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Civil War Harper's Weekly, October 25, 1862

This Site features an archive of the Harper's Weekly newspapers published during the Civil War. This resource contains invaluable illustrations and reports written by eye-witnesses within hours of the events depicted.

(Scroll Down to See Entire Page, or Newspaper Thumbnails below will take you to a specific page of interest)

 

Garibaldi

Garibaldi

South Mountain

South Mountain Poem

Lee's Order #116

Lee's Order # 116

Maryland Campaign

Lee's Maryland Campaign

Battle of South Mountain

Battle of South Mountain

Battle Map of Kentucky

Battle Map of Kentucky

Map of Maryland Rebel Raid

Map of Rebel Raid in Maryland

Maryland Rebel Campaign

Rebel Campaign in Maryland

Lincoln in Frederick, Maryland

Abraham Lincoln in Frederick Maryland

Rebel General Polk

General Polk

Lincoln's Speech Frederick, Maryland

Lincoln's Speech in Frederick, Maryland

General Polk Biography

General Polk Biography

Horatio Seymour

Horatio Seymour Cartoons

Antietam Battle Field

Antietam Battle Field

 
 

 

OCTOBER 25, 1862.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

683

danger that threatens him is in my hands alone, and he shall pay the price of his rescue to the last farthing of the debt that justice claims for me as my due—no more and no less.

"I have now laid my mind before you, as you told me, without reserve. You know why I want to find this man, and what I mean to do when I find him. I leave it to your sympathy for me to answer the serious question that remains: How is the discovery to be made? If a first trace of them can be found after their departure from Aldborough, I believe careful inquiry will suffice for the rest. The personal appearance of the wife, and the extraordinary contrast between her husband and herself, is certain to be remarked and remembered by every stranger who sees them.

"When you favor me with your answer, please address it to 'Care of Admiral Bartram, St. Crux-in-the-Marsh, near Ossory, Essex.'

"Your much obliged,

"VIRGINIE LECOUNT."

VI.
FROM MR. DE BLERIOT TO MRS. LECOUNT.

"DARK'S BUILDINGS, KINGSLAND, October 25, 1847.

[PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.]

"DEAR MADAM,—I hasten to reply to your favor of Saturday's date. Circumstances have enabled me to forward your interests by consulting a friend of mine possessing great experience in the management of private inquiries of all sorts. I have placed your case before him (without mentioning names), and I am happy to inform you that my views and his views of the proper course to take agree in every particular.

"Both myself and friend, then, are of opinion that little or nothing can be done toward tracing the parties you mention until the place of their temporary residence, after they left Aldborough, has been discovered first. If this can be done, the sooner it is done the better. Judging from your letter, some weeks must have passed since the lawyer received his information that they had shifted their quarters. As they are both remarkable looking people, the strangers who may have assisted them on their travels have probably not forgotten them yet. Nevertheless, expedition is desirable.

"The question for you to consider is, whether they may not possibly have communicated the address of which we stand in need to some other person besides the lawyer. The husband may have written to members of his family, or the wife may have written to members of her family. Both myself and friend are of opinion that the latter chance is the likeliest of the two. If you have any means of access in the direction of the wife's family, we strongly recommend you to make use of them. If not, please supply us with the names of any of her near relations or intimate female friends whom you know, and we will endeavor to get access for you.

"In any case we request you will at once favor us with the most exact personal description that can be written of both the parties. We may require your assistance in this important particular at five minutes' notice. Favor us, therefore, with the description by return of post. In the mean time we will endeavor to ascertain on our side whether any information is to be privately obtained at Mr. Loscombe's office. The lawyer himself is probably altogether beyond our reach. But if any one of his clerks can be advantageously treated with on such terms as may not overtax your pecuniary resources, accept my assurance that the opportunity shall be made the most of by,

"Dear Madam,

"Your faithful servant,

"ALFRED DE BLERIOT."

VII.
FROM MR. PENDRIL TO NORAH VANSTONE.

   "SEARLE STREET, October 27, 1847.

"MY DEAR MISS VANSTONE,—A lady, named Lecount (formerly attached to Mr. Noel Vanstone's service in the capacity of housekeeper), has called at my office this morning, and has asked me to furnish her with your address. I have begged her to excuse my immediate compliance with her request, and to favor me with a call to-morrow morning, when I shall be prepared to meet her with a definite answer.

"My hesitation in this matter does not proceed from any distrust of Mrs. Lecount personally, for I know nothing whatever to her prejudice. But in making her request to me she stated that the object of the desired interview was to speak to you privately on the subject of your sister. Forgive me for acknowledging that I determined to withhold the address as soon as I heard this. You will make allowances for your old friend and your sincere well-wisher? You will not take it amiss if I express my strong disapproval of your allowing yourself, on any pretense whatever, to be mixed up for the future with your sister's proceedings.

"I will not distress you by saying more than this. But I feel too deep an interest in your welfare, and too sincere an admiration of the patience with which you have borne all your trials, to say less.

"If I can not prevail on you to follow my advice, you have only to say so, and Mrs. Lecount shall have your address to-morrow. In this case (which I can not contemplate without the greatest unwillingness), let me at least recommend you to stipulate that Miss Garth should be present at the interview. In any matter with which your sister is concerned you may want an old friend's advice and an old friend's protection against your own generous impulses. If I could have helped you in this way I would; but Mrs. Lecount gave me indirectly to understand that the subject to be discussed was of too delicate a nature to permit of my presence. Whatever this objection may be really worth it can not

apply to Miss Garth, who has brought you both up from childhood. I say again, therefore, if you see Mrs. Lecount, see her in Miss Garth's company.

"Always most truly yours,

"WILLIAM PENDRIL."

VIII.
FROM NORAH VANSTONE TO MR. PENDRIL.

"PORTLAND PLACE, Wednesday.

"DEAR MR. PENDRIL,—Pray don't think I am ungrateful for your kindness. Indeed, indeed I am not! But I must see Mrs. Lecount. You were not aware, when you wrote to me, that I had received a few lines from Magdalen —not telling me where she is, but holding out the hope of our meeting before long. Perhaps Mrs. Lecount may have something to say to me on this very subject? Even if it should not be so, my sister—do what she may—is still my sister. I can't desert her; I can't turn my back on any one who comes to me in her name. You know, dear Mr. Pendril, I have always been obstinate on this subject; and you have always borne with me. Let me owe another obligation to you which I can never return—and bear with me still!

"Need I say that I willingly accept that part of your advice which refers to Miss Garth? I have already written to beg that she will come here at four to-morrow afternoon. When you see Mrs. Lecount, please inform her that Miss Garth will be with me, and that she will find us both ready to receive her here to-morrow at four o'clock.

"Gratefully yours,

"NORAH VANSTONE."

IX.
FROM MR. DE BLERIOT TO MRS. LECOUNT.

"DARK'S BUILDINGS, October 28.

[PRIVATE.]

"DEAR MADAM,—One of Mr. Loscombe's clerks has proved amenable to a small pecuniary consideration, and has mentioned a circumstance which it may be of some importance to you to know.

"Nearly a month since accident gave the clerk in question an opportunity of looking into one of the documents on his master's table, which had attracted his attention from a slight peculiarity in the form and color of the paper. He had only time, during Mr. Loscombe's momentary absence, to satisfy his curiosity by looking at the beginning of the document, and at the end. At the beginning, he saw the customary form used in making a will. At the end, he discovered the signature of Mr. Noel Vanstone, with the names of two witnesses underneath, and the date (of which he is quite certain)—the thirtieth of September last.

"Before the clerk had time to make any further investigations his master returned, sorted the papers on the table, and carefully locked up the will in the strong box devoted to the custody of Mr. Noel Vanstone's documents. It has been ascertained that at the close of September Mr. Loscombe was absent from the office. If he was then employed in superintending the execution of his client's will—which is quite possible —it follows clearly that he was in the secret of Mr. Vanstone's address, after the removal of the 4th of September; and if you can do nothing on your side, it may be desirable to have the lawyer watched on ours. In any case it is certainly ascertained that Mr. Noel Vanstone has made his will since his marriage. I leave you to draw your own conclusions from that fact, and remain, in the hope of hearing from you shortly,

"Your faithful servant,

"ALFRED DE BLERIOT."

X.

FROM MISS GARTH TO MR. PENDRIL.

"PORTLAND PLACE, October 28.

"MY DEAR SIR,—Mrs. Lecount has just left us. If it was not too late to wish, I should wish from the bottom of my heart that Norah had taken your advice, and had refused to see her.

"I write in such distress of mind that I can not hope to give you a clear and complete account of the interview. I can only tell you briefly what Mrs. Lecount has done, and what our situation now is. The rest must be left until I am more composed, and until I can speak to you personally.

"You will remember my informing you of the letter which Mrs. Lecount addressed to Norah from Aldborough, and which I answered for her in her absence. When Mrs. Lecount made her appearance to-day, her first words announced to us that she had come to renew the subject. As well as I can remember it, this is what she said, addressing herself to Norah:

"I wrote to you on the subject of your sister, Miss Vanstone, some little time since; and Miss Garth was so good as to answer the letter. What I feared at that time has come true. Your sister has defied all my efforts to check her; she has disappeared in company with my master, Mr. Noel Vanstone; and she is now in a position of danger, which may lead to her disgrace and ruin at a moment's notice. It is my interest to recover my master; it is your interest to save your sister. Tell me—for time is precious —have you any news of her?'

"Norah answered, as well as her terror and distress would allow her, 'I have had a letter, but there was no address on it.'

"Mrs. Lecount asked, 'Was there no post-mark on the envelope?'

"Norah said, 'Yes, Allonby.'

" 'Alonby is better than nothing,' said Mrs. Lecount. 'Allonby may help you to trace her. Where is Allonby?'

"Norah told her. It all passed in a minute. I had been too much confused and startled to interfere

before, but I composed myself sufficiently to interfere now.

" 'You have entered into no particulars,' I said. You have only frightened us—you have told us nothing.'

" 'You shall hear the particulars, ma'am,' said Mrs. Lecount; 'and you and Miss Vanstone shall judge for yourselves if I have frightened you without a cause.'

"Upon this she entered at once upon a long narrative, which I can not—I might almost say, which I dare not—repeat. You will understand the horror we both felt when I tell you the end. If Mrs. Lecount's statement is to be relied on, Magdalen has carried her mad resolution of recovering her father's fortune to the last and most desperate extremity—she has married Michael Vanstone's son under a false name. Her husband is at this moment still persuaded that her maiden name was Bygrave, and that she is really the niece of a scoundrel who assisted her imposture, and whom I recognize by the description of him to have been Captain Wragge.

"I spare you Mrs. Lecount's cool avowal, when she rose to leave us, of her own mercenary motives in wishing to discover her master and to enlighten him. I spare you the hints she dropped of Magdalen's purpose in contracting this infamous marriage. The one aim and object of my letter is, to implore you to assist me in quieting Norah's anguish of mind. The shock she has received at hearing this news of her sister is not the worst result of what has happened. She has persuaded herself that the answers she innocently gave in her distress to Mrs. Lecount's questions on the subject of the letter—the answers wrung from her under the sudden pressure of confusion and alarm—may be used to Magdalen's prejudice by the woman who purposely startled her into giving the information. I can only prevent her from taking some desperate step on her side—some step by which she may forfeit the friendship and protection of the excellent people with whom she is now living—by reminding her that if Mrs. Lecount traces her master by means of the post-mark on the letter, we may trace Magdalen at the same time, and by the same means. Whatever objection you may personally feel to renewing the efforts for the rescue of this miserable girl, which failed so lamentably at York, I entreat you, for Norah's sake, to take the same steps now which we took then. Send me the only assurance which will quiet her—the assurance, under your own hand, that the search on our side has begun. If you will do this, you may trust me when the time comes to stand between these two sisters, and to defend Norah's peace, character, and future prosperity, at any price.

   Most sincerely yours,

"HARRIET GARTH."

XI.

FROM MRS. LECOUNT TO MR. DE BLERIOT.

"October 28.

"DEAR SIR,—I have found the trace you wanted. Mrs. Noel Vanstone has written to her sister. The letter contains no address; but the post-mark is Allonby, in Cumberland. From Allonby, therefore, the inquiries must begin. You have already in your possession the personal description of both husband and wife. I urgently recommend you not to lose one unnecessary moment. If it is possible to send to Cumberland immediately on receipt of this letter, I beg you will do so.

"I have another word to say before I close my note—a word about the discovery in Mr. Loscombe's office.

"It is no surprise to me to hear that Mr. Noel Vanstone has made his will since his marriage; and I am at no loss to guess in whose favor the will is made. If I succeed in finding my master — let that person get the money, if that person can! A course to follow in this matter has presented itself to my mind since I received your letter, but my ignorance of details of business and intricacies of law leaves me still uncertain whether my idea is capable of ready and certain execution. I will call at your office to-morrow at two o'clock for the purpose of consulting you on the subject. It is of great importance when I next see Mr. Noel Vanstone that he should find me thoroughly prepared beforehand in this matter of the will.

"Your much obliged servant,

      "VIRGINIE LECOUNT."

XII.

FROM MR. PENDRIL TO MISS GARTH.

"SEARLE STREET, October 29.

"DEAR MISS GARTH,—I have only a moment to assure you of the sorrow with which I have read your letter. The circumstances under which you urge your request, and the reasons you give for making it, are sufficient to silence any objection I might otherwise feel to the course you propose. A trust-worthy person, whom I have myself instructed, will start for Allonby to-day; and as soon as I receive any news from him, you shall hear of it by special messenger. Tell Miss Vanstone this, and pray add the sincere expression of my sympathy and regard.

"Faithfully yours,

"WILLIAM PENDRIL."

XIII.

FROM MR. DE BLERIOT TO MRS. LECOUNT.

"DARK'S BUILDINGS, November 1.

"DEAR MADAM,—I have the pleasure of informing you that the discovery has been made with far less trouble than I had anticipated.

"Mr. and Mrs. Noel Vanstone have been traced across the Solway Firth to Dumfries, and thence to a cottage a few miles from the town, on the banks of the Nith. The exact address is, Baliol Cottage, near Dumfries.

"This information, though easily hunted up,

has nevertheless been obtained under rather singular circumstances.

"Before leaving Allonby, the persons in my employ discovered, to their surprise, that a stranger was in the place pursuing the same inquiry as themselves. In the absence of any instructions preparing them for such an occurrence as this, they took their own view of the circumstance. Considering the man as an intruder on their business, whose success might deprive them of the credit and reward of making the discovery, they took advantage of their superiority in numbers, and of their being first in the field, and carefully misled the stranger before they ventured any further with their own investigations. I am in possession of the details of their proceedings, with which I need not trouble you. The end is, that this person, whoever he may be, was cleverly turned back southward, on a false scent, before the men in my employment crossed the Firth.

"I mention the circumstance, as you may be better able than I am to find a clew to it, and as it may possibly be of a nature to induce you to hasten your journey.

"Your faithful servant,

"ALFRED DE BLERIOT."

XIV.

FROM MRS. LECOUNT TO MR. DE BLERIOT.

"November 1.

"DEAR SIR,—One line to say that your letter has just reached me at my lodging in London. I think I know who sent the strange man to inquire at Allonby. It matters little. Before he finds out his mistake I shall be at Dumfries. My luggage is packed, and I start for the North by the next train.

"Your deeply obliged,

"VIRGINIE LECOUNT."

THE CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND.

OUR special artist with the Army of the Potomac has sent us sketches which we reproduce on pages 676 and 677. Most of these pictures explain themselves; but we subjoin Mr. Waud's descriptions:

SUGAR-LOAF MOUNTAIN

is used as a signal station, having a very extensive view over the neighboring country. When the Confederates were in Maryland their signal officers occupied it, but the advance of Franklin's corps drove them off, and re-established our own on its summit.

MIDDLETON

is a small town away from railroads, on the stage-road from Frederick to Hagerstown. The right wing of the army passed through on its way to attack the enemy at the battle of South Mountain.

THORNTON'S GAP

is about six miles from Middleton. The turnpike here crosses the mountain. It was held by the rebels in force, and considered an impregnable position, but it could not stand before the determined valor of the Union army. Our sketch is from the north side of the mountain, the smoke on the top of the mountain at each side of the gap showing where the battle was fought. Nearer is the village of Boonesborough, six miles from the battle-field of Antietam, which was filled with the wounded of both armies.

CRAMPTON'S GAP

is six miles to the south of Thornton's. Here Franklin's corps covered itself with glory. The position of the rebel army was much the same as at Thornton's, being posted on the hill-side, where its guns could command the approaches. Up the steep sides of the hill the brave soldiers of Slocum's division charged, driving first one, and then a second line of the rebels before them. The sketch shows how steep was the incline the soldiers had to climb in the face of the enemy, who in some places used a stone wall as a breast-work. On meeting the second line (seen in the picture, formed on a little mountain road) the Union line wavered. Colonel Bartlett (commanding a brigade in Slocum's division) started forward and led the soldiers to a fresh effort, so impetuous that the rebels were broken and driven over the crest of the mountain in utter rout. The general view of the scene shows where the rebel artillery was posted, and gives a good idea of the difficulties encountered in this battle, which M'Clellan speaks of as the battle of South Mountain.

THE COLONEL OF THE TWENTIETH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS LEADING HIS REGIMENT AT THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.

The Twentieth Regiment, of which General Max Weber was originally Colonel, lost in the recent battle two hundred and forty men and nine officers at one time when it was necessary to charge up a slope against the rebels. The Colonel, Van Vegesark, took the flag, and galloping up the rise, led the Regiment to the crest of the hill amidst a very heavy fire. Strange to relate, the Colonel escaped uninjured.

THE FLAG OF TRUCE.

While the armies stood in line of battle grimly contemplating each other, neither one anxious to renew the engagement, unarmed parties under a flag of truce—which was suffered rather than granted—went about picking up the wounded who lay between the lines. The rebel ambulance corps, with pieces of white cloth on their hats, and our soldiers with white bands on their arms, mixed freely on the field. At one time some muskets were fired, whether by accident or design was not known; in an instant each army sprang into line, cannoneers in position, and all ready at once to renew the combat.

The little church in the sketch was badly peppered by the shot and shell, and its neighborhood was the scene of fearful slaughter. A Union officer, who was taken into it, wounded, by the rebels, had to lie there all through the fight, and was not injured by the shell.


 

 

  

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