The digital gallery

This large map was drawn by the British Major Samuel Holland , Surveyor General, Northern District in America, and was printed by Robert Sayer and John Bennett in 1776. In late November and early December of 1776 the American Army was on the brink of disaster. They had lost every major battle and their forces were dwindling. Washington had no choice but to retreat from his position in Northern New Jersey and seek safety in Pennsylvania, but the British pursued him closely across New Jersey. Washington’s Army eluded the enemy and crossed into Pennsylvania at Trenton in early December 1776. Trenton is located on the map just north of the elbow of the Delaware River. To prevent the British from crossing the Delaware, American engineers destroyed bridges across the river and gathered all boats up and down the river. At least temporarily, Washington’s Army was safe and secure. The British and Hessians, thinking their American foe was beaten, went into winter quarters in a string of posts from the Delaware River back to New York. / Image courtesy of Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division.