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Founded in 1842, The
Illustrated London News is the granddaddy of the weekly
illustrated-newspapers. As a young man, Frank Leslie (born Henry Carter) worked for
the publication as an engraver for six years before immigrating in
1848 to the United States, where he founded Frank Leslie’s
Illustrated Newspaper in 1855.
HarpWeek has selected and
presents the content (about 8%) of The London Illustrated News
relating to the United States (or “America,” as it was referred to
after the Civil War began). As a foreign publication, it offers a distinct viewpoint and
valuable insight concerning press coverage of the American Civil War,
which are not obtainable from any other primary source.
The diplomatic position of
Great Britain was a vital interest to both the Union and the
Confederate states. The
South believed that “King Cotton” (English reliance on Southern
cotton) would prove a powerful economic incentive for the British
government to recognize Confederate independence.
Meanwhile, the Lincoln administration worked diligently to
prevent such an occurrence. Although
many in the British working class favored the Union cause (especially
after the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863), the ruling
class leaned heavily toward the Confederacy, and it is the latter
perspective, which is reflected in The Illustrated London News.
Its news stories and editorials present the unfolding
diplomatic and economic machinations of the three sides—Britain, the
Union, and the Confederacy—as well as the contentious issue of the
refitting of Confederate warships in British ports.
In addition, The
Illustrated London News published the work of Frank Vizetelly, the
only professional artist who traveled with Confederate armies,
sketching and reporting what he saw.
Although many of Vizetelly’s drawings and descriptive
commentaries never made it past the Union blockade of Confederate
ports, his illustrations and text related to the battles of Vicksburg,
Charleston, Chattanooga, and other incidents did. The publication of Vizetelly’s work in The Illustrated
London News provides a unique visual perspective on the American
Civil War.
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