[Civil War] — W. E. Merrill

Lithographed folding map (39 x 35 1/4 in.; 990 x 895 mm), sectioned and linen-backed as issued.

BINDING: Original card covers, printed paper label. 



Spotting to recto and verso of map. Boards bumped and rubbed, particularity corners. In a half-blue morocco folding box.

Stephenson, Civil War Maps in the Library of Congress, S28-29; Miller, Great Maps of the Civil War p.39

A REMARKABLE UNION ARMY FIELD MAP, PRINTED FOR SHERMAN'S OPERATIONS IN GEORGIA. Capt. Merrill, Chief Topographical Engineer of the Army of the Cumberland, had his own complete establishment for map production —  a printing press, lithographic presses, and draughtsmen. Equally importantly, Merrill's assistant Sgt. N. Finnegan developed an extraordinary body of intelligence, drawing on spies, prisoners, refugees, peddlers, itinerant preachers and scouts, what Merrill called "his motley crew". All of this information was digested by Merrill day by day, until he was notified that the campaign would begin within the week. At this point the topographers finished their work, and two hundred copies were produced, mounted on linen for field use, and distributed to field commanders down to the brigade level. In five months Merrill and his men had produced a remarkably accurate map of country that lay mostly behind enemy lines.