1862
While this appears to be a fairly typical mid-19th century railroad map, it was specifically commissioned by the War Department to provide current information about southern railroads. The map’s significance for military intelligence was recorded in a note written by the cartographer’s widow when she gave this copy to the Boston Public Library. She recalled that the map was displayed in Secretary Stanton’s War Office, where black and red pins were used to locate the varying positions of the two armies, and that the map proved very useful to General Sherman in his march through Georgia to the sea. Mrs. Kimber concluded by stating her husband was a Quaker "and to ease his conscience for having prepared such a map at all he declined any payment for it."
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