Lithographed map. Lith. of Ritchie & Dunnevant. 85x93.2 cm (33½x36¾").
First edition of this important separately issued map of Texas with a part of New Mexico, prepared by the the United States Topographical Engineers in 1857 and issued in very small numbers, likely only for use by the Army. The map provides details of the railroads (existing and proposed) and road system in the region, along with rivers, lakes, springs, creeks, crossings, water holes, Indian trails, pioneer routes, towns, camps, forts, ranches and other features of strategic military importance. In describing his copy of the map, David Rumsey notes: "Probably the best and most detailed military map of Texas issued before the Civil War - rivers, roads, explorer's routes, water holes, forts and towns are shown. Includes 'List of authorities.' The Warren map of 1857... incorporates much of this information, with even more information from this map appearing on the Warren map of 1858. A later version of this map appeared in the Atlas To Accompany The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies... as plate 54. Martin and Martin incorrectly state that the map was not published until it appeared in the 'Atlas to Accompany...' This is the only government map published by H.F. Walling that we know of."
Further Notes from the Files of Warren Heckrotte
Provenance: Heaston, 6/93
Library of Congress has copy of upper half of map which was used as a base map for the Texas boundary surveys in 1859-1860. See Stephenson, "The Mapping of the Northwest "Boundary of Texas, 1859-1860" in Terrae Incognitae, Vol VI, 1974.
References: Day, Maps of Texas, pp 63, 64. Phillips, Maps, p 845. Martin and Martin, pl 45 ( R), reproduction of the later reduced version which appeared in the Atlas of the War of the Rebellion, pl 54.