A View of the Town and Castle of St. Augustine and the English Camp before June 20 1740. [18th Century Map of Saint Augustine, Florida].

SILVER, Thomas A.

Item Number: 138695

Cowley's Head: T. Gardner, 1740.

Rare engraved 18th century perspective map of St. Augustine based upon a manuscript map drawn by Thomas Silver. One page, the map shows a pictorial military plan of the siege of St. Augustine by the English in the summer of 1740 with a detailed battle plan and view of the Town and Castle of St. Augustine and the English Camp. With a key and description providing details of the British forces, consisting of colonial troops and Indians under General Oglethorpe and British seamen under Captain Warren. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 14.5 inches by 19.75 inches. A very attractive presentation.

In September 1739, King George II sent orders to Governor James Oglethorpe of the colony of Georgia "to annoy the Subjects of Spain in the best manner" possible. To pursue these orders, Oglethorpe encouraged his Creek allies to begin attacking Spaniards and Florida Indians. On November 13, a group of Spaniards landed on Amelia Island and killed two British soldiers. In response, Oglethorpe began a punitive campaign with a mixed force of British regulars (the 42nd Regiment of Foot), colonial militia from the Province of Georgia and the Carolinas, and Native American Creek, Chickasaw, and Uchees. The campaign began in December 1739, and by January Oglethorpe was raiding Spanish forts west of St. Augustine. In May 1740, Oglethorpe undertook an expedition to capture St. Augustine itself. In support of that objective, Oglethorpe first captured Fort San Diego, Fort Picolotta, Fort San Francisco de Pupo, and Fort Mose, the first free black settlement in America. The Spanish managed to send supply ships through the Royal Navy blockade and any hope of starving St. Augustine into capitulation was lost. Oglethorpe now planned to storm the fortress by land while the navy ships attacked the Spanish ships and half-galleys in the harbor. Commodore Pearce, however resolved to forgo the attack during hurricane season. Oglethorpe gave up the siege and returned to Georgia; abandoning his artillery during his withdrawal.