label:] XIV 46 [crossed out in red pen] 44 Newport, Rhode Island.
K. Mil. dummy sheet:
Title [ink:] A drawn Plan of the Environs and Town of Newport in Rhode Island, exhibiting its defences formed before the / 8.th of August 1778 when the French Fleet engaged and passed the Batteries; the Course of the French Fleet up the / Harbour, the Rebel Attack; and such defensive Works as were erected since that day until the 29.th of August / when the Siege was raised: by Abr.m D'Aubant, commanding Eng.r 4 Sheets / A Roll ... [black pencil:] 1 Table 3.d / [black pencil, in a modern hand:] Oversize / [George III heading, red ink:] Newport 8 - 29 Aug. 1778.
Watermark: fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, the letters B&W below.
Size: 47.1 x 32.2 cm (sheet).George III catalogue entry:
Newport A drawn Plan of the Environs and Town of Newport in Rhode Island, exhibiting its defences formed before the 8.th of August 1778, when the French Fleet engaged and passed the Batteries: the course of the French Fleet up the Harbour, the Rebel Attack, and such defensive Works as were erected since that day until the 29.th of August, when the Siege was raised: by Abr. D’Aubant commanding Eng.r 4 sheets.
Subject(s)
Newport, Rhode Island, USA (41°29'24"N 71°18'46"W)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
