State Maps of the Southeast to 1833

Comparative Accuracy in Four Civil War Maps of the Shenandoah Valley: A GIS Analysis*

“…Most maps of western Virginia available at the onset of civil war were based on the cartography of Hermann Böÿe. Ristow (1966), Sanchez‐Saavedra (1976), and Stephenson and McKee (2000) provide general information about the various editions of Hermann Böÿe's Map of the State of Virginia , which built on John Wood's surveys conducted between 1817 and his 1822 death. Böÿe completed the surveys for the state and finalized his map in 1825.…”

“…Böÿe completed the surveys for the state and finalized his map in 1825. The Virginia General Assembly authorized the publication of both nine‐sheet and four‐sheet editions (Ristow 1966) by Philadelphia engravers Benjamin and Henry S. Tanner (Sanchez‐Saavedra 1976). Of the original printing of 400 copies of the nine‐sheet version, 250 were sold to the public and the rest distributed to various state agencies and local governments; all 800 copies of the four‐sheet version were sold to the public (Ristow 1966).…”

“…The Virginia General Assembly authorized the publication of both nine‐sheet and four‐sheet editions (Ristow 1966) by Philadelphia engravers Benjamin and Henry S. Tanner (Sanchez‐Saavedra 1976). Of the original printing of 400 copies of the nine‐sheet version, 250 were sold to the public and the rest distributed to various state agencies and local governments; all 800 copies of the four‐sheet version were sold to the public (Ristow 1966). In 1859, the Virginia governor authorized Lewis von Buchholtz to revise the Böÿe map for publication in both single‐ and multiple‐sheet versions (Ristow 1966).…”

“…Of the original printing of 400 copies of the nine‐sheet version, 250 were sold to the public and the rest distributed to various state agencies and local governments; all 800 copies of the four‐sheet version were sold to the public (Ristow 1966). In 1859, the Virginia governor authorized Lewis von Buchholtz to revise the Böÿe map for publication in both single‐ and multiple‐sheet versions (Ristow 1966). Many errors on Böÿe's map were too extreme for remedy based on existing copperplates, so several serious topographical fallacies persisted in the “corrected” edition (Sanchez‐Saavedra 1976).…”

“…Many errors on Böÿe's map were too extreme for remedy based on existing copperplates, so several serious topographical fallacies persisted in the “corrected” edition (Sanchez‐Saavedra 1976). Because of its wide distribution and general availability, Böÿe's original maps along with Buchholtz's revised versions were the most accessible and reliable sources of detailed data on the topography of the Valley of Virginia that were readily available to both Union and Confederate armies during the war's early phases (Ristow 1966; Sanchez‐Saavedra 1976; Stephenson 1999; Stephenson and McKee 2000).…”