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A view of the country round Boston, taken from Beacon Hill: showing the lines, intrenchments, redoubts, &c. of the rebels, also the lines and redoubts of his Majesty’s troops

A view of the country round Boston, taken from Beacon Hill: showing the lines, intrenchments, redoubts, &c. of the rebels, also the lines and redoubts of his Majesty’s troops Ink and watercolor on paper
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Ink and watercolor on paper by William Wood after Richard Williams, 1775

Four panels, each: 18.1 cm x 46.4 cm; total size: 19.4 cm x 186 cm

Artwork 02.032


These four panels, the first of which is shown, provide a panoramic view from Beacon Hill, Boston, as seen by a British officer during the siege of 1775. Each panel includes a numeric key to the major military and civilian locations shown in the illustrations.

The panel shown here, one of a set of four held by the Massachusetts Historical Society (the British Library holds a fifth panel) depicts the east/southeast view from atop Beacon HIll. Labelled are:

1. Boston Harbor
2. Castle William
3. Dorchester Neck
4. Dorchester Meeting House
5. Boston Common

The drawing, by Lieutenant Richard Williams and Lieutenant William Wood of the Twenty-third Regiment of Foot (the Royal Welsh Fusiliers), was probably made in the late summer or early fall of 1775.