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Map of the planned extension of the redoubt Brandwagt

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Map of the planned extension of the redoubt Brandwagt

Hattinga, David Willem Carel

Title Leupe: Plan der nieuw geprojecteerde Brandwagt of Speelbattery 1757.

The redoubt Brandwacht was situated on the eastern bank of the Berbice roughly halfway between Fort Nassau and the mouth of the river Canje, and had probably been a first-alert post since the seventeenth century. Just before 1740 it was fortified to a stronger redoubt, which was given the name of Fort Samson.

In 1751, the redoubt was equipped with a bit more artillery, after which in 1757 the military engineer David Willem Carel Hattinga drew up a plan for general renovations resulting in a considerably larger redoubt with a battery of, at the most, 21 medium

and heavy-calibre guns.

This design also indicates that in the previous year new accommodation for the garrison had been built (5).

As far as is known, nothing ever became of the further execution of Hattinga’s project proposal.

In this connection see also the right-hand side of his map VEL1621 indicating the existing situation as it was in 1756, still including the main building as shown on Osterlin’s ground plan and drawings of some twenty years before.

North is up.

Scale-bar of 100 Feet = [approximately 1 : 470].

Please contact Nationaal Archief for reuse and copyrights.

Sources and literature

Heijer, H. den, Grote Atlas van de West-Indische Compagnie = Comprehensive Atlas of the Dutch West India Company, II, de nieuwe WIC 1674-1791 = the new WIC 1674-1791 (2012)