The "Trent Affair" of November, 1861, when an American warship stopped a British vessel on the Atlantic and forcibly removed two Confederate diplomats, caused tension between Britain and the U.S. and concern that Britain and Canada would be drawn into the U.S. civil war. This map was made to show how in the event of an attack on Toronto, strengthened batteries of cannon at the Old Fort and in a new Western Battery near the woodyard would sweep the entrance to the harbour. But it documented also the transforming effect of a severe storm in April, 1858, which opened an eastern entrance to the harbour, destroyed the slender neck of land that had linked the mouth of the Don River to the peninsula since time immemorial, and created Toronto Island instead.
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Sketch of Toronto Harbour showing the Entrance Channels, soundings position of the Batteries etc. 1862. [Sgd] H.F. Turner Lt. R.E. del. 19/762. C.D. Robertson Lt. Col. D.C.R.E. 29.10.62 J.P. Maguay Cap. R.E. 26/6/66
Image courtesy Library and Archives Canada:
NMC 4477
Winearls, MUC no. 2140
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1872 Moberly: Plan Showing the Present and Proposed Docks at Toronto
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