Antietam; and Map of the Battle-Fields of Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg With Positions of Troops, Routes of Army & co

New York: Julius Bien & Co, 1895. unbound. Map. Color lithograph. Sheet measures 18 1/2" x 29 1/2"

Two maps fill this page; the larger depicts Antietam, 1867, and the smaller depicts the battlefields of Harper's Ferry and Sharpsburg with position of troops, routes of army from Sept 13 to 17, 1862. Detailed red and blue markings show infantry and artillery lines, labeled with Generals' names, dates and positions. The battles of Harpers Ferry and Sharpsburg preceded the Battle of Antietam, which resulted in the highest death toll of any one-day battle in American history and paved the way for Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Declaration. (truncated) This decree solidified the anti-slavery position of the Union and pressed the Confederacy to either give up their slaves or cease their rebellion. Beyond this historical information, the map is highly detailed in itself, with railroads, towns, rivers, creeks, roads, forts and hospitals labeled. Hachure shows elevation of hills. The maps appeared as plate XXIX in "The Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1861-1865." There is a small tear to the bottom edge that does not affect the image, as pictured. Folded as issued. This map is a wonderful piece that boldly documents American history.

Julius Bien (1826-1909) was an American lithographic printer and cartographer based in New York City. During the course of the second half of the 19th century, he produced thousands of maps for both public and private publishers. Some of his most notable commissions were for the U.S. government, including many geological maps that redefined the cartographic visualization of geology. Bien's prolific output and contributions to the development of chromo-lithography make him one of the most significant map printers of his time. This is a great example of his fine work. (Inventory #: 325006)