A VERY RARE BATTLE PLAN which last appeared at auction in 1992. The first true conflicts fought in the American Revolution are those of Lexington and Concord on 18 April 1775. They were the impetus that helped to mobilise the colonists against Britain. They chose to garner their troops on the Charleston Peninsula with a view to taking control of Boston itself. The theatre for the next battle was Bunker Hill and it would be recorded as the first significant conflict of the war. It was recognised early on that the heights of Bunker Hill and Dorchester commanded a dominant position over the town of Boston. The Americans were the first to occupy Bunker Hill forcing the British hand. On the night of 16 June 1775 about 1500 Americans took up their positions. Their position was soon spotted and the British commander, General Gage, sent a force under Major General Howe to retake the peninsula the following day. Underestimating the American forces the British suffered heavy losses (1054 casualties) and only won the day when the Americans (441 casualties) ran out of ammunition.

There are a number of published plans of the battle, this one being ONE OF THE RAREST. IT HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE AT AUCTION FOR TWENTY YEARS. It is the only one to be accompanied by a printed account of the battle in the form of a letter written by General John Burgoyne (1722-92) to his nephew Lord Stanley dated 25 June. Burgoyne took no part in the battle but was an observer from the Battery at the north end of Boston. The letter states that Bunker Hill “commanded the town” and that it was “absolutely necessary we should make ourselves masters of these heights and we proposed to begin with Dorchester”. This they never achieved as the Americans walked into Bunker Hill. He describes how upon hearing word by boat from Howe who had landed in Charlestown that he was being “hurt by musquetry from Charles-Town, though Clinton and I did not perceive it, till Howe sent us word by a boat, and desired us to set fire to the town, which was immediately done”. He went on after to describe it “for it is now rubbish”. Frustrated by his lack of authority in North America he returned home to England shortly after. The plan is “Drawn by an officer on the spot” and published by Richard Sayer and John Bennett in the year of the battle.

This map shows the battle in greater detail than most published works illustrating the landing place of the British forces at Charlestown Point. The position of the British warships and the 24-pound cannon at Cobbs Hill battery at the north end of Boston are also shown. It was from these positions that Charlestown was bombarded for 2 hours and set alight. Although the British forces won the day it is clear from the letter that they had a new found respect for the Americans. Provenance: private English collection. Nebenzahl (1974) no. 3; Nebenzahl (1975) no. 28.