Battle of Alamance: first bloodshed of the Revolutionary War...

Item # 573991

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The Gentleman's Magazine, London, July, 1771

* Battle of Alamance... Revolutionary War first blood ?
* British canal map

A very nice and extremely popular magazine from the "mother country" not long before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. This was the first periodical to use the word "magazine" in its title, having begun in 1731 and lasting until 1907.

The key content in this issue is a page 2 report on what most historians describe as the first shedding of blood of the war for American independence. A report from: "Newburn, North Carolina" [New Bern], states in part: "His Excellency, the Governor, having reached Hillsborough with about 1,300 troops, found the Regulators were about 40 miles above him, embodied and in arms, he immediately marched to attack them in case they should refuse to comply with the terms...which were to give up their principals, lay down their arms & swear allegiance to his Majesty...". It continues: "...his Excellency received a messenger with terms... but they being wholly inadmissible, he marched..." (see) Additional text includes details of the ensuing battle, including the death count. This was later to become known as the Battle of Alamance.

Page 2 also has over a column of reports from Boston & Cambridge concerning relations with England (see for portions).
This issue also includes a nice map titled: "A Plan of the Grand Canal from the Trent to the Mersey" rivers in England, with some of the principal towns along the way being Lichfield, Burton, Derby, Rudgley, Stone, Newcastle, Middlewich, Northwich, Frodsham, and Warrington. This map measures 8 by 16 inches & is dated in the upper left: "Gent. Mag. July 1771". Folded several times, various foxing, otherwise rather nice condition.

The magazine measures 5 by 8 inches with full title/contents page featuring an engraving of St. John's Gate. The title page only is nearly close-trimmed at the bottom right but not loss, and is in very nice, clean condition.

Category: The 1600's and 1700's