Rochambeau Map Collection

What it is

This is a collection of maps made by French army engineers for the Comte de Rochambeau between 1780 and 1782, documenting march routes, camps, and siege operations. One featured map, titled 'Plan d'York en Virginie', shows the trenches, batteries and fortifications of the siege of Yorktown. The collection is held by the Library of Congress.

Why it matters

These maps were working documents used by Rochambeau and his engineers to plan troop movements and the siege itself. They give a detailed, firsthand view of how the Franco-American forces coordinated their attack on Yorktown, something a painting or memoir cannot show with the same precision.

Look closer

• What details does the map include, such as the legend, scale bar, and compass rose, and why were these important to military planners?
• What can a map tell you that a written account cannot?
• Who would have made and used this map, and for what purpose?