To the Hon.e Jn.o Hancock Esq.re President of y.e Continental Congress,/ This Map of the Seat of Civil War in America, is Respectfully inscribed/ By his Most Obedient Humble Servant B: Romans.

Date1775

Cartographer Bernard Romans

Attributed to Abel Buell

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (probably)

MediumBlack and white line engraving with period hand color on laid paper

DimensionsOH: 17 5/8" x OW: 16"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1996-824

DescriptionThe lower left margin reads: "To the Hon.e Jn.o Hancock Esq.re President of y.e Continental Congress,/ This Map of the Seat of Civil War in America, is Respectfully inscribed/ By his Most Obedient Humble Servant B: Romans."
Label TextBernard Romans's Map of the Seat of Civil War in America is an important Revolutionary War document, not necessarily for the geography it depicts but because it represents the earliest piece of graphic propaganda relating to the war that was published in America. While the overall map shows boundaries, roads, waterways, and some topographical features, it contains no information about the recent battles in Lexington and Concord and on Breed's Hill. Only the two insets, both small and difficult to read, relate to the recent actions. Were they hastily added at the last minute to a map currently in progress?

The inset Plan of Boston and its Environs in the upper right illustrates the major promontories in Boston and Charlestown and extends inward as far as Cambridge. The redoubt constructed by the Americans on Breed's Hill is included; below is the notation CHARLES Town Bt [burnt] June 17. Romans also located the Enemy Lines on the outskirts of Boston and the encampments within. The provincial lines from Cambridge to Winter Hill were represented. The inset in the lower right corner may be the only contemporary view of the recently constructed British encampments on Boston neck. Romans illustrated the guardhouses in front of John Hancock's house, which was occupied at the time by Major General Henry Clinton.

Romans was born in Holland around 1720, immigrated to England in his youth to study botany and mathematics, and arrived in America in 1756. He spent the next seventeen years working in the southern colonies as a botanist, draftsman, and cartographer. In 1766, he was appointed deputy surveyor for Georgia and was promoted to deputy surveyor for the Southern District of British North America two years later. Romans became one of Florida's greatest promoters. His Concise Natural History of East and West Florida was published in New York in 1775.

At the outbreak of hostilities with England, Romans found himself firmly on the side of the patriot cause. Less than a week after the confrontations at Lexington and Concord, Romans presented a plan to the Connecticut Committee of Safety to seize the British fortifications at Fort Ticonderoga. A raid to capture British artillery had been advanced by other daring patriots as well. By the end of April 1775, both the Massachusetts and Connecticut Assemblies had dispatched expeditions to the outpost, one under the command of Colonel Benedict Arnold and the other under Romans. Along the way, Romans was removed from command in favor of Arnold and Colonel Ethan Allen. Romans then adopted an alternative plan to capture the meager British supplies remaining at Fort George. After accomplishing his objective, he rejoined the troops at Fort Ticonderoga.1

The rapid acceleration of hostilities in Boston soon offered Romans another avenue for self-promotion. The American victories at Lexington and Concord provided a substantial boost of morale for the rebel militia. Although the Americans technically lost the battle at Breed's Hill, they realized they were capable of waging a strong campaign against Britain's experienced forces. Attempting to capitalize on the wave of enthusiasm, Romans took only five weeks to advertise his map for sale in newspapers. It appeared first in the Pennsylvania Gazette for August 23. Romans noted: "This Map of Boston, &c. is one of the most correct that has ever been published. The draught was taken by the most skillful draughtsman in all America, and who was on the spot at the engagements of Lexington and Bunker's Hill."2 While Romans was clearly lacking in modesty, it seems that he was also lacking in honesty since he was neither at the Battle of Lexington nor at Bunker Hill.3 The ad continued with a patriotic appeal: "Every well-wisher to this country cannot but delight in seeing a plan of the ground on which our brave American Army conquered the British Ministerial Forces."4

Not satisfied with simply producing a plan of the action at Charlestown, Romans illustrated the town ablaze from the fire set by the British. On the left, the redcoats are firing volleys in the direction of Breed's Hill. According to Romans's biographer, Lincoln Diamant, his previous work as an engraver had been limited to "awkward cartouches, unusual plants and the heads of Florida natives."5 In December, both the map and view were advertised in the Virginia Gazette:
Just come to Hand, and to be SOLD at this PRINTING-OFFICE, A large and exact VIEW of the late BATTLE at CHARLESTOWN, Elegantly coloured, Price one Dollar. Also an accurate MAP of The present SEAT of CIVIL WAR, Taken by an able Draughtsman who was on the Spot at the late Engagement. Price one Dollar.6

Note: The advertisement in the Pa. Gaz., Aug. 23, 1775, credited Nicholas Brooks as the publisher of Romans's map. Rivington's New York Gazetteer, Aug. 31, 1775, claimed that the map was published by James Rivington and Messrs. Noel and Hazard. On Sept. 11, 1775, Richard Sause advertised in the N. Y. Gaz. and Weekly Mercury, "Roman's MAP OF BOSTON, Is just printed, published, and sold BY RICHARD SAUSE." It is unclear from the wording if Sause was identifying himself as the retailer or whether he claimed to be the printer and publisher as well.

1. For a detailed account of the capture of British artillery at Fort Ticonderoga, see Lincoln Diamant, Bernard Romans, Forgotten Patriot of the American Revolution (Harrison, N. Y., 1985), pp. 49-61.
2. Pa. Gaz., Aug. 23, 1775.
3. Diamant, Bernard Romans, p. 62.
4. Pa. Gaz., Aug. 23, 1775.
5. Diamant, Bernard Romans, p. 62.
6. Va. Gaz. (Dixon and Hunter), Dec. 9, 1775.