Maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
Maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
Pencil, pen, ink and grey wash on paper | Scale: 1:2,400. | RCIN 731060.a
? John Brewse
A plan of Fort Beauséjour, 1755. French and Indian War (1754-63). Oriented with west-north-west to top (compass rose).
The British arrived at Fort Lawrence on 3 June 1755 and attacked and captured Fort Beauséjour on the 4th. The fort was renamed Fort Cumberland. John Brewse was stationed at Halifax in 1749, and was serving as second engineer in Newfoundland when ordered on the Fort Beauséjour expedition. This map was received in England with a letter from John Brewse dated 18 October 1755. As captain lieutenant, he was one of ten engineers at Louisbourg in 1758. He became captain and engineer in ordinary in 1759, major in 1772, and as lieutenant colonel was chief engineer of Minorca after Mackellar's death in 1781 (Pargellis p. 146). His letter is preseved in the Royal Archives.
The map shows the British intrenchment to the north-west of the fort.
? John Brewse (surveyor and draughtsman)
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, the letters L V G below; countermark: I H S [with cross] above I VILLEDARY
Mark, stamped: 772
Condition: one fold line; 12.5 cm tear along bottom of fold. Verso: surface dirt; animal footprints; bottom, right of centre, water-stained patch and shadow from Cumberland's cipher label
Scale: 1:2,400. Scale bar: [151 mm =] 1200 feet.
47.5 x 72.7 cm (neatline)
48.1 x 73.3 cm (image)
51.8 x 75.3 cm (sheet)
Manuscript title:
A PLAN / OF THE / FORT OF BEAU SEIOUR / WITH THE ATTACK IN JUNE / MDCCLV. [bottom left, in rectangular panel]
Annotations:
George III heading: Fort Cumberland June 1755.
Other annotations: (Recto) [ink, below scale bar:] Rec.d with M.r Engineer Brewse's Letter dated Halifax 18 October 1755. (Verso) [right centre, red pencil:] 62; [top, right of centre, black pencil, erased:] Cumberland.
George III catalogue entry:
Cumberland, Fort A drawn Plan of the Fort of Beau Sejour, now Cumberland, with the attacks in June 1755: by J. Brewse Eng.r with a MS. copy of his Report, dated Halifax, 18.th Oct.r 1755.
Probably from the collection of military and naval maps and prints formed by Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-65), third son of George II; subsequently acquired by George III (1738-1820)
Fort Beauséjour, New Brunswick, Canada (45°51'52"N 64°17'29"E)