Map of Boston in 1775
ca. 10/1/1778
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This map shows Boston and its environs and harbor, including "the Rebels Works Raised Against that Town in 1775." At the time the map was created, the city of Boston was on a small piece of land, called "Shawmut" in the Native Algonquian language. The colonists initially referred to the area as "Trimountaine," but changed the name to "Boston" after the city of Boston in Lincolnshire, England on September 7th, 1630. Looking closely at the map, the Boston of 1775 is an island located on the left side of the map, almost centered between the top and bottom — the upper part of the island is labelled "Mill Pond" and "Mill Dam," and the right is labeled Clarkes Wharf and Long Wharf.
At the time the map was made in October of 1775, Boston had been besieged for months, since April 1775, following the battles at Lexington and Concord. The British still maintained control over Boston Harbor, and were able to receive supplies via that route. Colonial forces decided to surround Boston in an effort to disrupt supply lines.
In June of 1775, the British managed to capture Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill, to the north of Boston, and stop the Continental Army from bombarding the city. General Washington arrived shortly thereafter, in July, and took command of the Continental forces with the express goal of driving British forces out of Boston. In November, Washington would send for heavy artillery, captured at from the British at Fort Ticonderoga the previous May, to be brought to Boston. The cannons arrived in January and, by March, had been positioned at Dorchester Heights. The British quickly came to realize that their position was indefensible given the positioning of the Continental Army’s artillery on Dorchester Heights and withdrew from Boston on March 17th, 1776.
At the time the map was made in October of 1775, Boston had been besieged for months, since April 1775, following the battles at Lexington and Concord. The British still maintained control over Boston Harbor, and were able to receive supplies via that route. Colonial forces decided to surround Boston in an effort to disrupt supply lines.
In June of 1775, the British managed to capture Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill, to the north of Boston, and stop the Continental Army from bombarding the city. General Washington arrived shortly thereafter, in July, and took command of the Continental forces with the express goal of driving British forces out of Boston. In November, Washington would send for heavy artillery, captured at from the British at Fort Ticonderoga the previous May, to be brought to Boston. The cannons arrived in January and, by March, had been positioned at Dorchester Heights. The British quickly came to realize that their position was indefensible given the positioning of the Continental Army’s artillery on Dorchester Heights and withdrew from Boston on March 17th, 1776.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers.
National Archives Identifier: 17369895
Full Citation: Drawer 19, Sheet 5; Map Showing Boston and its Environs and Harbor, with the Rebels Works Raised Against that Town in 1775; ca. 10/1/1778; Fortifications Map File Plans of Military Forts, 1818 - 1941; Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, Record Group 77; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/boston-1775, March 28, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.