The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-11 00:00:00

TELL SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 11, 1864.

dulged in to the usual extent, and was sharper than
usual in front of the 18th Carps."
" City Point, Virginia, Thursday, July 28, via
Washington, Friday, July 29.
" All last night and this morning (Thursday)
there has been very heavy firing on the other side
of the Appomattox. There is a rumour in circula-
tion here that one of the rebel rams has sunk one of
our gunboats, and that the rams contemplate an ex•
cursion to this place. If they do they will meet
with a warm reception. Two of our monitors have
gone up the river."
Respecting the second Confederate raid in the
Shenandoah Valley the New fork limes says :
" Nothwithstanding the exciting rumours which
still prevail in regard to the movements of the rebels
on the Upper Potomac, it appears to be tolerably
certain that the second movement up the Shenan-
doah Valley was solely fur the purpose of driving
back the Union forces, in order to secure for the
raiders the unmolested occupation of the valley
while they gathered in the rich harvest. Well-in-
formed persons affirm that there is, to-day, in the
Shenandoah Valley breadstuffs enough to feed the
whole of Lee's army for a twelvemonth; and it is
obvious that a rebel force of 20,000 men could not
be more advantageously employed than in gather.
ing, for the famishing armies in Richmond, the
precious staff of life, especially as the railroad com-
munications of the rebel capital with the grain disc
tricts of the Confederacy have been severed, or are
precariously held. It is not unlikely, however, that
the rebels may send cavalry parties across the river
in order to distract attention from their agricultural
operations in the valley. We have but little telex.
graphic news from the reported new rebel raid into
Maryland, for the reason that ft is peremptorily
withheld by the military authorities."
" Washington, Wednesday, July 27, p.m.
"A gentleman who has just arrived here informs
us that Harper's Ferry has been evacuated by our
forces, and the rebels have their line of skirmishers
out about four miles distant from that place. He
cannot give me an estimate, but states that they are
in large force. Ho also informs me that there was
more or less fighting on Sunday between Martins-
burgh and Williamsport, and that our forces fell
back sullenly and resolutely. Passengers from
Western Maryland who came down this morning
report that heavy firing was heard on Monday in
the direction of Martinsburgh, and yesterday firing
was heard from up the river, apparently in the di-
rection of Williamsport."
"Baltimore, Wednesday, July 27.
" The American, of this morning, has the follow-
ing :—"There is no confirmation of the report that
the rebels have re-entered Maryland by way of
Shepardatown and Sharpsburgb. It is hardly pos-
sible that General Early will poke his nose far in
this direction as he must be aware that in doing so
he will speedily encounter some very different fight-
ing material from the tired and broken down
columns of General Hunter. Harper's Ferry is still
in our possession. There has been no attack upon
that point as yet, and the rebels are believed not to
have entered Maryland. A scout, who left Martins-
burg at 7 o'clock last night, and crossing at Shep-
ardstown arrived here this morning, reports heavy
skirmishing at Martinsburg, between Gen. Crook's
forces and the rebele under Breckinridgo on Mon-
day, up to 5 p.m. Our forces fell back to this side
of the Potomac, from Martinsburg to William's-
port—but the rebels evinced no intention of crossing
and refugees from Washington and other western
counties were returning to their homes. It was
generally supposed that the object of the rebels was
to keep our forces out of the valley while they
gathered in the harvest. Later reports assert that
we have reoccupied Martinsburg. General Wallace
has issued orders fur the immediate enrolling of all
the ablebodied coloured men in this city, directing
that they be forthwith organised in companies and
regiments and armed and equipped. They are to be
drilled and furnished with arms. The officers are
to ba appointed by the mayor, and the force will
constitute a part of the military defence of the city.
The order warns disloyal masters and employers
not to interfere with these orders. The Leagues
are also engaged in perfecting their military organ-
isation. The order restricting the press here from
Publishing anything, relative to rebel movements is
still in force, much to the perplexity of the editors,
who do not appreciate the wisdom (?) of the order.
The statement in the special despatch to the
Bulletin that Harper's Ferry bee been evacuated is
undoubtedly incorrect, as the telegraph to that point
is still working. The reported occupation of Mar-
tinsburg is generally credited.'"
" Baltimore, Friday, July 29.
" We have nothing later that is authentic from
the Upper Potomac. One thing is certain, and that
is that the rebels have not crossed the Potomac, but
had, at last advices, disappeared from the line of
the river. Oar forces are understood to be vigor-
ously pushing the rebels south of the Potomac.
General Wallace has informed the editors of news-
papers in this city that information was received
last night which renders it unnecessary to continue
any longer the restrictions upon the publication o
news, as heretofore ordered, except so far as
relates to the movements of troops in this depar
ment."

"Philadelphia, Friday, July 29.
"The Bulletin has the following special de.
spatches:—

"'Baltimore, Thursday, July 28, 11 p.m.
" ' Martinsburg is supposed to have been evacu-
ated by the rebels to-day. General Hunter sti 1
commands the department of Virginia, and Geneial
Crook the troops in the field. The rebels are be-
lieved to be falling back, preparatory to an advance
in another direction. Our forces are moving in
pursuit.'

"Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
Friday, July 29.
" The rebels have now possession of some of the
fords on the Potomac. They have creseed and re-
crossed at Falling Waters, and have again crossed,
or were crossing, yesterday and last evening. They
were in force, and are said to be at least 4,000
strong. At Hancock they were also crossing, and
fears are expressed that they may get to Bedford
Springs, where Governor Curtin now is."
"Philadelphia, Friday, July 29.
" The Bulletin has received the following special
despatch from Lancaster :
" Official reports state the rebels are crossing the
river at Williamsport, Maryland, and the telegraph
operators at Hagerstown have left.'"
"The special.despatch from Lancaster, announc-
ing that the rebels were crossing the Potomac at
Williamsport, is without foundation in fact."
" Baltimore, Friday, July 29, 10 40 p.m.
" The American's special, dated Harper's Ferry,
says:—

" There is an invasion gcing forward here, but it
is not an invasion of Maryland, Harper's Ferry is
once again, in its varied experience during this
war, the scene of active military operations. Thus
much I may say without imparting any informa-
tion to the enemy, for by the time this goes into
print they will well know that before Maryland
can be invaded again, the question to be decided
is who shall be master in the valley of the
Shenandoah. Without touching on contraband
news by any reference to the troops which on
our side aro to bs employed in settling this problem,
their numbers, commanders, &e., I may say that
the military authorities have pushed forward their
counter-movements against the schemes of the
rebels with an unusual degree of vigour, asgacity,
and secrecy. If the rebel force lingers anywhere
near Winchester, a battle is among the probabili-
ties within the next days. If fought at all, it will
be fought under circumstances that ought to, and I
believe will, give us success. It will not be a fight
in which a portion of our forces are exposed to the
whole rebel strength. There will be no whipping
us this time by detail. Wo shall not be obliged
to fight aguiubt superior numbers of the
enemy, and also bad management on our part.
If we are whipped, the rebels will have
to show a larger force in the Shenandoah valley
than has yet been developed, except by rumour,
and they will also have to fight for what
they get. It is doubtful whether any serious
engagement will occur, unless, indeed, our move-
ments have been sufficiently rapid to take the re-
bels by surprise. We hew had abundant experience
of the unfreitfulnese ref a chase of the enemy up the
valley when they find it expedient to avoid giving

battle. There is a race for Staunton or some of the
gaps, in which the rebels have the advantage both
of start and distance, and as they generally lead us,
so I am inclined to believe it will be this time, There
is one other point to be taken into consideration,
and upon it may depend the whole question. The
enemy may be sufficiently in need of the crops of the
valley to make it an imperative necessity that they
should fight for them: It is undoubtedly the fact
that these crops have furnished to a very consider-
able extent the substance for the army at Richmond.
The question as to who is the master in the valley is
once more to be tested. There is nothing important
from up the river. The rebels withdrew their pickets
opposite "Williamsport on Wednesday night, and yes-
terday Gen. Kelly reoccupied Martinsburg. Tele-
graphic communication with that point has not been
re-established, nor has any train yet returned up,
as the condition of the road and bridge at Opequon
Creek is not known. The bridge over Back Creek,
beyond Martinsburg, is reported to have been de-
stroyed. The train crossed the bridge into Har-
per's Ferry to-day for the first time since the last
rebel occupation. Harpsr's Ferry has been burnt
over again, this being the fourth or fifth time since
the war began. None of the private buildings of
the town have been injured. The general belief of
officers engaged in the recent fight is that Colonel
Mulligan was killed. He is known to have been
very severely wounded, end was left on the field.
An effort is in progress to learn his fate ant obtain
his remains, if he is dead."
The New Orleans Picayune publishes General
Forrest's address to his command :
"Head-quarters, Forrest's Cavalry, Tupelo,
Mississippi, June 28.
" Soldiers,—After along and laborious campaign
the .Major. General commanding deems it an appro-
priate occasion to address you a few words of re-
capitulation, acknowledgment, and congratulation.
About the 15th of February last the campaign which
so gloriously terminated at Tishemingo Creek was
inaugurated. Major-General Sherman, with a large
and well-appointed army, undertook to penetrate
the central counties of Alabama and Mississippi.
His object was avowedly to capture Selma and
Mobile, and to desolate that productive region of
country, from which the granaries of a large section
of the Confederacy were supplied. Generals Smith
and Grierson had their duty assigned them, and
were to act a conspicuous part in the work of spolia-
tion and piracy. With a large co-operating cavalry
force, thoroughly armed and equipped, they were
to descend through Northern Mississippi, carrying
fire and sword with them. On they came, like
a blighting sirocco. At West Point you met
them. There you threw yourselves across
the rich prairies, a living bulwark to stay the
desolating tide, Compared with the enemy you are
but few in numbers, but every man became a hero,
for all seemed impressed with the importance of the
momentous struggle. You proved yourselves equal
to the expectations of the country. You met the
proud and exultant enemy. The result is known
to the world ; you drove him howling back in igno.
rainy and shame, broken and demoralised. Sher-
man's campaign was thus brought to an abrupt
conclusion, and Mississippi and Alabama were
saved. The victory was a glorious one, and with
heartfelt pride the general commanding acknow-
ledges your unexampled gallantry. This great work
was accomplished by Col. Bell's brigade, commanded
by Col. Barteau, Coi.M.Calloch's, and Col. Forrest's
brigades. But great as was this victory, it was not
without alloy. The laurel is closely entwined with
the cypress, and the lustre of a brilliant triumph is
darkened by the blood with which it was purchased.
It was here that Col. Barksdale gave up his life, a
willing sacrifice upon the altar of his country. He
fell in front of the battle, gallantly discharging his
duty. He sleeps, but his name is imperishable.
Here, too, fell the noble brother of the general com-
manding—Col. Jeffrey E. Forrest. He was a brave
and chivalrous spirit, ever foremost in the fight. He
fell in the flower of his youth and usefulness. But
his dying gaze was proudly turned upon the victo-
rious field which his own valour had aided in win.
ning. Peace to the ashes of these gallant young
heroes. Gen. Grierson, not sati,fied with this test
of your prowess, united with Gen_ Sturgis, at the
head of one of the best appointed forces ever
equipped by the Yankee nation—complete in in-
fantry, cavalry, artillery, and eupply trains. They
came forth with threats of vengeance towards you
and your commander for the bloody victory at Fort
Pillow—made a massacre only by dastardly Yankee
reporters. Again you respond bravely to your gene-
ral's call. You met the enemy and defeated him.
Victory was never more glorious, disaster never
more crushing and signal. From a proud and de-
fiant foe en route to the heart of your country, with
declarations, both by negro and white troops, of
`No quarter to Forrest and his men,'.he became an
enemy beaten, defeated, routed, and destroyed. You
drove the boasted minions of despotism in confused
flight from the battlefield. 17 guns, 250 waggons,
3,ooostand of arms, 2,000 prisoners, and killed and
wounded 2,000 more, are the proud trophies which
adorn your triumphant banners. The remainder
aro still wandering in the bushes and bottoms, for
ever lost to the enemy. There was not over 3,000
of you that achieved this victory over 10,000
of the enemy. Had you never before raised an
army in your country's cause, this terrible over-
throw of her brutal foe would entitle you to her
deepest gratitude. Again, your general expresses
his pride and admiration of your gallantry and won-
derful achievments. You stand before the world
an unconquerable band of heroes. Whether dis-
mounted, and fighting shoulder to shoulder, like
infantry veterans, or hurling your irresistible squa-
drons on the living foe, you evince the same coura-
geous bravery. Soldiers I amid your rejoicings do
not forget the gallant dead upon these fields of
glory. Many a noble comrade has fallen a costly
sacrifice to his country's independence. The most
you can do is to cherish their memory, and strive to
make the future as glorious as they have made the
past. Tne smoke of your burning homesteads, the
screams of your insulted women, and the cries of
starving children, will again nerve your strong
arms with strength. Your fathers of 1770 had much
to fight for, but how little and unimportant,ought
was
their cause compared with yours. They fought
not against annihilation, but simply to bo in-
dependent of a foreign, yet constitutional and free,
Government. You are struggling against the most
odious of all tyranny—for existence itself, for your
property, your homes, your wives and children--
against your own enslavement,
tion, confiscation, against emancipae
and subjugation, with all their
attendant horrors. In conclusion, your command.
ing General congratulates you on the brilliant pro.
spects which everywhere pervades our cause. The
independence of the Confederate States is a fixed,
accomplished, immutable fact. The ray of peace is
glimmering like bright sunshine around the dark
clouds. Be true toyourself and your country a little
longer, and
you will soon be enabled to return to
your desolated homes, there to collect together once
more your shattered household gods.--By order of
" Major-Gen. N. B. FORREST.
" C. W. Anderson, Acting Adjutant-General."
A despatch from St, Louis, dated the 28th ult.,
gives the following particulars of the alleged con-
spiracy for the creation of a North-Western Con-
federacy :

" The Democrat publishes a long account of the
conspiracy for the erection of a North-Postern Con-
federacy reported a few days °ince, The organisa-
tion engaged in this conspiracy is known as the
' Order of American Knights,' and its real object
is to embarrass the Government conduct of the war,
and to overthrow the Government, if necessary, for
the supremacy of the Order. Its professions and
prposes are different in different States, proclaim-
ing a war policy in New York, Pennsylvania, New
jersey, end other Elatern. States, while in the west

it is for peace. The Order is of Southern origin,
being erected on the ruins of the Knights of the
Golden Circle. The rebel :Tien. S. Price is supreme
commander. Vallandigham,whilo in Richmond, was
made supreme commander of the Northern section,
and a conspiracy was entered into between him and
the rebel authorities to divide the East and the West,
thus to aid the Southern rebellion. Vallandigham's
time in Canada was principally spent in furthering
this scheme. lie had a conference with some of the
leading spirits in the North icon after his arrival in
Canada, and 11 rranw2d for the establiahm.W: of the

Order throughout the loyal States. The names of
all who visited him at the Clifton-house are known
to the Government, among whom were William B.
Reed, of Philadelphia, Pendleton and Pugh, of Ohio,
Kribben, of St. Louis, and Storey and Meyrick, of
Chicago, are published. The result of this confer-
ence was also known to the Government about the
Ist of January. Mr Vallandigham issued an address
to the lodges in the loyal States, in which he calls
upon the members to renew their vows. He says
the time is fast approaching which will test their
sincerity. He declares that the prosecution of the
war is a violation of the rights of the States, and
that President Lincoln is a tyrant and usurper. A
meeting of the grand commanders of the different
States was held in the city of New York, on the 22d
day of February, for the purpose of organising an
outbreak on the 10th of March, the day fixed for
the draught to take place, but no definite plan was
agreed upon. The names of these conspirators are
also known. The Commanders had a conversation
with the Supreme Commander at Windsor, Canada,
early in April, for general consultation. Among
those in attendance at this conference were the
Grand Commander at New York, Charles L. Hunt,
of St. Louis, and Lafayette Dealin, of Indiana.
The programme adopted at this meeting was
that Mr Vallandigham should represent his dis-
trict in Ohio in the National Democratic Convention
to be herd in the city of Chicago. Mr Vallandig-
barn, in the National Democratic Convention, was
to proclaim the doctrines of the Order of the
American Knights—namely, pronounce the existing
administration of the Government a power usurped
which the people had a right to expel by force if
necessary, in fact to inaugurate a rebellion in the
North, in which he was to be supported by the
Order. Each Grand Commander was to have fully
armed and equipped a body guard at the National
Convention in Chicago for the defence of Mr. Val-
landigham. This, it was thought, would precipi-
tate the people of the free States into an armed con•
filet, which was to be the signal for the Knights of
the American Order to unite against the lawful
authorities and kill or capture the civil and military
authorities. The Knights were then to seize the
arsenals, arms, and public property of all kinds,
and proclaim the Government overthrown. There
is most convincing evidence of the truthfulness of
this statement. The reason of Mr. Vallandig,ham's
sudden return to Ohio was the fear of his being
defeated as a delegate to the National Democratic
Convention to be held at Chicago, and it was only
by his presence in the State that his election as a
delegate was secured. The numerical strength of
the Knights of the American Order is over half a
million ; 150,000 of this number are armed and
organised. The Order in New York is called the
M'Clellan Minute Men,' numbering over 200,000
men. The Grand Commander in Missouri is Charles
L. Hunt, a nephew of James H. Lucas, and for
many years the Belgian Consul. The Deputy
Grand Commander in this city is Charles E. Dunn

An officer in St. Louis has a long list of the names
of the membera of the Order, together with all the
information concerning the whole scheme. The
whole affair has been thoroughly brought to light,
and the proof of it is in the hands of the authori.

ties at Washington, and will be given to the public
at the proper time."

Murder and Suicide,

At Reading yesterday morning it was discovered that a
young married woman had deliberately drowned her three
children in the Thames and then committed sufcide by
drawing- herself. The deceased woman was named Emma
Legge, and she was the wife of James Legge, a journeyman
upholsterer, and her three children were—Flora, aged five
years; Louis, aged three years; and Napoleon, aged three
months. On Monday morning, Aug. 1, she, her husband,
and children arrived at Reading from Tunbridge Wells by
the South-Eastern Railway, and the man took lodgings for
them in the Rising Sun publichouse in the Forbury. He
seems, however, to have left them there, for he went away
the same evening, and it has been ascertained that ho slept
at the Spread Eagle Tavern, in another part of the town.
From that time he abandoned his wife and children, she
having only a small sum, besides a few articles of furniture,
with which to provide the common necessaries of life. After
remaining at the Rising Sun a few days she removed to a
publiehouse in Minster-street, where she remained until
Monday in the present week. The furniture she had she
disposed of on Monday for about 40s. She then paid or her
lodgings and a few small bills she had incurred, leaving her
with little more than half-a-crown for future maintenance.
On Tuesday evening she took lodgings at the Jack of New-
bury, Bridge-street, and slept there that night. On Wed-
nesday morning she rose seen after 6 o'clock, and dressed
herself and her children. A little before 7 she went to a Mr
Boseley, a furniture dealer, in Horn-street, and hired a
perambulator, stating that she wanted to give her children
an airing. As the weather was dull and threatening rain, Mr
Boseley told her he thought it was too cold to take children
out at so early an hour, but as sbe appeared determined Logo
he allowed her to take the perambulator, into which she put
the children and went away, She was observed to go along
Cavershana-road, and turn into the yard adjoining the White
Hart, Cavershana towards the towing path of the Thames.
There was nothing in her conduct to excite suspicion, as it is
rather a favourite r lace for people to take an airing.
Some time afterwards the gardener at Mrs Monck's, on
the opposite side of the river, observed a perambulator on
the bank without any one in it, or even near it, White ho
was looking to see what had become of the person in charge
of it he saw something like a human body floating on the
surface of the river. He then got into his mistress's plea-
sure-boat, pulled across the river, and within a few yards
of the bank he saw the three children and a woman lying
within a short distance of each other, all dead.
All the bodies were removed to an outhouse belonging to
the White Hart Inn. The children were quite dead and
cold. As there was, however, a slight warmth about the
body of the woman, every means were used, under the direc-
tion of Mr. Bulley, surgeon, to restore animation, but with-
out avail.
Mr J. J. Blandy, the Coroner for the borough, opened
the inquest in the large room at the White Hart lan, Cover-
sham, in the afternoon. After viewing the bodies the jury
heard the fallowing evidence :
Mr F. A. Bulley, surgeon, Reading, said,—About half-
past 9 o'clock this morning I was summoned to the White
Hart Inn, Cavershatn-bridge, to attend a woman and her
three children, who I understood had been taken out of the
water just above the bridge. I attended immediately, and
found them lying in a stable adjoining the inn. Several
persons were actively engaged in endeavouring to restore
animation, The bodies of the children were quite cold, but
as there was slight remaining warmth in the body of the
mother, I requested they would continue their efforts for
some time longer, in which I assisted, but without avail,
Judging from the very slight warmth in the mother's body
when I first saw her, and the total absence of it in the
bodies of the children, I should say that they had been im-
mersed from half an hour to an hour before they were taken
out of the water. There was no appearance of violence on
the body of either child.
ia William Jacobs, the gardener, then described the man-
ner in which he had found the bodies, He said—On near-
ing the bank, and when within seven feet of it, to my great
surprise I saw three children and a woman floating on the
surface of the water. I took the children out of the water,
placed them in the boat, and called to my little boy 10 years
of age, and told him to go to Piper's and tell him to come
and render me some assistance, as there was some one
drowned. I lifted up the woman by the head, and held her
up, and shortly Piper and his man came in a punt and took
her out. They wero all dead when,l found them. The peram-
bulator was about four feet from the water's edge. The
water is a dozen feet deep where the bodies were found. The
baby was floating on his back; the second seemed to be the
same, and the elder one was dipping in the water with the
face downwards. The woman was in the same position as
the last mentioned child. They had all been immersed, and
on rising were kept up by their clothes. The children were
separated from each other, and the woman from all of them.
They formed a kind of group floating. Their hats were off
and in the water. I found a purse in the perambulator. It
contained only three halfpence. There wero two paper
bags, in which had been broken biscuits, and at the bottom
of the perambulator was another halfpenny. The two elder
children had been eating biscuits, and the youngest, from
milk coming out of his mouth, could only a short time be-
fore being thrown into the river have been suckled by the
mother,

James King, a respectable-looking young man, living at
Whittey, said the deceased Emma Legge was my sister,
I saw her on Saturday morning last at half-past 10 o'clock.
I saw the three children on the day mentioned, and that
was the last time I saw them all alive. I did not know her
husband, but I met a man in the street whom I supposed to
be him, from the description given of him to me. 1 spoke to
him, but he said he was not the man. Of my own knowledge
I du not knew whether she was married. She said she was,
and I have reason to believe she was stating the truth. She
gave me one day last week the address of her husband's
brother at Tunbridge-wells, and by her desire I wrote to him
to inquire if he had gone back there to work, but no answer
was received. I was in Australia about 17 years. and re-
turned on the 19th of June last. Since that time I have
seen my sister four or five times. She came to Reading on
the Ist A ugust, and her husband took lodgings for her at
the Rising Sun Her husband did net stay there with her,
but went and got a bed at the Spread Eagle. He did not
return to her again. She told me she thought her husband
had gone away drinking, and that she had very little money
left. She did not know what ho was going to do about ,