Period Maps overlaid on Google Maps

[Mountaintab]

In October I had the chance to spend a month at Ft. Lee, VA and every chance I got I went to visit some aspect of the siege of Petersburg. I'm planning on going back this spring or summer and really see the places and get an even greater feel for the siege. I wanna know where the lines were, where the batteries were, where period houses were, period roads, mostly I like stepping where the Soldiers stepped.
I found some maps done by Federal engineers on Petersburgproject.org. I've been trying to line the maps up on screenshots of google maps using the Adobe Sketch app on my iPad. The problem is that somethings line up really well and other things don't, even though I've lined up several known points. I'm certain it's cumu mistakes made by the engineers on the map, or a problem with placing a flat map on curved earth surface.
I've added one of the maps I've been working on with the period map progressively faded out. All I do is try to fade out the period map over a screenshot of the relatively same area on google maps and then trace the confederate lines in red, the Federal lines in blue and roads and railroads in neon green. What should result if I've properly lined a few points up is a superimposed battlefield map on a contemporary map that I can then place points onto my own google maps and use to explore on later trips to the area.
I'm curious if anyone else has tried this and if so is there a better way to do it? I'd love to find a way to find a better more accurate way to find more places at the battlefields I visit that are off the park road and possibly forgotten.

Edit: If this thread doesn't belong in this forum, I'll gladly move it.

 

[lelliott19]

Whoa! Amazing! Thanks for sharing. I have never done this on a battlefield map but will definitely give it a try. Thanks again.

Oh - and welcome to CivilWarTalk - the best place on the internet for Civil War discussion. Very happy to have you aboard.

 

[George Thomas]

I'm a big fan of the Trailhead Graphics maps. There is one for the Petersburg area.
It does a great job showing topography, siege lines, and fort positions, all overlayed on the modern road system.
Your method looks great and I'm sure it would allow for more customization, but I always take a Trailhead Graphics map with me when it is available for an area.
http://www.trailheadgraphics.com/catalog.php

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

There's a terrific book, these map overlays for all the major engagements. You've just given CWT chapter #1. Thanks very much for bringing your work here. And welcome!

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie. Thanks for sharing this as I can use it in relic hunting efforts.

 

[infomanpa]

@Mountaintab , you came to the right place for this question. I've done this a lot because it's great for visiting the modern day battlefield and being able to identify the terrain. I highly recommend that you use Google Earth, instead of Google Maps. The tools make it much easier to transpose and fade maps. Also, and this is a big one....you can stretch the historic maps to make them fit the satellite imagery.

 

[mofederal]

I lived in the Petersburg area, the siege lines ran right through where I lived. I was close to the main gate at Fort Lee. It was quite a place. I was a seasonal at the Petersburg Battlefield.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome back, enjoy

 

[1stMN]

A few of us did some map overlays of Gettysburg that you might enjoy checking out We're going to have to start cataloging our cartography on the forums!

 

[infomanpa]

A few of us did some map overlays of Gettysburg that you might enjoy checking out We're going to have to start cataloging our cartography on the forums!

Yes. I have done many!

 

[Mountaintab]

@Mountaintab , you came to the right place for this question. I've done this a lot because it's great for visiting the modern day battlefield and being able to identify the terrain. I highly recommend that you use Google Earth, instead of Google Maps. The tools make it much easier to transpose and fade maps. Also, and this is a big one....you can stretch the historic maps to make them fit the satellite imagery.

Thank you! I'll give it a shot. Can you do that directly on to google earth or on a screen shot?

Edit: I just downloaded Google Earth on my computer and found where to overlay an image. This is a game changer! Thank you for the guidance.

 

[Mountaintab]

A few of us did some map overlays of Gettysburg that you might enjoy checking out We're going to have to start cataloging our cartography on the forums!

I would love to see your maps. I got to got to Gburg 3 different times for several days at a time in the Spring and Summer of 2016. I'm particularly interested in the wheat field and triangular field.

 

[1stMN]

I would love to see your maps. I got to got to Gburg 3 different times for several days at a time in the Spring and Summer of 2016. I'm particularly interested in the wheat field and triangular field.

Here are a couple that I did- one is an overlay and one is a buffer map I made showing monuments at least 100m from the main tour route

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/gettysburg-monument-locations-map-100m-or-more.121587/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/first-overlay-attempt-1863-hospital-locations.121495/page-2

 

[Mountaintab]

Here are a couple that I did- one is an overlay and one is a buffer map I made showing monuments at least 100m from the main tour route

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/gettysburg-monument-locations-map-100m-or-more.121587/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/first-overlay-attempt-1863-hospital-locations.121495/page-2

Yes indeed, this and you are GOLD! I saw that you also wanted to mark all the burial locations at Gburg. I've been thinking about that for years. I found the map that shows where all the Soldiers were buried on the battlefield and have it saved. If my memory serves me right it can be found at the library of Congress website, and it's something like Elliott's Burial map or something. I don't mean to seem flippant about the burial of the Soldiers.

 

[1stMN]

Yes indeed, this and you are GOLD! I saw that you also wanted to mark all the burial locations at Gburg. I've been thinking about that for years. I found the map that shows where all the Soldiers were buried on the battlefield and have it saved. If my memory serves me right it can be found at the library of Congress website, and it's something like Elliott's Burial map or something. I don't mean to seem flippant about the burial of the Soldiers.

I never did finish with that project, actually. One I always keep meaning to go back to! It isn't flippant, I don't think it is anyway. I figured it would be interesting just to see how they map out in relation to the present town and also to the battlefield as we know it today

 

[infomanpa]

I would love to see your maps. I got to got to Gburg 3 different times for several days at a time in the Spring and Summer of 2016. I'm particularly interested in the wheat field and triangular field.

Here is a couple of many maps:

 

[USS ALASKA]

Thanks for sharing this as I can use it in relic hunting efforts.

Exactly how do you put holes in the parking lot of the Econo Lodge to retrieve your relic? Park a lot of RVs around the dig? Just kidding...
337

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Mountaintab]

Here is a couple of many maps:View attachment 259428

View attachment 259423

These are great! It's a huge help to see these. Now I have my weekend planned.