Map of the Country Adjacent to the Left Bank of the Rio Grande below Matamoros, 1847: Surveyed under instructions from Col. J.J. Abert, Corps Top Engr. Made by Lieut. J.D.Webster J.E. assisted by T.E. Mullomny Esqr. 1847

Details:
Black and white lithograph
Ackerman's Lith., Publisher
New York, 1847
dimensions: 20 3/8" x 26 1/4"
condition: good condition, professionally conserved, backed on thin Japanese tissue, manuscript on verso of map title and date, complexion of paper shows toning and spots

Description:
This map is the infrequently seen1/ Map of the Country Adjacent to the Left Bank of the Rio Grande below Matamoros 1847 andis one of a pair of maps on offer that document and memorialize the American victory in the Mexican American War. The other map in this pair is A Correct Map of the Seat of War In Mexico, 1847. The area surveyed in the Map of the Country Adjacent to the Left Bank of the Rio Grande below Matamoros complements the smaller scale mapping of the territory in the Arista map of the entire "Seat of War" as this American survey and military intelligence provides extensive details at large scale of a strategic military location in Mexico on the west bank of the Rio Grande River.

The Map of the Country Adjacent to the Left Bank of the Rio Grande below Matamoros, 1847 was published as a black and white lithograph and has a linear frame and decorated title block. The map is a drawing based on the U.S. Army's war time technical survey intended for military purposes. The map has a large north arrow piercing the lower quadrant of the map indicating that it is oriented with West at the top. The geographic scale of the map is one inch equals one mile. Land and water are surveyed, with soundings in feet. The survey information on the map was for military purposes related to supplying Matamoros and Fort Brown by land and from the water. General Zacharay Taylor's military campaign began at the mouth of the Rio Grande River and followed the road to Matamoros and Fort Brown.

Colonel John James Abert, named in the map title (1788-1863) for 23 years headed the United States Corps of Topographical engineers to which he was appointed in 1838. His work included recruiting and overseeing engineers who became officers in the Corp and accomplished the mapping of the American West. John Fremont was recruited by Colonel Abert for his mapping of the American West during the 1840's. William Emory worked under Abert and was responsible for surveying and mapping border lines between the United States and Mexico.

The lithographer's stone is the primary medium for creating tones, shading and aesthetic interest in the printed black and white and tonal map scene. Some of that graphic art appears as floral and leaf motifs that surround the letters of the title block. The title block lettering itself is decorative and employs several different fonts. The map has a double linear frame and decorative elements in the map corners. Trees are shown graphically. The very hilly terrain is represented with hatchmarks that indicate hills, mountains and valleys. Stippling and other textures show soil conditions, plants and swamps. The primary natural feature in addition to the mountainous landscape is the Rio Grande, that wends its way across the map. Soundings are shown in feet, and every stretch of the Rio Grande is labeled as to the water depth. This information would have been essential for identifying navigable areas of the river for supplying troops, and shallow areas for safe river crossings for troops.

Major roads are drawn and labeled, such as the Road to Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and a proposed road from the Gulf of Mexico from Boca Chica to Camp Belknap and Matamoros as these were strategic locales. The location of Palo Alto and Rasaca are indicated by two crossed swords. Camps are shown with tents pitched. Fort Brown near Matamoros is drawn on the map as a five-pointed star.

Note:

1. Please see one example in the collection of the University of Texas, Arlington, Special Collections.