1863 The New Naval and Military Map of the United States
DESCRIPTION
This rare and visually commanding Civil War era wall map by J. Calvin Smith represents one of the most ambitious and information rich large format maps issued during the American Civil War. The map captures the nation at a precise and fleeting territorial moment between the creation of Idaho Territory in March 1863 and the formation of Montana Territory in May 1864.
The Expanding Western Frontier
The map presents the United States in full continental breadth, extending southward into Mexico and Central America and northward into British America. State and county boundaries are carefully delineated and hand colored, while major rivers, railroads, forts, towns, and coastal features are clearly identified. The inclusion of Idaho Territory without Montana firmly situates the map within a narrow window of western reorganization, making it an important record of Civil War era territorial development.
Particular emphasis is placed on the western frontier, where vast territorial divisions such as Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona are boldly outlined. Large expanses remain sparsely settled, with Native American tribal lands identified across the Plains and the Great Basin. Routes of travel, telegraph lines, and developing rail connections trace the arteries of expansion across the continent, revealing a nation actively consolidating control over newly acquired lands. The Southwest and Pacific Coast are shown with increasing detail, reflecting the strategic and economic importance of California, the overland trails, and western military posts during the war years.
Decorative Borders and Thematic Insets
Surrounding the map is an elaborate engraved border of portrait medallions depicting prominent Union military and naval leaders, framed by ornamental scrollwork and patriotic motifs. These likenesses transform the map into a visual gallery of Civil War command, reinforcing its identity as both a geographic reference and a statement of Union strength.
Within the map and along its margins appear numerous engraved vignettes and illustrative scenes, including naval engagements, allegorical imagery celebrating the preservation of the Union, and a detailed panoramic view of Washington, D.C. dominated by the Capitol. Additional scenic engravings such as Niagara Falls and maritime vessels enrich the composition. The map is further enhanced by statistical tables and thematic diagrams, including a chart showing the distribution of the slave and free colored population based on the 1860 census, a map of staple crops and natural resources, climate data showing rainfall and temperature patterns, and tables of air line distances between major cities. These elements reflect the mid-19th-century appetite for comprehensive geographic knowledge that blended cartography with science, commerce, and social data.
Historical Context and the Vision of J. Calvin Smith
James Calvin Smith (1809–1876) was a prolific American mapmaker and educator known for producing accessible yet detailed geographic works during the antebellum and Civil War periods. His wall maps were designed for public display and instruction, combining clarity of engraving with a breadth of statistical and thematic information that appealed to schools, offices, and civic institutions.
Issued in the midst of the Civil War, this map presents a powerful visual contradiction. While the nation was divided by armed conflict, the map portrays the United States as a unified continental republic stretching confidently from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The expansive western territories, the emphasis on infrastructure and exploration, and the prominence given to Union leaders together express a forward looking vision of national permanence and growth.
CONDITION
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