The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment, of the Independence of the United States of America: including an Account of the Late War; and of the Thirteen Colonies, from their origin to that period by GORDON, William (1728-1807) - 1788

London: Printed for the Author, 1788. 4 volumes, 8vo. 9 engraved folding maps and plates. Repaired tear to map of Yorktown. Contemporary tree calf, rebacked.

The first edition of the "first full-scale history of this war by an American; to its preparation Jefferson contributed some aid" (Howes).

Gordon was a dissenting minister in England, who like many of his class sympathized with the contention of the Thirteen Colonies. Going to America during the disturbances, and becoming pastor of the church at Jamaica Plain, now a district of Boston, he was throughout the Revolution a spectator close at hand of many important events, and the associate of many of the chief patriots. "Gordon is deservedly reckoned as the most impartial and reliable of the numerous historians of the American Revolution" (Sabin). The work is noted for its folding maps, engraved by T. Conder, which include a general map of the United States, as well as maps of New England, New Jersey, Virginia, the Carolinas, maps of the areas surrounding Boston and New York City, plus battle plans of Fort Moultrie and Yorktown.

Howes G256; Sabin 28011; Larned 134; Gephart 996; Nebenzahl, Battle Plans of the American Revolution 23, 63, 86, 105, 201.