

Maria von Blüc
er’s

Corus Christi
 
Canseco-Keck History Series
Jerry Thompson, General Editor

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Maria von Blüc
er’s

Corus Christi

            
              ,  –   

By Maria von Blücher

Edited and Annotated by Bruce S. Cheeseman

Foreword by Thomas H. Kreneck

                       •             

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Copyright ©  by Medora F. Blücher,

representing the Charles F. H. von Blücher Family
in the United States
Manufactured in the United States of America
All rights reserved
First edition

The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements

of the American National Standard for Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, .-.
Binding materials have been chosen for durability.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in Publication Data

Blücher, Maria Augusta von, –.

Maria von Blücher’s Corpus Christi : letters from the South Texas
frontier, – / by Maria von Blücher ; edited and annotated by Bruce S.
Cheeseman ; foreword by Thomas H. Kreneck.–st ed.
p. cm.—(Canseco-Keck history series ; no. )
Includes index
 ---x (cloth : alk. paper)
. Blücher, Maria Augusta von, –—Correspondence. . Women
pioneers—Texas—Corpus Christi—Correspondence. . Pioneers—Texas—
Corpus Christi—Correspondence. . German American women—Texas—
Corpus Christi—Correspondence. . Frontier and pioneer life—Texas—
Corpus Christi. . German Americans—Texas—Corpus Christi—Social life
and customs—th century. . Corpus Christi (Tex.)—Social life and
customs—th century. . Corpus Christi (Tex.)—Biography.
I. Cheeseman, Bruce S. II. Title III. Series.
.  
.''—dc 

Photographs courtesy of Charles F.H. von Blücher Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives,
Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

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For
, ,  

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Contents

List of Illustrations 
Foreword by Thomas H. Kreneck 
Preface 
Acknowledgments 


 Prussia 
 Passage to a New Land: America 
 Early Corpus Christi: The s 
 Civil War 
 Reconstruction and Redemption: The s 
 Epilogue 

Notes 
Index 

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List o Illustrations
Children of Maria Augusta Imme and Felix Anton von Blücher
(chart) 
Maria’s Parents, Auguste Kroll Imme and Carl Friedrich Imme 
Drawing of Birkenwäldchen (Birchforest) 
Portrait of young Felix A. von Blücher 
Wedding Photograph of Maria Augusta Imme and Felix A. von
Blücher 
Maria Augusta Imme von Blücher 
Corpus Christi, Texas, ca.  
Painting of the first Corpus Christi Blücher Homestead 
Maria (Mary) Felicia von Blücher 
James Downing, ca. s 
Maria Augusta Imme von Blücher, ca. s 
Richard Paul and Carl (Charles) Friedrich Harvey von Blücher,
ca. late s 
Letterhead of Felix A. Blücher & Co.,  
Caroline Cottage, home of George Kill-Mar, ca. s 
Felix A. von Blücher Surveying Party, South Texas, ca. early s 
Maria Augusta Imme von Blücher, ca. – 
Felix A. von Blücher, ca.  
George Anton von Blücher, ca.  
Julia Augusta von Blücher, ca.  
Funeral Notice of Felix A. von Blücher,  
Funeral Notice of Maria Augusta von Blücher,  

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Children o Maria Auusta Imme

& Felix Anton von Blücher
Felix Anton von Blücher
(‒)
Maria Augusta Imme
(‒)

Maria Felicia Julia Augusta Carl Friedrich Richard Paul

(Mary) (‒) (Charles) (‒)
(‒) (‒)

George Anton Anna Elizabeth

(‒) (‒)

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Forewor

Maria von Blücher’s Corpus Christi: Letters from the South Texas Frontier, –
 represents the successful convergence of family dedication, professional
talent, and a university’s commitment to fostering historical scholarship of its
region. Foremost, this volume stands as testimony to the vision of several de-
scendants of Felix A. von Blücher and Maria Imme von Blücher to have a
book produced on the lives of their forebears based on the letters that Maria
had written to her parents. These descendants—specifically Claudia Blücher
Harrel, Mary Julia Blücher Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Blücher, Jr., and
Gloria Blücher Alexander—brought forward the idea for this study from a
sense of family pride and from an appreciation of Felix and Maria’s role in
Corpus Christi and South Texas. Not only did they conceive of the project,
but they also generously provided its financial support. As important, they
guided its progress and displayed great insight and perseverance during its
completion.
Second, Bruce Cheeseman has exercised considerable editorial and writing
talents. As he notes in the preface, the items included in this volume represent
only a sampling (slightly less than half ) of the more than two hundred letters
that Maria sent home during her thirty years of correspondence. A longtime
student of South Texas history, especially of its nineteenth-century ranching
frontier, Cheeseman brought to bear his wealth of knowledge in selecting the
most appropriate letters to give the reader an informative, comprehensive, but
manageable story of the Blüchers’ world. Cheeseman effectively accomplishes
his role as editor, which is no small task when one considers the varied nature
of family correspondence. He masterfully links these documents together with
well-written commentary in each chapter.
Regarding professional expertise, profuse recognition must also be given
to Arnoldo De León, C. J. “Red” Davidson professor of history at Angelo
State University. In the latter stages of the project, he lent his keen editorial
skills in bringing this book to publication. Professor De León’s participation
is yet another example of his many contributions to fostering Texas historical

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scholarship. Thanks are likewise extended to Richard J. Hatch, Sr., Corpus

Christi attorney and devotee of Texas history, for the courtesies he extended
during the Blücher project.
Third, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi is most gratified to have its
connection to this volume, principally as the home of the letters of Maria von
Blücher and as a catalyst for the book’s production. As Bruce Cheeseman also
points out, Maria’s letters are a seminal though small part of the much larger
holding formally known as the Charles F. H. von Blücher Family Papers in
the Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Bell Library’s Special Collections and Ar-
chives. Donated to the university by the family, the Blücher papers are volu-
minous and span several generations. These papers not only contain personal
and business items but also the massive body of surveying records developed
by three generations of Blüchers who served as Nueces County surveyors:
Felix A. von Blücher, his son Charles F. H. von Blücher, and grandson Conrad
M. Blücher. Maria’s letters provide an example of the invaluable nature of the
entire Blücher Papers. They are a significant research resource for many differ-
ent constituencies.
Maria von Blücher’s Corpus Christi has appeal for a broad range of people,
from the most scholarly reader to someone interested simply in compelling
historical literature. The viewpoint of a refined, educated German immigrant
woman, it represents women’s history and literature at a fundamental level. As
such, the book adds an important dimension to our understanding of nine-
teenth-century life in a town and region of Texas that are rich in tradition and
lore but in need of historical analysis and available printed primary sources.
The Blücher name has a special meaning for Corpus Christi and South
Texas due to the family’s many years of contributions to the area. This volume
brings to life the two people and their children who first sank those productive
roots in our soil.
Thomas H. Kreneck
Associate Director for Special Collections and Archives
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

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Preface

Early on the evening of June , , Maria Augusta Imme von Blücher sat
comfortably on the top deck of the schooner Elbe, at a berth on the Missis-
sippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. A cultured and thoughtful young
woman and a newlywed at twenty-two, she had just accompanied her hus-
band Anton Felix von Blücher on a hazardous eight-week voyage across the
Atlantic Ocean and through the Gulf of Mexico from her native Germany.
Under what she described as a “beautiful, delicious full moon,” she began to
write a letter to her parents in Berlin. “The first lines you receive from me
from my new home,” as the letter begins, initiated a voluminous correspon-
dence that would last well over three decades between a loving daughter in
America and her parents in Germany.1
Maria and her husband would soon establish their residence in the new
frontier settlement of Corpus Christi, Texas, arriving on Wednesday evening,
July , .2 Here, over the next forty-four years until her death on Septem-
ber , , she raised five children, suffered the hardships of droughts and
Indian and bandit raids, and survived the chaos of the American Civil War
and the discomfort of pioneer living.3 Yet she endured and persevered, out-
staying even the strains of pioneering that caused disharmony and unhappi-
ness in her marriage. In the end, she saw to the development of a large and
strong family with roots not only in her homeland of Germany but also in her
new home town of Corpus Christi, to which her descendants became devoted
and which they helped to build into today’s city.4
Maria’s letters to her parents are part of the von Blücher family’s much
larger historical collection (approximately twenty-six linear feet) on deposit at
Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M
University–Corpus Christi. The original letters are in German and cover the
years  to . Maria’s daughter Julia brought the letters back to the family
in Corpus Christi when she returned from Germany in  after an extended
stay.5 Seventy-two years later in  Maria’s granddaughter, Marie Marguer-
ite von Blücher, provided for the translation of the letters into English. Once

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again the letters crossed and recrossed the Atlantic Ocean, this time to Kassel,
Germany, where they were transcribed in longhand by Ernst Nolda and Willy
Witzel, apparently acquaintances of the German von Blüchers.6 In all, there
are  letters and notes, numbering  pages, the great majority of which
were authored by Maria. A few items were written by her husband Felix and
some by associated family members. The letters document and give voice to
the remarkable pioneer experience of Maria von Blücher as an immigrant
from Germany to Corpus Christi and the South Texas frontier in the mid-
nineteenth century.
From a privileged background, Maria was unfamiliar with and unprepared
for the ongoing rigors of pioneer life. Despite her excitement and anticipa-
tion, and the sense of high adventure and newlywed love she shared with her
husband, she was faced in  with the prospect of leaving the familiar for the
unknown. She understood that in the end there was the likelihood of not
returning to Germany. Indeed, she was to experience not only the initial pains
of separation but the later pangs of loneliness and isolation that often pierced
her quiet hours.7
Maria’s letters are a record of the woman’s side of pioneer life.8 They pic-
ture deprivations, cruel hardships, sacrifices, and dangers. They are not a
chronicle of political events or economic developments, although they do offer
insight into these areas of the frontier period of Corpus Christi. Nor are the
letters a history by a keen observer or the interpretation of an insightful ana-
lyst. Rather, they stand as a personal account of the pioneer experience, de-
scribed by one for whom “history” was nothing more than daily life. They
provide an intimate look inside the homes and ranches, the schools and farm-
yards, the stores and churches of early Corpus Christi. They examine families
and friendships, communities and congregations, sewing circles and social
unions. Maria’s is a history written through loneliness and deprivation but
guided by courage and stamina. In her life she joined all of the courageous
pioneer women who helped to lay the foundations of our communities.9
The letters also serve as elegant testimony to the role played by Germans in
the settlement of South Texas. Although interest in the history of “the Ger-
man Texans” has attracted a variety of interpreters from the ranks of many
different professions, Maria’s letters add to a solid and diverse foundation of
primary source materials.10 Moreover, as Maria points out, all pioneers of South
Texas, a region best described as “a wild and vivid land,” were subjected not
just to the normal hazards of the frontier but to an almost unparalleled succes-
sion of special calamities: constant political and racial conflicts with Mexico;

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guerrilla and Indian raids; “that great blast of ruin and destruction,” the Ameri-
can Civil War; and a taxing setting with hot winds, droughts, prairie fires,
torrential rains, and yellow fever. Moreover, all these persecutions of nature
were accompanied by the scourge of man in the form of outlaws, thieves, and
the “murderous and drunken riffraff of the border.”11 Those who stuck it out
became Texans, part of a mythical community set apart by ordeal and survival.
Texas itself became “no mere geographical expression, but a state of mind, a
religion, and a philosophy in one.”12 And Maria, who survived the state’s repu-
tation of being “hell on horses and women,” wrote about it with such vividness
and precision.13
Even more important is Maria’s utter frankness about the more private and
uncomfortable facets of her everyday life. She is honest about such intimate
topics as pregnancy, childbirth, death, and love, and not only in the euphe-
misms of the time. She addresses such sensitive issues as child rearing, race
relations, family health questions; and, even more personal, the effects of Felix’s
drinking and his prolonged absences from home, which caused her eventual
estrangement from her husband. This alienation also led to her gradual as-
sumption of the management of the household and family affairs. She learned
the skills of home, garden, and field; how to use and care for firearms; how to
hunt and fish; how to plant, cultivate, and harvest garden crops; how to care
for livestock; how to ride a horse and gee and haw at mules and donkeys; and
how to work with neighbors in forging her own community. In short Maria, a
former “Belle of Berlin” who had come to Texas accustomed to German privi-
lege and a domestic life supported by servants, totally unprepared for pioneer
life, learned how to be independent.14
One particular aspect of her European education, however, stood her in
good stead for the trials she faced. As part of her education in Germany, she
briefly studied piano and music under the virtuoso Franz Liszt.15 She came to
love Romantic music and the opera. After the Civil War, as Corpus Christi
attempted to recover from its total economic prostration, she would help sup-
port herself and her family by teaching piano and music.16
Maria’s life came full circle in  when she was finally able to travel to
Germany. After twenty-five years apart, she was reunited with her parents
and extended family. Following a visit of almost one year, she returned to
Corpus Christi. Thereafter, she often wrote of her desire to retire to her
beloved homeland for life’s end, but her familial responsibilities precluded
such a move (husband Felix died in , leaving her mistress of the house-
hold). As her children grew, were educated, and moved on to their own lives,

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Maria lived out the last of her years in tranquility, “going on in our quiet way
as ever.”17
How was one to choose among the delightful letters that Maria von Blücher
wrote to her parents—letters reflecting on three decades of South Texas his-
tory? Many of her letters were nothing more than long “laundry lists” of goods
requested to be sent from Germany, reflecting the scarcity of finished prod-
ucts on the South Texas frontier. Constant among her requests were items like
firearms, utensils, hardware, cutlery, glass, paper, and sheet music; dry goods
ranging from plain calico to fine linens, woolens, and silks; notions, furniture,
and a host of seeds and cuttings. Almost all of her letters contain extended
discussions and interrogatives concerning her German relatives, often repeti-
tive in endless detail. As part of the emerging German bourgeoisie in the
mid-nineteenth century, Maria often wrote letters containing unbridled ex-
pressions of prejudice, particularly relating to race and class. My aim in edit-
ing her letters has been to stay faithful to her concerns and to preserve her
character.18
And so the letters, after selection and excision, appear here with their warts,
their occasional embarrassments. What I found distinctive about the collec-
tion is its depiction of ordinary life—the observations of early Corpus Christi
and its environs, the ebb and flow of personal relationships, the diminution of
experience by monotony and its elevation by passion. Even more important,
however, are Maria’s limited descriptions of the great historical events that
loom behind her missives: revolution in Germany; the American Civil War
and Reconstruction; and the political, economic, and social transformations
of Corpus Christi and the South Texas frontier. In this wider sense, Maria’s
letters, taken together, draw unerringly a Texas landscape that is gone forever.
Through a judicious selection process I have attempted to retain what
Fernand Braudel, the great French historian, named “the structures and drift
of everyday life.”19 The book presents a representative selection of letters from
each decade of the collection. As for the technical side of editing, I have relied
entirely on the English translations. Translators Nolda and Witzel were as
conscientious as medieval copyists, and the transcriptions are in clearly writ-
ten and beautiful longhand. I did not chop sentences out of paragraphs or
words out of sentences. Of necessity, however, we have, during the editorial
process, altered the letters’ sequence and syntax whenever we thought them
awkward, unintelligible, or confusing and whenever we believed words too
archaic (we switched “pyramid” to “Christmas tree,” for example) for the mod-
ern-day public. Thus, while the letters are not the exact duplication of the

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translated ones by Nolda and Witzel, I hope they still retain the quality of the
original German when rendered in English. I did take the liberty of deleting
entire paragraphs from the letters where I felt Maria’s conversations were re-
dundant. To avoid slowing down the reading and counteracting the narrative
thrust of the book, I did not indicate where I omitted letters, nor did I use
ellipsis points to signal deletions. My charge from the Blücher family was to
provide a readable narrative. In any case, historical letters are difficult enough
to read because ongoing stories are dispersed across the missives.
Finally, annotation has been limited to brief identifications of major people,
places, events, and allusions when possible. Inasmuch as full source citations
are given in the notes, a bibliography has been omitted. People who want to
read the unedited letters may see the originals in German, as well as the English
translations, at Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

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Acknowledments

After four years of reading and editing the letters of Maria von Blücher, it is
now my turn to do the reminiscing. Many participants in the research and
preparation of this book deserve thanks for their courtesies and for sharing
their enthusiasm, knowledge, and talents. I owe special gratitude to the de-
scendants of Maria von Blücher: Claudia von Blücher Harrel, Mary Julia von
Blücher Jordan, George and Medora (Dodie) von Blücher, and Gloria von
Blücher Alexander, who together have long nurtured the concept of this book.
Moreover, they are responsible for the preservation of these remarkable let-
ters. I am especially grateful to Claudia Harrel for her deep and abiding inter-
est in the creation of this book and in my progress as a writer. Over the years,
our long conversations about her family and early South Texas history have
made the past especially meaningful. In my most trying hours, it was to her
that I often turned for encouragement and inspiration.
Academically, I owe special thanks to Thomas H. Kreneck of Texas A&M
University–Corpus Christi, who provided me with immutable support. His
insight into the frontier period and his critical analysis of these pioneer writ-
ings were particularly valuable. I am especially grateful for his perceptive analysis
of the historical process, for his unending encouragement of my work, and
most of all for his enduring friendship. I also wish to thank the staff of Special
Collection and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M Univer-
sity–Corpus Christi, especially Alva D. Neer, Grace G. Charles, and Jan S.
Weaver. Their professional management of the Charles F. H. von Blücher
Family Papers, high level of cordiality, and archival wisdom provided much
insight on the details of Maria’s letters.
Other individuals contributed materially to the Blücher work. For their
guiding force and patient friendship throughout the writing of this book, I am
indebted to Michelle Francis at the Department of History (Montreat), Pres-
byterian Church (U.S.A.); and Hal Keiner at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville,
North Carolina. Their help extended far beyond the usual professional courte-
sies. George Brown, vice president (now retired) at Kleberg First National

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Bank; Marty West, president of State Bank of Kingsville; and my cousin,

Jerry Luccarella of Pennsville, New Jersey, provided crucial financial assis-
tance that allowed me to complete the work. For their support and belief in
me I shall be forever grateful.
Finally, my deepest appreciation goes to my family, who have shared with
me the joys and the frustrations of writing. I am especially grateful to Brenton
and Kimberly for their sensible advice and steady good humor, and to my
wife, Mary, for her devotion to helping me with the art of living. On my
humble desk her portrait, smiling, urges me onward.
Everyone mentioned was instrumental in improving this book. Any errors
or shortcomings are solely mine.
— Bruce S. Cheeseman

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Maria von Blüc
er’s

Corus Christi

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Prussia

IN THE SECOND QUARTER of the nineteenth century, the King-

dom of Prussia under the leadership of Frederick William IV became, with
Austria, one of the two leading states of the German Confederation.1 It was a
period of enormous social, political, and economic change, unparalleled in the
history of central Europe. For it was during this period that the great break-
through of industrial capitalism occurred, fueling an economic expansion that
produced an upward spiral of growth and prosperity. Germany now crossed
the dividing line between a preindustrial and an industrial form of economy,
and although the rural population still outnumbered the urban, the tendency
toward industrialization and urbanization had become irreversible.2
This in turn had a profound effect on the direction of politics. As wealth
began to shift from farming to manufacturing, from the country to the city,
and from the aristocracy to the newly rich middle class, the pressure for a
redistribution of political power gained strength. Prussian authority in par-
ticular was undermined by the struggle of artisans against industrial mechani-
zation; by the disaffection of peasants and small farmers hungry for land in an
overpopulated agricultural system; and above all, by the criticism of business-
men and university professors who ardently opposed a Prussian government
in which an aristocracy of birth rather than of talent predominated. And at
the center of this caldron of upheaval stood Berlin, Prussia’s capital, with a
growing population of , and in the throes of becoming one of the world’s
greatest cities.3
Into this world of political and social upheaval, and cultural and economic
growth, Maria Augusta Imme was born at Berlin on September , . Un-

[]
             ’             

Maria’s Parents, Auguste Kroll Imme and Carl Friedrich Imme.

Charles F.H. von Blücher Family Papers, Special Collections
and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

fortunately, little is known of her childhood. Her parents, Carl Friedrich and
Marie Auguste Imme, were part of Prussia’s burgeoning propertied middle
class; Maria’s father owned and directed a successful brass factory, and her
mother handled rental property in Berlin.4 The youngest of four children,
Maria obviously enjoyed an excellent education, particularly in music and lit-
erature. She came of age in Berlin, growing up in an imposing town house at
 Commandantenstrasse, one of the finest and most spacious avenues in
Europe. She played in the beautiful Tiergarten park laid out by Frederick the
Great. Her summers and holidays were spent with her extended relatives at a
family-owned waterfront home at Stralow, southeast of the city in the high
hills rising around Müggelsee, the largest lake in greater Berlin.5

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      

Maria’s formative years were spent in a world of upper-class privilege, with

household servants and riding instructors, music tutors and private teachers.
She developed a keen sense for German politics, joining her family as part of
the liberal and moderate opposition to Prussian aristocracy. And for the re-
mainder of her life she would follow with great interest the political affairs of
her homeland.6 At five feet, seven inches tall and a little over one hundred
pounds, with jet black hair, dark eyes, and well-defined Teutonic features, the
educated and refined Maria was recognized by society as one of the leading
“Belles of Berlin.”7
It is unclear exactly when and how Maria met Anton Felix Hans Hellmuth
von Blücher, but her letters indicate that it occurred before his first departure
for America in . They obviously fell madly in love, much to the concern of
Maria’s family and friends, at first. For Felix von Blücher, in spite of a heritage
of Prussian nobility dating back to  (he was a grandnephew of Waterloo
hero Gehard Lebrecht von Blücher), came to Maria’s side with an unsettled
past and an uncertain future.8
Born on November , , at one of the Blücher estates at Poggelow, south-
east of Rostock in the duchy of Mecklenburg, Felix was the son of Karl Wilhelm
and Karoline Hertel von Blücher. His father was a captain in the Prussian
cavalry, and young Felix learned early the lessons of fine horsemanship. How-
ever, his childhood was scarred by a series of personal calamities: his father’s
bankruptcy in , when the family lost Poggelow to creditors and had to
move to Berlin; his parents’ scandalous divorce six years later; and his father’s
suicide in .9 These events, Maria later indicated, left Felix “cold and dis-
tant emotionally.”10
Yet under the tutelage of an aunt, Christine von Blücher Rieben of Güstrow,
Felix excelled academically. In  he entered Berlin’s Friedrich-Wilhelm-
Universität, the largest and most prestigious university in Germany. Founded
in  by the scholar Wilhelm von Humboldt, the campus early attracted
such outstanding thinkers as the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
and the prophet of communism, Karl Marx.11 Here Felix studied civil engi-
neering, law, and languages, and earned both masters (M.A.) and juris doctor
( J.D.) degrees in April, . He would eventually master six languages—
German, Latin, English, Spanish, French, and Italian—which would later
always stand him in good stead as an interpreter. At the university, a center of
Prussia’s revolutionary activity, Felix joined the democrats or radicals who
openly demanded the overthrow of the Prussian monarchy. He edited a radi-
cal newspaper, and as a spokesman of this ideal he risked imprisonment. Early

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             ’             

Drawing of Birkenwäldchen (Birchforest), the home where Felix A. von Blücher was
raised in the Tiergarten district of Berlin. Charles F.H. von Blücher Family Papers,
Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

in August, , he had to flee Berlin for America. He arrived in New Orleans
with only forty thalers in his pocket.12
Teaching German at night and keeping the books of a hotel for free room
and board, Felix survived and eventually found employment as a draftsman in
a shipyard. He made a wide range of contacts among the German population
in New Orleans, and in  joined Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels in Texas
as an interpreter and engineer. He helped the prince lay out the town of New
Braunfels, acted as an interpreter in the signing of John O. Meusebach’s treaty
with the Comanche Indians, and then served with both the United States
Army and the Texas Rangers during the Mexican War. Acting as an inter-
preter for both the United States military and the Mexican government, he
earned what he described as a “brilliant salary.”13
At war’s end, Felix determined to return to Berlin to ask for Maria’s hand
in marriage. After spending “two months bear hunting and catching wild prairie
horses,” he left Texas and arrived in Berlin in early February, .14 Prior to
leaving the Lone Star State, however, he had visited Corpus Christi, a new

[]
      

settlement on the Gulf Coast being energetically promoted as “Little Naples”

by its founder, Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney. Felix and Kinney became
fast friends, and Felix decided Corpus Christi would be the seat of his future
endeavors upon his return with Maria.15
In order to reenter Prussia, however, Felix apparently had to make amends
with the royal government. This he accomplished on February , , when
at an audience in Berlin with His Royal Highness, the Prince of Prussia, Wil-
liam I, he presented the future king (later to be the first emperor of unified
Germany) with gifts from afar: “a magnificent Mexican saddle; two ‘wolf-
blankets’; one lasso; one pair of spurs; one horse whip; one silver bridle with

Portrait of young Felix A. von Blücher. Copy of original in Charles F.H.

von Blücher Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary
and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Courtesy of Mary Julia Blücher Jordan.

[]
             ’             

Wedding Photograph of Maria Augusta Imme and Felix A.

von Blücher. Charles F. H. von Blücher Family Papers, Special
Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

[]
      

bit; and one elaborate saddle blanket of striped cloth.”16 It is not known if
Felix and Prince William discussed politics, but apparently his penance was
successful. On March , , Felix von Blücher and Maria Augusta Imme
were married in Berlin.
They immediately departed for Hamburg to secure passage to a new life in
Corpus Christi. Accompanied by two carpenters, Messrs. Büsse and Schünke,
who were to help build their new home, Felix and Maria did not travel light.
Six large trunks, numerous chests and bags, and Maria’s beloved piano had to
be carefully packed and shipped. Maria’s letters describing her journey to
Hamburg are filled with a sense of wonder and excitement. She described the
towns visited along the way, Schwerin and Güstrow; marveled at the recep-
tions held for her and Felix by her new relatives at the Blücher castles of
Teschow and Sukow; and commented on the state of affairs she found through-
out the duchy of Mecklenburg. She and Felix rode horses over Blücher lands;
attended the opera at Schwerin; and observed with rapt attention the political
debates of the National Assembly of the German Confederation. They drank
and ate well; laughed together; and planned their future in Texas. Maria was
obviously very much in love.17
Yet her anticipation of the high adventure that lay before her was tempered
by the pain of separation. Seeing her father one last time in Hamburg shortly
before her departure brought a flood of family memories into her mind. When
she and Felix celebrated the Easter holiday with a sailing excursion and an
Easter egg tea, she could think only of her family at Stralow. As their ship
navigated the Elbe River and headed west out into the open North Sea, it is
clear that Felix and Maria braced themselves with excitement and fear of the
transoceanic passage ahead.18

Schwerin, March , 19

Dear Mother,
In vain did I seek a quiet quarter of an hour to write some lines to you
during our stay at Schwerin. Felix’s sister welcomed us so kindheartedly and
has engaged our time so fully that it is often too much for me.20 Though the
events up to now have been of minor importance, I shall describe the course
of the days to you a little. We arrived at Schwerin on Thursday at  o’clock.
Because the most respectable hotel is totally crammed, we had to be content
with a small room on the th floor; the arrangement became somewhat
difficult for us. If you take half the length of our room at Stralow and the

[]
             ’             

Maria Augusta Imme von Blücher. Charles F.H. von Blücher Family Papers,
Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

same width, and place there  trunks, different seamed bags, persons, bed
tables, sofa,  washstands, wardrobes, stove, and chest of drawers—it was in
silent despair that we looked at each other, but the situation was too ridicu-
lous to vex ourselves about it. Up to Saturday evening we bore this fatality,
then we got the most magnificent reward, getting room no.  on the first
floor. We now have enough space to risk a little gallopade every evening,

[  ]
      

which of course takes place only between Felix and myself. The slowness
and imperfection of the Schwerin servants you must have experienced
yourself to comprehend it.21 My Felix is about to overfeed me. At : A.M. I
polish off  cups of very good coffee,  rolls with butter,  soft-boiled eggs
(sometimes ), and delicious fine baked goods. We eat an excellent dinner,
drink good wine at the table every day (the wine not being encumbered
with taxes in Mecklenburg), then good coffee together with baked goods.
Always nervous that we have eaten too much, we take a walk or a ride. The
surrounding country is so beautiful that even Dresden cannot boast of the
like.22 The whole town is alongside a big lake,  miles wide, with nice
clumps of trees and some hills adding much in embellishing the town. I
have even sampled the real “Wood Castle Ale” and excellent “Berlin
doughnuts.” Our physical and spiritual welfare have been well attended to
here.
On Friday we paid a visit to the National Assembly, which riveted our
attention most agreeably for  hours.23 On Sunday we were in the theater
where they performed Prince Eugene, the Noble Knight, an opera as tedious
as it is childish. The players, however, are very good, the orchestra is
excellent, and the theater about a quarter of the size of Berlin’s theater, but
with  upper circles and a large Royal Box. We had a good view of every-
thing. On the other hand we had the pleasure of being pierced by a hundred
pairs of opera glasses, for a stranger is always an interesting case there, as
most intercourse is with the landowners of the neighborhood. Schwerin is
not a disagreeable place, only there are continual fogs and persistent humid-
ity, which are certainly a nuisance.24
My darling Mother and Father, you cannot complain that my letter is
not very copious. Felix, too, will soon send some lines. Thus, consider
yourselves all heartily greeted. How are you all? Did you get through March
th without excitement?25 Unfortunately it is very difficult to get the Berlin
newspapers. Take to keeping a diary so that I too can see what wonderful
things are happening to you!
Visiting Dr. Wentzlaff and Marie is a great pleasure.26 Our interchange
with them is without stiff formalities. She is a very charming and pretty
woman who, it seems to me, has drawn the indignation of her relatives
because of this marriage. At any rate, Dr. Wentzlaff is a very clever man, but
as a schoolmaster does not play a prominent part in Schwerin. They there-
fore have no intercourse with anybody in Schwerin, which neither of them
seems to miss as the most tenderhearted relations rule between this couple.

[  ]
             ’             

Both musical, they have a very fine grand piano and exquisite music, as well
as nice books, and from the sofa in their living room we have the most
beautiful view across the big lake and castle park of a neighboring coffee
house—which, however, was not built in our usual way but with columns,
porticos, and a snow-white whitewash.
I am also beginning to learn English now. When in the evening we have
eaten our excellent beefsteak with anchovy and drunk a glass of Madeira, I
seize and diligently study the English book.
Felix’s watch goes excellently well, which gives him much pleasure. As
Felix wishes that in the morning I shall always wash with cold water, he
went out and bought me a mighty fine washing sponge. If you could
manage to send me recipes from your cookery book, you would give me
great joy. The cuttings of the oranges that Father gave me on our departure
are well preserved and shall be planted at Corpus Christi; I will be thrilled if
they succeed.
Let me cease for today. Keep well and give my most cordial greetings to
all, for it is difficult to name all whom I wish to include. If Papa should
come to Hamburg, Felix will let you know where we shall take up lodgings.
By the th, however, we certainly shall be there. Please, do try to find time
to write to me, for it would give me much joy. Greet Father very, very much
from me! If the sack and the bag with all the seeds from Aunt Spitz has
arrived, please send it to me for we miss it in our trunks.
Give our greetings also to Felix’s family when you speak to them, but do
not show them this letter as I deem it “superfluous.” Farewell, and once
more many greetings from Felix and me to the whole Imme family circle.
Your—Maria
n

Hamburg, April , 27

Dear, beloved Mother,
On Thursday, March , we safely arrived at Hamburg after having had to
wait seven hours at Hagenow for the train from Berlin. Unfortunately, a
freight carriage had malfunctioned, and five others had then been derailed
after it. How worrying these hours were, you may imagine, dear Mother, as
I rightly supposed that Father might be doing the same in Hamburg
(waiting).
We met each other at once while disembarking; I still thought that you,
dear Mother, would be at the hotel, as I knew that for the first no ship

[  ]
      

would leave for New Orleans and that probably a fortnight might pass, I
had anxiously longed for still seeing you, and believe me that I permanently
am thinking: if only Mother would also be here. How without end I enjoyed
the pictures for which I say my heartiest, best thanks to you and Julius and
Anna.28 Indeed, it is difficult to decide where to begin with my thanks, for
you have provided me so amply with all things. The baked goods and the
gingerbread, as well as the poppy seed, and then the brilliant Easter cake
gave me much pleasure; and especially your dear letter, from which I see
that you are hale and hearty. I thank you with all my heart for these signs of
the love you have for me and, I hope, will keep for me. I expect that we shall
have to spend Easter time still at Hamburg, whereupon the nice cake will
ensure a really festive day.
Now, my beloved Mother, let me tell you something of our Mecklenburg
trip that will certainly interest you. So: On Tuesday evening we arrived at
Güstrow, a little town  miles from Schwerin, where we were received by two
domestic servants of Mrs. von Rieben, a -year-old Aunt of Felix’s (his
father’s sister).29 The Aunt welcomed us most lovingly and amicably; a
delicious supper awaited us, the kind the Mecklenburgers’ hospitality re-
quires. Felix’s Aunt is a very active, tall and robust lady, rather like old
Madam Clar in figure and as humorous as she. Right away I felt as if she
were an old acquaintance. There we stayed on Wednesday and till Thursday
at  A.M., when we started for Teschow, promising to revisit Aunt on the way
back.30 She loaded us for the trip so amply! For instance, she gave me a nice
roller cushion for my neck, a very fine porcelain flacon, two large table cloths
of linen, a big silver needle, two lace needles with several pins, and several
lace patterns, and she also taught me how to use them. She loves my Felix
very much, but has an irrevocable hatred for his mother, which, according to
the claims of the other family members, seems to me much justified.31
On Thursday after a four-hour drive we arrived at Teschow, where we
were also very warmly welcomed by the whole family. Felix’s Uncle is a man
in the fifties, very, very tall and a little robust, of most noble appearance and
manners; his wife, the second, is in her early thirties, very well educated and
amiable, witty and cordial; and in this the younger sister, Louise von
Dewitz, who is very rich, carefree and sprightly, is in no way her inferior.32
Gustav, the eldest son, is owner of an estate and came to Teschow on Friday
morning, as did the younger son, who came from Halle, both of them very nice
young men.33 Two little daughters of  and  years as well as a governess, 
chambermaids and  servant girls, huntsmen, and other servants make up

[  ]
             ’             

the inhabitants of the castle. Even at a prince’s home in Berlin, they perhaps
scarcely have an inkling of such a household; the most splendid and elegant
dinners, fine carriages with  horses in front with a huntsmen, etc., are
indispensable there. They went to so much trouble that I quite decidedly
declined a chambermaid. Louise always came three or four times while I
was dressing to send me someone for assistance. Felix and I occupied  very
fine rooms on the first floor, furnished in royal luxury. The same was the
case at Sukow, the ancestral castle of the Blüchers, where we drove for
dinner on Sunday; and if our departure had not been firmly planned and
fixed for Monday, we should have had to stay there.34 I can assure you of
one thing: it is not possible to treat a person with more love and distinction
than I was shown from all sides.
At  o’clock we met for breakfast, where we sat together till  o’clock,
then took a look around the world of this castle: garden, livestock, rural
buildings, dairy, creamery, fruit-loft, etc., etc. I toured everything with
Uncle, Louise and Felix. We scared up several lambs,  young hens, tiny
chicks just a few days old, swans; everything imaginable is there; you cannot
picture all this abundance. I also watched someone churning butter from
scratch. On Monday I took a ride with Louise Dewitz, who is an excellent
horsewoman and as such has acquired some fame in Mecklenburg. Uncle
has magnificent horses. My horse was led by Gustav, and Felix, too, was at
my side. We began slowly and ended up a trot. Oh, that was splendid! All of
them are so infinitely fond of my darling Felix and greatly appreciate his
knowledge.
The other day Aunt related to me how badly Felix’s mother had acted—
the fine estate that Felix’s parents had owned has been ruined through her
negligent management.35 Felix’s father’s  brothers each received an estate
and , thalers, and they have been happy and become very rich people,
distinguished state officials in Mecklenburg.36 Of  brothers and sisters,
only this one, Felix’s mother, ended up badly when her affair with Kill-Mar
began.37 Aunt also related to me how she had let the children starve and
suffer great want and hunger in order to devote herself to her own pleasure.
When she divorced their father, the children were dreadfully maltreated.38
Well, you can now see why the Kill-Mar does not show herself in Mecklen-
burg, and that I must lavish upon my Felix the love he has always been
denied. But you all, too, must love him very much, won’t you?
I am not able to go on writing as it is already very late and as I feel rather
fatigued! Good-bye till tomorrow, and give my love a thousand times to all,

[  ]
      

all, etc., etc., very heartily, just don’t forget anyone, and tell them I shall be
writing soon. Did you forget the recipes? Farewell!
Your—Maria
n
Hamburg, in the ferry-house
April , , at  P.M.
Beloved Parents,
The designation of the place and the unusual hour will no doubt have
alerted you that we are on the point of beginning our further journey. Felix
has found a very good, large, and almost new ship called the Elbe, and has
signed a contract for our passage under very favorable terms. My dear
Father, you can rest your mind about Felix not taking sufficient care. Like
Julius, he is the soul of caution. Mr. Büsse and Mr. Schünke will go by the
same ship, but between-decks, which makes a great difference.39 As there are
not many saloon passengers, we each got a private cabin. Our things have
been safely taken aboard. Felix has been kept much on the move, as he
wished to be present as much as possible.
I should like to have written a lot more to you, dear Mother, but it has
been impossible, for the day before yesterday Felix signed, and there still
remained much for me to do, as the holidays had prevented little errands
and purchases, and it was not possible to complete them before; [they had
to be done now] in case we should go to Le Havre or Bremen, which would
have been useless for this.40
As there was easterly wind till this morning, such a quick start could not
be considered, but suddenly toward noon today Felix came and announced
that very favorable wind had begun and we would be taken in tow with the
steamboat. I still needed to buy some things and then packed without
interruption till : in the evening; of course I had to pack Felix’s things
too, as he had to attend to much more urgent matters that he could not
leave to other people. While I am writing Felix is occupied with taking our
trunks aboard, which requires much time. In Hamburg, everything is so
troublesome. At the gate they wanted to investigate all our trunks, fearing
we might be exporting dutiable goods, which of course caused a great delay.
How I thought of you, Mother and Father, and all our household, over
the holidays; you certainly were at Stralow on Sunday! My Felix, to remind
me of our Stralow parties, had hired a very fine sailing boat, had then
fetched me, and with the finest wind we had a very agreeable sailing party.

[  ]
             ’             

On the second holiday, we had been invited to a party at a merchant’s

house; there at : A.M. we took a walk with a great company to the Elbe
River, west of Hamburg, and saw the fine hothouses, etc. Then we went
back to our host’s house for tea and eggs at  o’clock in the afternoon.
Every day on the ship I shall write something to you and send it to you at
the first opportunity! I was not able to answer the letters of my dear girl-
friends—give them my best love and greet them all, all many thousand
times from me! I thank you very much for the recipes! You would do me a
great favor, my dear Father, if you would inform Aunt of our departure, and
if you should see any of Felix’s family, greet them many times! It will be only
a short time now that I remain anywhere near you, but in my thoughts we
will surely be together often! Be of good cheer, my dear, dear Mother, and I
hope we shall yet see each other again! You must pardon me if this letter is
insufficient in every respect, but the greatest haste and, at the same time,
fatigue will make you pardon me for not having sent you something more
complete.
Now farewell and often remember me who will not be granted to hear
from you so soon! Give my love to all, greet my brothers and sisters many
times, all from your
—Maria

[P.S.] Felix begs to greet you a thousand times and sends you farewells! I am
much alarmed that he does not feel quite well, which is not surprising given
all the running he has had to do; he is very hoarse!
Farewell! Maria

[  ]
              

Passae to a
New Lan
:America

FOR EIGHT LONG WEEKS the Elbe plowed across the Atlantic
Ocean, through the Straits of Florida, and into the Gulf of Mexico and the
Mississippi River to arrive at New Orleans on June , . The passage was as
horrendous as Maria had feared. Just three days out to sea the ship encoun-
tered a severe storm in the English Channel and the “first steersman” was
swept overboard. During the second week of the journey a fever ravaged both
crew and passengers, claiming a young girl, who was then “thrown overboard.”
This burial at sea horrified Maria. She wrote that “such a simple way of burying
a person never occurred to me; even the memory of it is highly disagreeable.”1
Their travel companions Büsse and Schünke, who berthed between-decks by
contrast with Felix and Maria’s first-class accommodations, suffered terribly from
seasickness and fever. Powerful thunderstorms across the Gulf of Mexico flooded
even the saloon cabins and “bathed” Maria in rain water. All of this occurred
on top of what Maria called “a vessel badly organized beyond all comprehen-
sion.”2 Yet she persevered, proudly relating to her parents that “I have not
been seasick and am feeling hale and hearty.”3 Moreover, she was amazed at
what she saw along the banks of the Mississippi. New Orleans and the “Ameri-
cans” captivated her.4
In  New Orleans was in the throes of explosive growth, full of vibrancy
and river commerce. The city’s population totaled ,, swelled by German
and Irish immigrants who had begun arriving in large numbers earlier in the

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             ’             

decade.5 With the advent of the steamboat, the wealth of the American con-
tinent was carried down the Mississippi and spread out on the levees and
docks of New Orleans. In rural Louisiana and across the Deep South the
plantation system was at the peak of its success, gained through slave labor.
Commerce on the Mississippi River and prosperity on the plantations caused
a flood of gold that had New Orleans rated the fourth port in the world: total
river and international trade in  were valued at almost  million.6
This enormous trade brought merchants (and smugglers) from around the
globe. French, Spanish, German, Irish, Mexican, Creole, and American mer-
chants competed ruthlessly against one another. The city was already renowned
as “extravagantly gay.”7 Royal Street was lined with gambling houses. Canal
Street was filled with magnificent mansions. Theater and opera flourished.
There were balls every night. The Mardi Gras festivities had begun and were
growing more lavish every year. Indeed, the city was already famous for the art
of high living, as it is today. And of course bankrupts, escaped criminals, army
deserters, gamblers, whores, and swindlers all helped to set the tone, as did
thousands of settlers and vagrants from all parts of the United States who
were passing through the city heading west to the goldfields of California.8
Maria could scarcely have chosen a more appropriate city for her first view
of the American experience. Like other European observers, she was aston-
ished at the industriousness of the Americans and at how often and how much
they ate.9 She saw slaves for the first time and endured the heat and humidity.
She came to meet many of Felix’s earlier German acquaintances as well as
several of his Texas friends. She was proud that her husband was so well known,
and she listened attentively as he and his friends told tales of their Mexican
War days. She continued to study English, not yet having quite mastered it,
and spoke mostly French with her husband. As Felix scurried about making
arrangements for the voyage to Corpus Christi, she busied herself adding house-
hold provisions to their trunks and repacking her piano.10
Maria’s letters from New Orleans capture this vibrancy, rawness, and new-
ness. Yet it is doubtful that her experiences in this great American city pre-
pared her for the next leg of her journey. Although New Orleans was vastly
different from Berlin, it was nonetheless a metropolis with a high degree of
culture. No such claims, however, could be made under any circumstances for
the new settlement of Corpus Christi and the wild South Texas frontier.
Maria and Felix departed New Orleans on July , , in a “little schooner”
and cleared the mouth of the Mississippi at noon the following day.11 She was
aghast at the cost of this excursion (“We had to pay  a person and 

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              

freight!”). Heading southwest across the Gulf of Mexico, the eight-day voy-
age turned out to be a nightmare. This time Maria was seasick the entire trip,
and the vessel stuck fast on the bar at the entrance to Corpus Christi Bay.
After lightering to a coastal boat, which also ran aground for several hours,
Maria and Felix, their carpenters, trunks, furniture, and piano arrived at Cor-
pus Christi on Wednesday evening, July . Here, together, they began to build
their life “at the place we were striving for.”12
Corpus Christi in  was the domain of Henry Lawrence Kinney, de-
scribed as a “hustler in the wilderness,” who had founded the settlement a
decade earlier.13 It was not yet legally incorporated as a town, nor had it been
surveyed and platted. Although it had gone through a boom during the Mexi-
can War, at war’s end Corpus Christi had quickly reverted to its status as a
haven for smugglers engaged in illicit trade with Mexico.14 At the time of
Maria and Felix’s arrival in , Corpus Christi had some  inhabitants
scattered among  dwellings, including one free black,  slaves,  men
stationed in a frontier army unit,  farmers,  herdsmen, and  laborers.15
The population was predominantly Mexican American, with new arrivals com-
ing from Germany, Ireland, England, and Scotland. The town’s basic wealth
stemmed from trade with Mexico and from the livestock of the Nueces River
Valley and the vast Rio Grande Plain. Great herds of cattle, horses, sheep,
mules, and goats would eventually nurture the town’s economy.16
The visible manifestation of this wealth was a series of imposing houses
standing high above the town along the forty-foot bluff rimming Corpus
Christi Bay. The first residences and the business district had been built lower
down near the shore, but the town’s showplaces viewed the bay across the
roofs of the business buildings. These well-built houses of the few, however,
formed only an elegant facade; the area immediately behind them on the plains
to the west consisted of small Mexican jacales with thatched roofs and dirt
floors.17
Surprisingly, Maria embraced the harshness of this frontier settlement. She
was at first delighted rather than dismayed by the surrounding wilderness.
She of course had the advantage of being taken in immediately by the town’s
leading families, as Felix was already well known to Kinney and others. Her
letters describing Corpus Christi in its formative period provide new primary
sources on the town’s early development. She threw herself into helping Felix
establish their homestead and into learning the duties of a pioneer wife. Her
letters reflect the newness and excitement of it all, and she provides vivid descrip-
tions of the abundance of nature that surrounded her.18 The endless drudgery

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             ’             

Corpus Christi, Texas, ca. . Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell
Library, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

and labor of pioneering and subsistence living, the dangers and harsh realities
of life in South Texas, and the never ceasing loneliness and separation from
family and friends were yet to come. For Maria, it was all too new.

New Orleans, June , 

Beloved Parents,
The first lines you receive from me from my new home are as unsatisfactory
as the last from Hamburg; our departure was so sudden that I had not the
time or peace to write to you in detail, beloved Parents. We safely arrived at
New Orleans on the th after  weeks of fighting the tribulations of a vessel
badly organized beyond all comprehension—but she was the last to under-
take this passage to America (under a neutral flag). You may perhaps form
an idea when I say that during the thunderstorms we had in the last week,
all day and all night, the rain came through to such a degree that despite
placing canvas, mattresses,  woolen blankets, etc., in the uppermost berth
(in Felix’s bed), my face was nevertheless soon bathed with heavy drops and

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              

by and by the rest of my body in rain water. On our arrival I felt much
alarmed to find such bad news from Germany and that even our beautiful
Dresden had to bleed.19 Though I did everything I could to procure exact
news about the state of things at Berlin, still it was not possible. God
willing, however, you escaped every danger.20 I have been especially con-
cerned about the health of my dear, good Mother. Don’t forget to write to
me as much as possible of how you are.
I have not been seasick and am feeling hale and hearty, though yesterday
evening at  o’clock it was  degrees in the shade. The next letter shall
contain an exact description of my voyage, which you will find by no means
dull. We are lodging here at Contis Hotel, which is managed by Germans
who nursed Felix with great care during his illness. America is of course a
country you don’t easily forget once you have been there. I can’t imagine
anything more beautiful than the banks of the Mississippi, which are
occupied by the finest plantations, if not the healthiest. For two days you
steam alongside them as the American steamboat passes up the river, which
for the most part here is as wide as the Elbe, passing the finest trees of the
most wonderful fresh green color unlike anything we know at home. The
owners’ houses are palaces, the gardens having high oleander trees, orange
walks, etc. The trees, entwined with forest vines and Spanish moss and
under which here and there an alligator lies in the sun, are heavenly to look
at.21 Tonight we had a delicious full moon over the Mississippi, so beautiful
that I have been sitting on the deck the whole night long. I only regret that
you, my dear, beloved Parents, could not see and enjoy these beautiful sights
with me. You cannot form an idea of the elegance and the gracefulness of
the Americans. The schooners going by are surpassingly neat and elegant.
The sailors are almost all handsome men with long black hair and mus-
taches, wearing fine white shirts, white or black trousers, gleaming shoes
and broad round straw hats. The customs boats with their white sails and
canopies, perhaps the size of Felix’s boat, look more like elegant toys than
like something created for use. Every workman is neatly clothed with white
day-shirt, straw hat and white or black trousers.
Life is quite different here in every respect from that in Europe. Every
morning at  o’clock there is a market in big vaulted halls, or rather it takes
place from  o’clock A.M. to  noon. At  o’clock nearly everyone goes there
to look at the slaves or to have coffee and beignets, etc. At  o’clock there is
breakfast at the hotel, where all imaginable hot meals are served, also
including fruit like bananas, pecan nuts, grapes, raisins, almonds, apples,

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             ’             

melons, peaches, etc. Everything conceivable is set out there, and then there
is coffee with fine cream and perfectly fresh butter. Oranges are extremely
cheap and juicy. All day long they drink ice, seltzer water, red wine with
sugar; they don’t drink anything without ice. Ice by the pound costs ½ cent,
 cents making a dollar. At  o’clock is dinner, when once more the table
is laid with  things. From  o’clock they again go out!22
For my part, I have only been in the street twice in eight days, on Sunday
to have a look at a wonderful garden in our neighborhood, which is a little
larger than our yard but provided with the most beautiful flowers, shrubs,
and garlands of vine. Figs and grapes dangle most invitingly! The garden is
around a circular terrace, in the center of which rises a little fountain. There
we ate ice cream, which is cheaper than at home.
We have made a very agreeable acquaintance in our hotel: Prince Paul of
Wittenberg, the famous natural explorer, now devoted to Felix.23 This old
gentleman might have been of great advantage to us, as he is traveling with
an old servant in order to find, if possible, a place to settle. It concerns me
that he wished to stay with my husband, but who knows whether during his
journey something else besides Felix may appeal to him more. He has with
him the finest instruments for land surveying and measuring distance,
which is very advantageous in Texas, and provisions for  years. He has
already been here once, about  years ago, and then he went to Egypt; he
has visited in all parts of the world. He is also a medical man, having gotten
his medical degree from Stuttgart.
Felix is very sad that he lost his fine horse. The son-in-law of our hostess,
who was well acquainted with Felix, had boarded it. During that time, the
wife died, and some weeks later the husband and youngest child; the eldest
daughter, a -year-old child, is now with the grandmother in our hotel.
In a few days, I hope we shall start for Corpus Christi. With Felix’s
assistance, Mr. Büsse will build our house. Schünke does not seem to me
reliable for work. Then we have with us Herr von Winterfeldt, who was also
with us on the ship and has renounced his position as lieutenant in the
military because of the state of things in Germany.24 His father is a very rich
landed proprietor near Mecklenburg who gave him a fair amount of capital.
But at Hamburg, he had the misfortune to become acquainted with a man
who stole his purse. After he raised the alarm, that gentleman was found
and indeed was recognized as a miscreant in possession of stolen passports
and letters. The purse the gentleman received back, but only a little of the
money. Herr von Winterfeldt is a very educated respectable man.

[  ]
              

I shall send this letter that I began on the ship at our departure for
Corpus Christi. I often feel sad when I realize I cannot hear from you soon,
as I think of you so much! Remain all, all in good health and remember me
in good times and bad. My good Mother, give my love to my dear brothers
and sisters, relatives and friends, greet everyone! My Felix sends hearty
greetings; it is rotten that he has to be out in the great heat here all day long.
But it can’t be otherwise if we wish to leave here soon.
Darling Mother, I am quite cheerful and content, but would be more so
if you were with me and could enjoy the natural bounty with me. Farewell!
Remember me often, as I do you.
Now farewell, my beloved Parents, and keep dear
Your—Maria!
n
New Orleans, July , 
Beloved Parents,
You are sure to be highly astonished now to receive another letter from New
Orleans, where we had hoped to stay for only few days. Unfortunately, the
season is not favorable for passengers from this town to smaller places, for
the great business traffic does not begin before November. In summer
everybody goes to the seaside retreats in the vicinity, which can be reached in
– hours. Here the atmosphere is now hideous and stifling, and it is only
because for – days I have not been out at all, or at best have been sitting on
the balcony in the evening, when the heat is not unbearable for me.
Today our things have been taken to the ship, to sail off to Corpus
Christi with us tomorrow. We still had to get a dreadful number of boxes
and things for the construction of the house: furniture and household
utensils, ploughs, carriages with endless items for transport, provisions, etc.
And the freight is so expensive on the American ships that we can estimate
– expenses. I had to repair my piano anew and pack it, which cost .
Felix bought a very fine saddle for me, which I enjoy very much. The
principal thing I lack is a tame horse.
The emigration to California is so important that almost no weapon can
be bought in New Orleans.25 The steamboat that formerly used to go
regularly to Corpus Christi was bought by a group of young people to take
them to California. In our hotel there is a lady with  children who wants to
go because her husband has gone to California.
Captain Hughes of Corpus Christi, an old acquaintance of Felix’s, is still

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lodging here.26 He has nice land on the Nueces. My husband proposed that
he sell the land to him. In the beginning he did not quite agree. In spite of
all his efforts, however, he could not get ready cash, so he agreed and has
now sold Felix , morgen for  and will come along to Corpus Christi
in order to deed it to Felix.27 We shall now move there, and Felix will later
sell the land he bought from Kinney, as it has no wood, unlike the new one.
The Captain is a very amiable man with one hand, the other one having
been shot off by the Red Indians. Up to now he has occupied the position of
land surveyor for Corpus Christi, i.e., he has to enlist workmen and conduct
and deliver the surveys, which is a very profitable position. Felix is a great
favorite of all his former acquaintances, as I see from the fact that they have
all come to see him as soon as they heard he was here. It gives me great
pleasure when the gentlemen, like Captain Hughes, Mr. Bettinger, and
Felix, are sitting on the balcony remembering with delight how they were
together in the war and reminiscing and laughing about the dangers and
vexations. These two gentlemen are also great admirers of Texas and the
prairies. I am often very glad that Felix has such amiable acquaintances
here, are all of them honorable and for the greater part older gentlemen.
It is very peculiar for me to hear other languages and German almost not
at all, as I cannot yet speak English, though I can understand it quite well.
So we always speak French, which is very agreeable to me.
I now thought it better to write another letter. For it might perhaps not
be delightful for you, dear Mother, to read about what happens on such a
ship. I don’t know whether I have already written that during a storm in the
English Channel the first steersman fell overboard. We had been on the sea
for only  days, and this of course did not bode well for the voyage. The
whole crew got sick, and between-decks there were fever and all kinds of
diseases. A young girl died of tuberculosis in the nd week of our voyage
and was thrown overboard  hours later. Such a simple way of burying a
person never occurred to me; even the memory of it is highly disagreeable.
The steward or waiter, who also had a berth in the first cabin, got the
nervous fever but fortunately got over it. Mr. Büsse and Mr. Schünke, too,
have been sick. Mr. Büsse is well again, while Mr. Schünke, though out of
danger now, is nevertheless still suffering much. A doctor and medicine are
expensive beyond all measure. A small bottle of medicine is ½ to . Herr
von Winterfeldt, fearful of falling ill, has gone to Galveston. Whether that
was wise will soon be clear.
By the way, we have not been made destitute by Felix not receiving the

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              

money he was promised; it is not of importance.28 For he got his inheritance

paid by his mother, although of course only , instead of , thalers. I
myself also had nearly  thalers in ready cash. Thus you can well calculate
that we are not destitute. On the contrary, I have the pleasing prospect of
not getting Felix’s mother for a neighbor in Texas (I hope!). Felix has cut off
every correspondence with them. Yes, my dear Mother, it has often sorely
grieved me that you talked to others so long about Felix’s circumstances and
in this way thought to learn more about him. This was offensive for Felix
and myself; you often conversed with others in the back room for more than
an hour. Still, I did not say anything about it before as my husband did not
fear the judgment of others. If he was of easy mind, it was because he had
done enough to fulfill the engagements he had undertaken. And believe me,
though the people who allowed themselves to make judgments about Felix
may have had the advantage of money (by no means acquired through their
diligence), they did not have the character and wisdom of my Felix. I should
like to see many another arrive in New Orleans with only  thalers, as my
Felix did earlier, and whether he would succeed in getting along honorably
as he did. Not according to his own accounting but through others do I
know how much I possess in Felix. When he first arrived here years ago,
Felix gave German lessons all evening, every evening, from  to  o’clock,
for which he got paid in cash, and during the day he kept the books in the
hotel where we are now lodging, getting free board and lodging for it. If I
had not one pfenning I should not be in the least afraid at Felix’s side! I was
very glad when we arrived and Madame Müller, the mother of the hostess
of the hotel, welcomed me with open arms and said at once: “Dear Blücher,
isn’t this she for whom you so often sighed, and this is well she who pre-
sented you the book you always had lying beside your bed during your
illness?” Of course I looked at Felix much surprised, but when he nodded
his head in affirmation I was contented. The Prince of Wittenberg started
off last Thursday, a week ago. I wonder if he will come to Corpus Christi
later on.
Felix hopes by Captain Hughes’s and Hennings’s intercession to get the
post of Hughes. This is the man who surrendered to Felix’s administration
the rest of the land that my husband did not buy, and if Felix can sell it for
him, we will have the advantage of a good sale. For cattle breeding, Felix
will take a Mexican family along with him to tend the land, by which I shall
at the same time get a great domestic help. My husband bought a number
of washtubs,  for , and a number of washing troughs,  in all. As a gift he

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             ’             

presented to me a large chest, ½ dozen chairs, and a cane-bottom armchair,

which I enjoy very much. In return I have presented him with  dozen
stockings and a dozen cotton visiting handkerchiefs. Very graceful, isn’t it? I
unpacked my chests and found my brown woolen dress with the silk stripes
quite moldy, my red traveling case seriously damaged by rain; fine new
shirts, the finest stockings, fully a dozen have been damaged so that I
cannot wear them. The laundress has rubbed large holes in my real cham-
bray handkerchiefs; you must know that they wash everything with soda
and on wooden washboards. I felt awfully vexed; it was to no avail whatever.
At the same time washing is so expensive. A day-shirt is  cents. They have
no mangles, and everything is ironed with a box-iron. The black women are
all of them Ferkel, sucking pigs!29 You can imagine that we have already
needed washing to the tune of almost . Dresses—up to now, I have only
had  skirts washed,  from the ship and one from here. My husband,
however, must change – times a day, day-shirt, trousers and coat, every-
thing. He has two linen coats. As he must run all errands, because I must
not go out in the heat, it is also natural that on his return he cannot remain
like that.
I beg you, my dear Mother, to send at least the music I left behind. How
I long for a letter from you; please do not let me wait so long. How are you
all? I wish I could have this question answered as often as I have it in my
mind and say it. Anna and Julius and Malchen and Edward, as well as the
children Carl and Auguste, are all still alive and well, aren’t they, just as I
hope you are yourselves, beloved Parents.30 Remember us sometimes, but
only in the good sense—that is what I wish with all my heart. They did not
always treat me justly, but I can well pardon them that, though it grieved
me, as my Felix loves me very much and therefore does not speak of it. If
only either Pauline or Bertha would come, how very glad should I be. For I
love them all so much and so often remember them, my dear friends, all
together. I greatly regret that Malchen with the children and Bertha
Schmidt did not get themselves daguerreotyped; I should have been infi-
nitely glad.31
My dear Mother, please send  thalers to me for my birthday so that I
can buy a horse and a cow. A bill of exchange on a good Hamburg house is
as good as ready cash here, payable on demand, or whatever it is called! Felix
thinks you may fear we need it or may be in want; but it would give me
great joy if I could raise cattle and make a little profit from it. For then I
would be risking nothing but the loss of a few thalers, if a cow should die.

[  ]
              

Just now my darling husband has returned from the ship and has brought
me something very pretty, i.e., a gold dollar, a new sort of coin in America.
It is very disagreeable here that one cannot work or write with a light
burning because then thousands of mosquitoes swarm around you. And in
the morning it is so hot in our room that I was not able to write much to
you. Beloved Mother, please tell all who remember me and ask about me
that although I am not able to greet each individually, I nevertheless have
not forgotten any of them and my thoughts often return to my dear ac-
quaintances in Europe. Fare right well, and greet my dear brothers and
sisters a thousand times from me; some lines from them would also please
me. Will write from Corpus Christi!
Farewell!
. . . Blücher
n
Corpus Christi, July , 
My dear Parents,
At last, after long delays, we have arrived at the place we were striving for,
and I must admit that I never deceived myself on anything more than on
Corpus Christi. I expected to find nothing but a miserable den of wretched
huts, instead of which I already see from the ship the pleasant houses
glittering, some near the shore and some on the heights.
Now, you must not think you can reach this blissful land without trouble.
On Tuesday, July , toward evening, we started from New Orleans in a little
schooner; a big towboat assisted us and  big ships down the Mississippi. At
noon the next day we put out to sea. I expected to get off as well with the
seasickness this time as before; unfortunately however, I was sick—desper-
ately for  days and somewhat less severely for  days. I could neither eat nor
drink anything and barely closed an eye for  nights; because of the bad air
in the cabin we had to stay on the deck, confronting rain in the night, etc.
The steamship Fanny used to go to Corpus Christi regularly once a week;
she steamed off to California a few days before our arrival. We had to pay
 a person and  freight! With greatest difficulty we reached the Bar on
Saturday, but had to hold off for  hours as it was not the right point. The
following day, or  days later, we had to wait for  hours, and then at last we
got over the Bar. The captain signaled for a pilot, as it is very flat there, but
got the answer via others that the only one was drunk. So they tried their
luck themselves, and so it happened that we soon stuck very fast. We stuck

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till Tuesday, when a boat came from Corpus Christi and took us and our
things aboard. Now, we meant to be there in  to  hours, but instead this
boat also stuck fast, and so it was only on Wednesday evening that we
reached Corpus Christi.
There I found a better arrangement for unloading the ships than any-
where. It is a big wooden bridge and pier bearing a railway with a goods
van. In this manner the things are delivered to the owners well and undam-
aged. My husband at once found an acquaintance at the ship, a German
named Ohlers, the wealthiest merchant from Vera Cruz, with whom Felix
had previously stayed.32 He settled at Corpus  months ago, and since then
you can find everything in Mr. Ohlers’s store. His store is close to the beach.
Walking directly upward from there you come to his house. He possesses 
fine massive houses. He at once took us to his house, where we were very
kindly welcomed by Mrs. Ohlers, his wife of about  years.33 She recog-
nized Felix immediately. Her husband got all our things fetched and
brought to his warehouse. They have the most elegant house fitted up in
oriental luxury.34 There are  floors and  rooms in the house. It is situated
wonderfully, the view offering all the scenic variety you could wish. In front
of the house is a very nice garden with the most magnificent roses, white
pomegranate trees shaped like Christmas trees, oleander trees, resedas
[white brush]; a range of all kinds of fine trees can be found there. In the
evening a strong scent of vanilla wafts from among the oleanders, the wild
plants almost more beautiful than the cultivated ones. The walks in the
garden are strewn with fine red and white shells. The staircases are planted
with oranges. The gallery in front of the house is bordered with a very fine
iron railing over which are hung beautiful colored rugs. Enough—from afar
you can recognize the comfort of the owners. The women here do not lift a
hand all day long; they sit in rocking chairs, taking their ease, or lie on the
sofa, or take a ride or drive to their plantations. There are  or  well
turned-out ladies, and I never saw such fine and elegant grooming as here.
When we are at home in the evening, Mrs. Ohlers and I lie in a hammock
of vanilla hemp fastened to the columns of the gallery. She is a merry,
somewhat vain and very lazy lady, but a very good-hearted being. She
speaks German as well as English and Spanish. Attending her she has a
Mexican, a nice young girl with magnificent eyes, and  black women.
People live well here in every respect. At the table stands a black woman
with a mighty fan of peacock feathers, shooing off the flies. I rarely saw such
elegant silverware in Berlin.

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              

My dear Mother, you will realize that I do not write this from pleasure in
these things. I only wish to calm your fear that I might have come to live
among wild and rude people who are foreign to the necessities of our life;
on the contrary, I never have found such a complete household as here.
They uphold etiquette very sternly here, only is it just the opposite from
Germany. For I must not pay a visit to a lady before she has made a visit to
me. It is very tedious for me, as all of them speak English or Spanish. I
understand almost all that is spoken, but speaking myself is not yet the right
thing to do. Mrs. Ohlers is a very fine horsewoman. Today, I shall accom-
pany her to their plantation; she on horseback and I in her carriage. Here
they do not walk  steps on foot, always driving!
You are sure to be highly astonished to hear that Felix bought a house
from Kinney with Corpus Christi’s best-managed garden for vegetables,
fruit, and potatoes.35 There has been a gardener there up to now who has
cultivated these things for sale. It is a very small house with  large rooms,
but situated pleasantly on the hill and with a wonderful view of the sea; very
big thick trees are there, very fine fig trees, etc.36 The area is also near the
artesian wells Kinney is about to get built. Felix is away with him to inspect
the land on the Nueces. In any case we must delay moving there for some
months as the Red Indians are in the area and there is a military post close
by, causing much excitement.37 Traveling takes strange forms here. Felix was
with me at the store to see about the chests when Kinney sent a saddled
horse and inquired whether Felix would accompany him to Casa Blanca.38
This borders on our land on the Nueces. Felix took a shining new hat, put
on Mexican trousers, spurs, got on horseback, said farewell to us in a hurry,
and rode off! I expect him back by Monday, for he started out on Friday
quite early in the morning. Until our house in Corpus Christi is rendered
clean and nice, I shall stay with the Ohlers. I occupy a very pleasant room
on the first floor. There is a charming view from my window. I fully believe
there is no healthier climate than here. The heat is never excessive, and
every evening there is a strong sea breeze, often beginning as early as 
o’clock in the afternoon. The Ohlers, too, have a plantation on the Nueces,
but only  English miles from the town. There they keep their cattle, goats,
sheep, oxen, horses, etc. They maintain but one cow at Corpus, giving
sufficient milk for their household, and every morning they buy fresh butter.
If you have a bit of land here, a little house and some cattle, you need not
have much cash. My husband has taken his money to Kinney for safekeep-
ing. I am his treasurer. He hands me the receipts, notes, bills, dollars, and

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             ’             

during the whole journey I was hampered with handling the money. In New
Orleans, we bought still more provisions, as Felix did not know how things
had altered here. We therefore have no opportunity to spend our money.
How often I think how happy Father could be if you were here. For it is
a magnificent seaside resort, i.e. fine bottom and fine water where we bathe.
Then the angling—we in Germany have no idea of it. When the ship stuck
fast, two gentlemen set out fishing lines and in a short time, perhaps –
minutes, had caught  catfish.39 I myself caught  fish, but I found it
tedious managing the rod. They bait the hook with a little bit of bacon,
nothing else. They are very tasty fish with tender flesh. Some that they
caught were perhaps a hand’s breadth longer than this sheet is high. But if
you do not know this kind of fish, it is very dangerous as on either side and
on their back they have spines in their fins causing nasty poisonous wounds.
So it is not easy to kill them. Were there such a wonder at Stralow, I think
Father would buy two fishing licenses.
Yes, dear Father, if you could make up your mind to surrender the
business to Carl and come here with Mother, Anna, together with F. and
Julius and his wife! For, believe me, once you recover from the voyage, you
cannot find a country in the world more blessed and healthier than here.
There is a little church here,  doctors, one of whom is paid by the town and
is said to be very clever. All you need is the chance to travel freely, which the
blockade did not permit, as few ships were at Hamburg. And then take
along as little baggage as possible, because most of what you drag along with
you as torment can be got here. Felix often says you would surely be well
pleased here as there is no comparison with Stralow, where Father so likes
to be. I believe so firmly that you will come that I will advise Julius to take
up his English language studies thoroughly. The only thing against which
one has to protect oneself is the hot sun on one’s head. You must never go
out with your head uncovered. In New Orleans two men who had been
with us since Hamburg tumbled down dead because they were out in the
heat of the street all day long.
My dear Parents, do not judge my writing and the style of my letters
harshly, for it is not easy here to write undisturbed. In the evening and by
night you cannot do anything because of the gnats, and during the day I am
not always my own master. I got on especially badly with this letter; I had
been writing the whole morning, and when I finished, the thin paper flew
up and wrapped itself round the wet pen so that the words could no longer
be read. I at once flung it aside and began this one, when  ladies came to

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              

pay their respects. Thus I finished it but on Sunday in all haste as a ship was
about to depart.
My dear Mother, you would be much astonished to see me now. The
recent seasickness affected me so much that I grew still thinner than I was
already, and so sunburned that I look much like a Mexican in color. To
complete my misfortune, I am losing my hair beyond all measure. But as I
don’t want to feel vexed at it, I got it cut off by Mrs. Ohlers and do not wear
my hair any longer than Julius once did. Twice a week I get the German
newspaper here from Galveston. But it produces such untruths that I long
to hear from you whether there is peace now in Berlin and how business
matters are proceeding.
Beloved Parents, you cannot say that I write to you too little; on the
contrary, I often think I write too many letters, as the postage is very high,
and the arrogance of the Americans also shows itself here. For they say: who
writes a letter to a free citizen, also pays for the letter.
Mrs. Ohlers has given me a little tame fawn of  months out of joy
because I presented her with something that the others cannot boast, i.e.,
my colored wax tapers. It is true they were dear presents to me from you,
but as she found them so nice and as I must be very grateful to her, to be
sure, for the amicable reception, I at once parted with them. It is very grand
here now. There are  fine hotels in the town, regrettably for gentlemen
only. Never do ladies put up there. But that, too, will perhaps soon change.
Felix plans to use our little house later on as a kitchen and storehouse as
soon as another one has been built for us by Büsse & Co. Since New
Orleans my husband has paid for everything for these gentlemen and hopes
they will thus be obliged to him. It is much enticing to know that once he
gets to work and his skill at carpentry becomes known, Mr. Büsse will earn
 a day.
I must now cease at last, otherwise the boat will sail off. Give my greet-
ings to all our acquaintances, brothers and sisters, and friends. Farewell all
of you and often remember
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, October , 
Fondly loved Parents,
I had the great pleasure on September th of receiving long-awaited letters
from you. Above all they comforted me as to your health. We still are in

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             ’             

Corpus Christi and probably shall stay here for some time, because Felix got
the position of district land surveyor, a rather remunerative but also very
hard one. Now he has been  English miles from here for  weeks, where
Kinney intends to erect a new town, to which a hundred families will come
from Galveston, to whom he will give free land and cattle.40 As soon as even
a little of it is settled, the rest of the land will double in value.
Outside the town we inhabit a very neat little house, which through Mr.
Büsse’s assistance has been much improved in appearance: by large porches
on  sides, and canopies in front of the other doors, connecting the useful
with the graceful. We have only one very large room with an adjoining
kitchen of the same size. In Germany they would think it impossible to
content onself with so small a house, but here, where one spends the
greatest part of the day in the open air, it is sufficient. Mr. Büsse has a
wooden shed in our garden that is his bedroom and workshop. I have no
servants at all, this being superfluous as I can preside very well over my little
household. Cooking I do for  persons only, for the most part only for , as
Felix cannot come home for dinner even when he is surveying in the
neighborhood. It is the custom here that gentlemen do all the shopping. In
the town there is a butcher, baker, etc. Mr. Büsse procures meat, and Felix
gets milk from our Mexican neighbors. I think dear mother that you
perhaps do not have as agreeable a notion of our habitation as the reality.
For everything is bright and airy, which renders it delightful for me. The
house is situated in a garden of ½ German morgen, where we grow
vegetables and flowers.41 Moreover, I have quite a stock of cattle,  pigs, 
hens, among them  that I bred myself, and  big Turkish ducks the size of
our German geese. Besides, Felix got a wonderful English horse from
Kinney, for which Kinney had paid  in Mexico—a magnificent, tame
animal which I, too, am riding. It is a roan horse. As I never go out, for it is
finest of all in my garden, I sometimes fetch the horse and take a horseback
ride in the garden. It is very agreeable that we have no costs for upkeep of
all these animals. The pigs seek their food in the chaparral and only come
home in the evening. The fowl eat beetles, etc., and melon seeds and grains
our garden produces in plenty. We sold melons to the tune of  to  dollars
a day almost until September. The prices here cannot be compared with
ours in Germany at all. For example, I have a Mexican washerwoman who
appears at  o’clock in the morning with  children. After breakfast she
begins washing; at noon, her husband also comes, and after dinner washing
goes on still till  o’clock, then it stops. If there is some wash left, she comes

[  ]
              

Painting of the first Corpus Christi Blücher Homestead. Charles F. H. von Blücher
Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

the following day; but she understands washing only, nothing else. She has
no idea at all about starching and ironing, which I like to do myself. For this
she expects ½; however, she has had to content herself with receiving from
me  a day.
Several birthdays have now passed, when I was more piercingly conscious
of the distance lying between us than ever. In order to offer at least some-
thing to my beloved Father, I sought fresh flowers for a wreath that I hung
above his portrait, and every hour, every moment, I thought of earlier days.
My birthday here passed quite without a trace. After I reminded Felix of it,
he brought me a fine bouquet of flowers and an excellent big watermelon. In
the evening I went to bed at  o’clock as we had had several nights of severe
thunderstorms and northers. The thunderstorms are extraordinarily severe
and long lasting here. Though at this time of year we often have -degree
heat (now at noon it is  degrees), the air is much purer and more endur-
able than with us in Germany at  degrees. I get warmly dressed in the

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             ’             

evening even at  degrees, to such a degree does the body become accus-
tomed to these high temperatures.
A great number of rattlesnakes live in our garden. In the very first days of
our sojourn here Felix shot a rather big one with his rifle. We had one living
in a jar for a while; while digging, my husband saw it and held it fast with
the rake till I fetched a jar, into which we made it creep. Last Sunday I was
alone and saw such a snake sunning itself on a bundle of shingles. Some
paces from it lay an axe, with which I at once dispatched it from life to
death. The other day in the kitchen I opened a bread bin and there was a
snake lying close under the cover. Though it was in the bread bin and in the
kitchen, Mr. Büsse shot it dead!
From New Orleans, we brought along very fine wheat flour, with which I
bake every day. No man can die of hunger here, for the hunting and fishing
are indescribably productive. Often when boys from the town go fishing,
they later drive around and offer fish as presents. Thus the other day we
received immense red fish; we only took , as they can feed  persons well
for several meals. The flesh is most like that of perch, of most agreeable and
finest flavor. Each red fish was more than an Elle in length, and at the same
time they are thick and broad. It is the same with hunting: wild ducks,
geese, prairie chickens, quail, jackrabbits, snipe, and doves are shot in
enormous numbers. My husband went out for an hour the other day after
dinner and brought home  wonderfully fine snipe. As it was absolutely
impossible for us to polish them all off, we distributed half of them to the
pigs, mainly of course the shot-damaged, less fat, and smaller ones. It was a
fine supper indeed. Mr. Schünke having been fired some time ago because
of his stinking laziness, Mr. Büsse and Felix got them plucked, singed, and
disemboweled—in the garden of course. I receive game and fowl in the
kitchen thus dressed out. Another time they brought me a live quail, which
unfortunately at once flew away again. On a walk before breakfast, which is
taken at  o’clock, Mr. Schünke one Sunday hunted up  jackrabbits,  quail,
 prairie chicken,  snipe, and  very big tortoises, all of which made an
excellent soup and stew. From this you can well see, dear Parents, that even
gastronomes can find much to their taste here without great expense and
with little exertion. I have been trying my hand at shooting at targets but do
not yet hit quite surely. The other day I shot through a barrel from  paces,
but this has been my best effort so far. The gentlemen have also shot
hummingbirds and egrets.
Reading in your letter of the various alterations to your home, I can well

[  ]
              

imagine that many an inconvenience has ceased for you, dear Mother, now
that the work is complete. I was as glad about the news that both apart-
ments have been let and hope the arranagements are satisfactory for the
longer term. I was astonished and greatly alarmed at news of the cholera
and that death has already claimed many a victim from among our acquain-
tances. Thinking of cholera affecting my dear relatives, I should so much
like to have you here where you would be safe from that dreadful disease.
All the boys in town love to catch wild horses and perform little races, at
which the other day Kinney’s nephew got  front teeth knocked out as he
tried to hold the lasso with his teeth. Even grown-ups do not manage this,
much less than a nine-year-old boy. Felix has received a trumpet from an
old Ranger friend, so perhaps he shall gain some musical talent. My hus-
band urges me to play the piano as often as my time permits, but my music
collection has remained in Berlin and the piano has become so bad that it
affords me little pleasure. And to tune a piano here costs $!!
Beloved Parents, write to me very, very often and also very much about
how things are at Stralow and how you are doing, enough for me to imagine
I am still with you. My old fat dog is still living, I hope?42 Take good care of
it so that it would not look miserable if I should come to Berlin right now. I
do not know at all how I should feel to live again in a town where every-
thing is so narrow and dark. Here everything is so green and beautiful as far
as I can cast my eye, and in the chaparral there are the nicest walks you can
imagine. Tall, thick trees are festooned with the most magnificent and
exuberant creepers. At a little distance from our garden is a small creek with
such wonderful places on its banks that when Felix took me there for the
first time, I was brought to a standstill, quite enchanted. Acorns, too, there
are in great numbers.
Dear Mother, each hour, day by day, the desire rises in me to see you
again as soon as circumstances will allow. When I am talking to Felix about
you, he always thinks I do not enjoy being with him here and I must be
tormented and longing to be back in Germany. But my husband takes great
pains to earn our keep, sparing no inconvenience or labor. I am often
saddened to think that for weeks he has to lie in the open at night in spite
of rain and wind, and must suffer being ravaged by mosquitoes, so to speak,
then work all day long without proper meals. When he comes home, he has
so much to do immediately that the other day I had to dictate English land
papers for copying till  o’clock at night; and he was obliged to sit and write
like this for  days as if nailed to the spot. You surely suspect that Felix may

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             ’             

be too lazy to write to you, but this is by no means the case. On the con-
trary, he loves you from all his heart, and when we were reading your letter,
beloved Mother, he wept like a child, perhaps remembering the unpleasant
relations with his mother, who has not fulfilled a single one of her promises.
However, thank God, Felix was not destitute after all this. When he
delivered the papers he had translated and copied, he was paid ; and 
dollars for one hour of land surveying. I am now less anxious about the
future than at any other time; for the way Felix is paid here, and given our
small expenses, something can be laid back for later days.
Keep me much in your love, so that I shall always be glad and cheerful!
Give my love to all, all friends, relatives, and acquaintances a thousand times
from your
Maria
Fond greetings from my Felix!
n
Corpus Christi, November , 
Beloved Parents,
In all haste I write you these lines, only a few hours before the departure of
our next ship. On November  we received the letters, and with great joy I
saw that my dear brothers and sisters did not forget me altogether. And as
for the pancake mix, I wish a good meal. For Felix’s birthday I baked the
pound cake, which turned out very well and tasted no less good. My dear
Felix enjoyed it very much and even wished a repeat of it, which indeed
followed in the form of a coffee cake and other baked goods. My husband’s
birthday was spent in special pleasure and joy. Mr. Büsse had not given up
his plan to serenade Felix. For this purpose, he crept under the house early,
with trumpet in hand, from which he poured forth terrible notes from
beneath the spot where Felix’s bed stands. Then began the production of the
pound-cake and a dish of pickled herring salad, then followed the gift of a
big chest, in which were two other chests, in the smallest of which were 
good cigars from me and a carbine pistol from Mr. Büsse.
My dear Father, you write that you would have liked to present me
something as usual on my birthday. But as trifles might not help me, I will
patiently bide my time. My beloved Father, I should reproach myself in the
extreme if you should have to toil in your advanced years to support your
children! Be assured that I lack nothing, absolutely nothing. I have to care
for my household and am well occupied; but I certainly am not in any want.

[  ]
              

If by any remark of mine you might have come to the suspicion that I am in
want of anything, you may quite calmly lay aside that idea. Here, as every-
where, with great means you can make great enterprises; and Felix is young,
healthy, and very active and will certainly not fail.
As Christmas is now so near, I do have a wish to bring forth. Dear
Father, might it be possible for you to procure for my husband a needle gun
together with cartridges, which would be of great advantage for him and
cannot be got here at all.43 I beg you cordially for it if it would not be too
much trouble or be too expensive. Send such a one to New Orleans c/o
Magner and add some boxes of copper-lined percussion caps. By this you
would give me great joy as I might much more calmly watch Felix riding
away when he has to spend long times very far from here in the greatest
wilderness. Such a weapon would be a great terror for the Red Indians
because it can be loaded so quickly. Pardon me this request and be sure that
nonfulfillment of it will not make my heart angry at you for a moment.
Felix has now returned home, and he has been very rough toward me, for
which reason you had better not send a rifle (you must know this is in-
tensely annoying!).44 We hope to have a second house at Christmas in which
I am to get a room for myself. We shall also have a Christmas tree, apples,
nuts, and oranges for Christmas. I hope the cholera may be ended now
without having claimed additional victims. As for the political tidings, Felix
is very glad to hear something, though last time it evoked his deepest regret
about unfortunate beautiful Hungary.45
So must I cease, and I greet and kiss you a thousand times in my
thoughts, wishing that you may spend the holidays happy and healthy and
that you might close the old year remembering me and might keep me as
warmly in your hearts in the new one.
Fare right well!!
Give my cordial regards to my dear brothers and sisters, and my Aunts
and Uncles, and to all, all acquaintances.
Maria

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             ’             

Earl Corpus Chrisi:

The 1850s

ALTHOUGH PROMOTED FAR AND WIDE by Colonel Kinney

as the “Naples of the Gulf,” Corpus Christi grew slowly during the s,
following boom and bust cycles like those in many frontier settlements.1 The
first half of the decade brought significant growth, fueled by offers and rumors
of cheap land, agricultural abundance, and trade with Mexico. Kinney’s land
agents, working mostly in Europe, enticed new settlers from England, Ire-
land, Scotland, and Germany. Corpus Christi was incorporated and platted in
, was named the Nueces County seat, and held its first elections for a
mayor and city council. The organization of government likewise sparked de-
velopment, as city hall and county courthouse brought their factotums: law-
yers, official, clerks, and of course the assorted “peddlers of influence.”2 To
protect the town and its environs from Indians, hide peelers, mustangers, and
assorted roaming cutthroats of the frontier, a company of Texas Rangers mus-
tered to patrol, assigned to headquarters at Corpus Christi.3 The boom be-
came official late in  when the United States Army established a military
depot and frontier troop station. Government contracts and payrolls now
supplemented the town’s livestock and shipping economy. By  the popula-
tion had doubled to twelve hundred inhabitants, and plans were being formu-
lated to solve the town’s most pressing problem: the inaccessibility of deep
water over the Aransas Pass bar. The young city allocated fifty thousand dol-
lars to dredge the bar and deepen the channel.4

[  ]
   

The boom, however, was not tenable. After the Corpus Christi company of
Texas Rangers was disbanded in March, , depredations attributed to Indi-
ans, brigands, and renegades increased. Yellow fever decimated the town in
. And the unending clash of cultures, economic division, and racial cleav-
age between Americans and Mexicans prevented true prosperity. The two
groups willfully misunderstood and despised each other, with feelings often
inflamed by an array of historical resentments and mistrusts. The bust came in
 when the army abandoned its post and depot for removal to new head-
quarters at San Antonio. Business came to a standstill, and stripped of lawful
protection, Corpus Christi stood at the end of  forlorn, with an uncertain
future.5
Maria von Blücher rode this ebb tide with resourcefulness and ability. Her
life, however, was far from easy. Although her husband achieved success in his
many varied occupations, his lack of capital precluded financial independence
and wealth of the kind she had known in Germany.6 There would be no life of
leisure. Instead, for Maria, life entailed the endless drudgery of housework
and homemaking. Her letters repeatedly underscore the recurring theme that
home and hearth meant workloads heavier than she had ever imagined. House-
work consumed her time and energy. She put in long hours cooking, cleaning,
sewing, laundering, and gardening. In addition, she took on the responsibility
of keeping Felix and later her children healthy. With calm deliberation, she
used the little medical knowledge she had to treat ague, malaria, cholera, hepa-
titis, smallpox, and yellow and typhoid fevers, along with day-to-day scrapes
and bruises. She always assumed the major burden of nursing and caring for
the sick. Indeed, many of her letters read like a nineteenth-century medical
primer. These endless hours of backbreaking toil left Maria little time for rest
and leisure: “God, how often I have longed for a rest!”7
Pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, and successful childbirth all came to Maria
during the decade. Her daughters Mary and Julia were born on January ,
, and January , , and her sons Charles (Carl) and Richard arrived on
February , , and March , . In between Maria suffered at least one
miscarriage and also experienced stillbirth of a son.8 Although child rearing
added greatly to Maria’s burden at home, the children brought love, humor,
lively companionship, and later helping hands to her labor. Her letters are
filled with unconditional love for and pride in her children as well as timeless
parental concerns about education, health, and character. She also writes frankly
and honestly about the trials of raising children, the endless demands placed
upon her, and the frustration and often deep depression she faced daily as an

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             ’             

immigrant, wife, mother, helpmate of her husband, homemaker, and house-

keeper.9
As Maria worked day in and day out to supply the basic necessities of life,
she grew more confident and independent. At first, the heavy work load seemed
almost unbearable; it was physically exhausting and emotionally draining.10
Over the decade, however, she learned to abide the drudgery and monotony.
Indeed, she developed a certain fortitude and resilience that enabled her to
withstand the privations and overcome the hardships. She helped her hus-
band support the household financially by selling eggs, melons, milk, and pro-
duce from her garden; taking in piano students and teaching embroidery; and
even selling family heirlooms, her favorite horse, and her beloved piano in
times of need.11 Her marriage to Felix, however, slowly deteriorated into an
emotional abyss.12
Felix’s successful career as surveyor, civil engineer, interpreter, and land agent,
and his attempts at ranching and farming, kept him away from home for months
at a time. Business took him away even at Christmas and he missed the births
of two of his children.13 Land rich and cash poor throughout the decade, Felix
continually had to work to support his household.14 All of it apparently took a
serious toll on his relationship with Maria, who had to depend more and more
upon the generosity of her parents in Berlin for support. Although Felix and
Maria clearly loved each other and their children, they grew apart. By the late
s Maria candidly told her parents: “I am convinced that if Felix could live
free and myself among my family, both of us should be better off. . . . I have
already become accustomed to managing the household independently. . . . I am
more quiet and content when Felix is away and I am alone with my children.”15
Maria’s thoughts and letters, however, often border on the hypochondriac,
for she was in many ways better off than most in Corpus Christi. Always
aware of her class, she was contemptuous of almost everyone and everything
she encountered. At times her pen was vitriolic.16 Yet her caustic superiority
masked what were at times good-hearted generosities. Her racial biases not-
withstanding, she was a complex, well-educated, and strong woman and was
not quite as particular about the conventionalities of her life as the standards
she imposed on others would suggest. How else does one explain the aristo-
cratic Maria von Blücher, who routinely slandered Mexicans as “lazy, dirty,
and unclean,” sneaking off into the town’s “Little Mexico” to visit an old Mexi-
can woman friend to share cigarettes and a drink of tequila?17
Maria escaped toil and drudgery in other ways less worldly than the occa-
sional use of alcohol and tobacco. She embraced the great outdoors, taking

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immense pleasure in horseback riding and gardening.18 Reading always in-

trigued her, and her favorite writer was the French author Alexandre Dumas.19
Music likewise enthralled her, and she relished her limited playing time at her
piano (“For the pleasure I have had in playing the piano I should exchange for
no other”).20 And she did enjoy Corpus Christi society as a “person of rank.”21
Her pen often displayed a sarcastic and biting sense of humor, particularly
when describing her children and the pitfalls of child rearing.22 As a mother
she was a stern disciplinarian, but she made sure her children always had a
Christmas to remember.23 All in all, her letters provide remarkable insight
into the human experience in Corpus Christi during the s.

Corpus Christi, February , 

Beloved Parents,
On Sunday, February , I received your dear letter. I, too, had to wait three
months. You dear ones may well imagine how eagerly we longed for news,
as Christmas fell in between and I was not given the pleasure of hearing
anything from you. I am pleased to hear that my letter arrived on Christmas
Eve; I had scarcely ventured to hope that it would reach Berlin by then, as
the letters are picked up here once only a week and then must first go to
Galveston. Later, yet other impediments arise, as the steamers transporting
mail start from New York only every fortnight. If something is just one hour
late, it first lies there for two weeks. Fortunately, everything arrived in due
time. My good, dear Parents, be assured that we did not think of you less
than you of us! Felix and I were quite alone at home on Christmas Eve.
Toward evening, when my husband had stopped work, we sat quietly side by
side, and Felix told me amid stifled tears that he had intended to present me
with a tray I wanted for my silver goblets and nice sugar basin. Though he
had searched for one in all the stores, he had not been able to find one. In
return I told him that I had been no luckier than he and had not been able
to hunt up in Corpus Christi cloth for a woolen overshirt, which would be
useful for measuring work. We were content that each had thought of the
other’s wishes, and thus the evening passed by like the rest. Christmas Day,
too, we spent quietly at home, and on the second day we went to the Ohlers
for one hour in the afternoon, and then the holidays were over. By the way,
Christmas and New Year are celebrated brilliantly here. At the Ohlers there
was a big soirée on Christmas Eve. But we preferred being peacefully
together; so in our minds we were in your midst every moment. On New

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             ’             

Year’s Eve Mr. Schünke and Mr. Büsse were with us. But as both seemed
preoccupied with thoughts beyond this little circle, it was very calm and
quiet with us. At  o’clock we parted and went to bed. Moreover, I had a
violent toothache, which bothered me continually with only slight respite
until some weeks ago, when it reached a terrible intensity. Then it ended in
a violent diarrhea, which compelled me to stay in bed for several days. My
poor Felix has had great trouble cleaning the rooms, making the beds,
cooking, washing, and nursing me, which he did with indefatigable care. At
night he has sat up with me and then he has worked all day long outside at
building the house. It’s a pity our new house has not yet been finished as
Felix has had to wait eight weeks now for lumber because of low water.
Some of Felix’s German guests have therefore been obliged to go to the
Corpus Christi Hotel, where they are quite comfortable and well attended.
The American practice is that lodging and dinner, breakfast, and supper are
all included in the price. They have a hot meal first thing in the morning at
 o’clock, just as in the evenings. Dining à la carte is not known here in any
hotel; this is done in the restaurants, where for a dime you can eat and drink
as much as you please.
Life is now quite different at our house. Mr. Büsse has prepared our
kitchen garden. He has laid out a very nice flower garden for me. Moreover,
he has made several bird cages. One of them has a trap, in which we have
already caught three fiery red cardinals. They are charming creatures the size
of blackbirds; they have a similar bill but also a big crest on their head and
great, wonderful black eyes. To my great dismay a sack fell against the door
of the bird cage, opening it and setting my prisoners free. But I shall get
others, for they flit about in our garden in immense numbers, even below
the porch, just like the hummingbirds in summer. At times I accompany the
men when they go out to collect cactus or catch butterflies and beetles. I go
hunting with them too. Snipe and thrushes are present in enormous
numbers, and jackrabbits are plentiful. Every week we have jackrabbit pie at
least once. What rank as expensive meals in Berlin are the cheapest here.
The other day Mr. Schünke shot  hares in ¼ hours and would have got
more had he not already had enough to carry. We have not bought meat in
several months. We are well acquainted with some Mexicans; we are kind
when they come to see us, while the Americans almost always treat them
contemptibly. When the Mexicans kill wild cattle, we get so much meat
that we often dry some of it. Usually they bring the fillets and some other
good cuts besides. An old Mexican woman came to see me the other day.

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   

When she went away, she drew a very nice silver ring from her finger and
presented me with it. The following day she sent me a big plate of little
cakes and every morning she sends a big pot of milk and the finest meat
available. I also go to see her at times, to smoke with her a cigarette which
she prepares for me and herself begins to smoke, also to drink a glass of
liqueur, etc. Altogether I have contact with some very nice people, among
whom are  Germans. Mrs. Ohlers sometimes comes to fetch me in her
carriage, as does Mrs. Noessel, whose husband has the hotel.24 We then
undertake very agreeable carriage drives. These good ladies as well as Mrs.
Meuly always provide me with cakes and such things.25
Dear Father, you write that if we wanted things or could sell them to
advantage, you would send them. Indeed there are many things for which
one could get threefold or double the price in return, but that would also
cause you significant outlays. For example, a double-barreled gun that costs
– thalers in Hamburg can be sold here for – dollars;  dollars
equals – German thalers. But, dear Father, I will be fully satisfied if the
request in my last letter is fulfilled, and if, dear Father, you should perhaps
already have sent away some of the things requested, my most cordial
thanks for them in advance. If not, pardon me when I beg my good Mother
to send some wooden kitchen utensils, for rolling pins and wooden scoops
are invaluable here. In the American households, pigpens that they are, they
do not know cooking things of that kind—and pots and pans all the less!
You ask, dear Mother, how my things got here. On the whole rather well;
at any rate nothing would have been damaged if the ship had not been too
very bad. The mattresses in particular got wet and rusty, as did the bed-
steads. My red trunk got totally soaked and a great many things in it turned
moldy, as the water continually dripped through the ship. My piano had
been extremely badly packed; thus it suffered much. The outer cover has
rotted off my music chest. The big trunks and their contents, however,
remained perfectly fine. Of the things in the big trunks and in the little
chests only one glass was broken, which nevertheless I regretted greatly as it
was spun glass. Our good mirror survived too, and as I have a very nice
bedroom, the mirror hangs there. Once more I thank you for it, my dear
Father!
Our bedroom is wonderfully cheerful and airy with  windows; the floor
and deal boards are varnished like the windows and doors. In two corners
finely worked small shelves have been installed where our toilet-set and
stands are, as is the custom here, big porcelain wash basins with very nice

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             ’             

water jugs, soap caskets and brush caskets, all fitting together. At another
corner stands my little toilet glass. Below it are white curtains; for the
windows, too, I have made and trimmed linen curtains. You dears can now
surely imagine it. Otherwise, there is nothing in the bedroom but the beds
and two chairs. All in all, it is very nice, and I feel glad when I enter it. We
have discovered that the mattresses are much smaller than the prescribed
measure; there is a good hand’s width missing in their length and breadth.
Yet that can be altered. My little old mattress, however, is still better than
our new ones; nevertheless, everyone envies us these.
I wish I could be in our family circle for the approaching celebration of
your silver wedding! But that cannot be. Perhaps the future will bring us
happy times when we can be together! It pleases me that Hermann Blücher
sees you, and Felix will write to him soon.26 And it seems you are in con-
stant touch with Aunt Rieben by letter. I believe she takes the most cordial
and sincere interest in our fate. Felix will also write to her, and I shall add
some lines.
Much is now being done here for the security of the settlers. Yesterday a
corps of regular troops arrived here and are pitching their camp in the
neighborhood to purge the region of Red Indians.27 It is advantageous in
every respect as the commerce in the town will be improved. For the chief
commercial traffic indeed goes by land, as Corpus Christi Bay is too shallow
and flat to allow big ships in. With the population not yet very great, there
is not yet an abundance of marketable goods here. But this will increase
every year, and secure sales prospects are needed. Indian corn is the chief
crop grown here, producing the best yields. Our field, too, is seeded with
Indian corn. Two Mexicans ploughed it for us with a yoke of oxen, our
small horse, and a mule. Most of the lemon, almond, orange, apricot, peach,
and vine seeds have already sprouted, and every day more and more are
shooting up. Though we have had very strong northers and a slight freeze,
yet all is already bright green and fresh. Our house, too, will soon be
surrounded with greenery, which pleases greatly. Scorpions are immensely
numerous about the place, but we learn to live with them. They are admit-
tedly disagreeable to me. But the idea one has of them in foreign countries
is worse than the reality. You write, dear Father, of means against rattlesnake
bite. I do not believe they are all that dangerous. For we had in our garden a
horse that had been bitten by such a snake yet still ran for some distance. It
is true that it went lame and its lower leg was much swollen. Felix had the
wound washed with spirits of ammonia and warm water and then ban-

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daged. After some days the beast was sound and as quick as before. Felix has
already caught two big rattlesnakes with his hands, one of them in our
garden.
Because of our garden, I left my little dog for some time with Mrs.
Ohlers. There it ran about free, also going into the chaparral, where the
dogs of a man living here tore it to pieces. You may well imagine how the
news afflicted me. The same dogs have already done much damage here in
town, attacking calves, etc., etc., and yet nothing can be, or rather nothing
is, done or said to this man. Justice is awfully insufficient here. You would be
astonished at the curious domestic animals they have here. Mr. Noessel
owns a tame tiger which Sñr. López, our Mexican, caught and sold to him
for .28 It is a magnificent beast and also understands very well how to
suffocate hens and pigeons.
I was overjoyed to receive so many letters from my friends and relatives.
But my dear friend Bertha Schmidt will now certainly live a very sad and
lonely life. Her letter is so shot through with pain and suffering about the
loss of poor beloved Pauline that it made me uneasy for her. Like her, I am
deeply saddened over what we have lost. You, dear Mother, know best how
much Pauline has meant to me.29 I would not have believed that our separa-
tion would be so painful. I should very much like to fulfill Bertha’s wish to
send a copy of the only existing portrait of our Pauline, but it is not possible
here at present, and to send the picture to New Orleans seems to me too
great a risk. Its loss would afflict me painfully. I should have to consign it to
the hands of strangers. Yet there is a possibility that a daguerreotypist will
come here. Mr. Noessel is very skillful in producing such pictures, and only a
few months ago he sold the equipment for it. For several years he maintained
himself and his family this way in Mexico and New Orleans. Whether he
would be interested in trying to render Pauline’s likeness from the portrait I
cannot be sure, as I do not really understand the art.
Certainly you will see Bertha soon; greet her with all my heart. Now all
of you keep very well and remember me and write to me often. Give my
cordial greetings to my dear brothers and sisters and all relatives and friends
who ask about us. Farewell once more and keep dear.
Your—Maria
n

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             ’             

Corpus Christi, April , 

Beloved Mother,
Today a year ago, on April , was the last time I stood on German territory
and soil! Just as I wondered then what the future would bring for you, I
anxiously wonder what your letter just received and most eagerly awaited
will report to me. I cannot deny that I felt great concern for my beloved
Father’s health when I saw Julius’s seal, and was gladder than ever to hear
that all, all of you dear ones are fine. The letter was an extremely long time
coming. For from Feb.  to April  is more than  weeks, and often letters
take no longer than  weeks to reach here. And so that you, beloved Mother,
shall not have to wait too long for an answer, I sat down at once to begin a
letter. But I don’t believe I shall be able to finish it today.
First of all, dear Mother, I must tell you the apprehension I have been
feeling since our last letter that Father may perhaps be angry at Felix for
declaring his wishes in such an open, frank, and straightforward manner; he
may have gone somewhat too far in that. I had begged for a needle gun for
Felix’s use. That Father could not get such a gun fills me with regret, as its
rapid loading capability is the greatest advantage here. I entreat Father very
much not to be angry at him, as Felix told me that he wished to reimburse
Father for any cost, as he could have profited greatly from selling the gun.
This week he was offered land worth  for a pair of pistols and his gun.
But as he cannot be without weapons, and as these are very good, he of
course had to give up the bargain. The surroundings here are very, very
insecure because of the Red Indians. On the other hand, in town you can
live without the slightest fear, as they seldom venture to attack a house. The
Red Indian does not place his life in danger without pressing reasons. And,
whatever books and your apprehensions may suggest to you, be reassured
that I have nothing to fear for myself. It is true that I have trouble with the
knowledge that Felix is out in the hinterlands for weeks. When he was away
last time, the week before Easter, I got up in the night and paced to calm
my anxiety. This is probably unwarranted and due to unfamiliarity, as the
American wives laugh at me when I ask whether they feel anxious about
their husbands’ lives being in danger. But for me, this has been a constant
from the outset!
At the end of your letter you write that you could not see me in my house
in this life! If I could conceive of the idea that I should not be allowed to see
you again, beloved ones, and share a hearth with you, I must think myself
very unhappy! Beautiful, immeasurably charming as nature is here, every

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beauty makes me sad if I am to enjoy it quite alone. My only company in

Felix’s absence is Mr. Büsse, who patiently shares my loneliness and does all
he can to render it less painful for me. But you will surely understand,
beloved Mother, how little he can do to replace my family, friends, and my
husband. I have cut short almost every intercourse with the rest of the
people here. Mrs. Ohlers is the public paramour of Col. Kinney, and his so-
called wife is shunned by all because of her low descent.30 Mrs. Belden is the
most honorable lady but too old for me to wish in the least for closeness
with her.31 Felix of course is not shocked at Mrs. Ohlers’s affair and often
goes there in the evening as well as to Kinney and Mr. Gilpin, an unmarried
American.32 The most ignominious aspect of the Ohlers affair is that Mr.
Ohlers, because of his pecuniary relation, tolerates the affair with the
Colonel and even favors it! I often imagine how happy and fine it would be
to have my house near you. Yet I banish the idea as quickly as possible as for
the moment at least there can be no thought of that.
It affords me great pleasure to plant and sow in my little garden. It is a
pity that of the German seeds, only a few have sprouted—three kinds of
flowers, nothing else. If we had brought the seeds along in a tin box filled
with coal dust and soldered up, they probably would have kept better. For
coal draws in humidity and bids it there. Aunt Rieben sent me such a kind
letter in which she declares her wish to receive a lock of my hair or some
other trifle from me. If you, beloved Mother, want to do me a favor, send
her a copy of Felix’s and my daguerreotype; it would certainly give her much
pleasure.
Who possesses little, yet must still always lose of that little? I had 
cardinals and a dog, which were my greatest pleasures here. Some days ago
my little dog drew from the corner in the kitchen a poisoned bit of bacon,
placed there for exterminating the millions of mice. I came upon him as he
was swallowing it and at once tried everything but to no avail, and in an
hour he was dead. Two cardinals flew away, one died, and the fourth, which
was already quite tame, was disemboweled but not killed by a strange cat, so
that I begged Mr. Büsse to kill it. My little friends have now been buried.
I hope the dreaded days have passed without further troubles and that
there are prospects of order being fully restored. I do not hear anything at all
about Europe except the tidings that reach me from you. Felix, it’s true,
reads the English newspapers, but you know he does not place much stock
in circumstantial information. You ask whether Felix is still so gloomy. On
the whole, less so; only he cannot get over the loss of the money promised

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to him, and that is why he is so out of sorts. But his frowning has com-
pletely ceased. His lamentation is constantly the same: “Why do I not
possess millions?!” Mr. Büsse and I usually cut him off by an equal exclama-
tion, for we have heard this so often that we also begin to be vexed at not
possessing the said millions.33
I also would beg you, dear Mother, if possible, to learn something more
precise about how to get a dirty straw hat in order again and about the
nature of the wooden form or press, etc., as here it will be necessary to do
that myself. Our house and garden are growing finer every day. Before my
room I have a charming veranda with a trellis, and I will plant different
creepers at the columns. It is built in the style of the Swiss cottages, and
extraordinarily large and fine deer antlers have been placed in front. Our
Indian corn is also looking good. The other day two pigs were minded to
break into our garden. Realizing this, Felix ran for his pistols and thrust his
hand through the window. Having stopped one pig, he tried to take the
other one with the same hand but tipped the hammer so that the gun went
off. The ramrod was in it. This and the ball scraped Felix’s arm and
wounded it not a little. If the pistol had been angled differently by a ¼ inch,
ball and ramrod would have gone through his body. Instead, they fortu-
nately went into the ground. I was standing close to my husband. You can
well imagine how terrified I was on observing Felix’s arm wound. At any
other time Felix is so infinitely careful with every weapon.
Much as I have to do in my own household, I have nevertheless had to
make a skirt for the old Mexican lady. You can imagine that I reflected long
on how to begin the thing. Yet I accomplished a very fine skirt. It is a
delicate lilac woolen cloth with silk stripes, just like mine. She bothered me
for ages to do her this favor. The yarn she furnished was the finest but
consisted of a roll of green thread. I felt obliged to open my reserve box for
backup supplies. She has her sons taming a horse for me, and she often gets
a pony fetched from nine miles away on Sundays so that I may take a ride.
Other times she comes to visit me. When her husband is here in town, they
come in the evening. If I had more to do with Americans, perhaps I should
be able to speak English rather well already. Indeed I understand it, but I
am still mediocre at speaking it. I chiefly practice Spanish. Every evening I
study a little and am able to speak it rather well. I now have one more
domestic, an old Mexican; he gets  a month, eats with us, and is very,
very diligent in our big garden. There he keeps everything free of weeds,
cares excellently for the horses, and waters all the vegetables and flowers

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every morning and evening on a very, very large piece of land. He hauls the
water up the hill from the pond. I don’t know whether I have already
written to tell you that we no longer have our big American horse. Felix
gave it back as it ate a good deal of corn and this is rather dear here, while a
Spanish horse, like our Trakehner, can be maintained very well on grass
alone.34 I am not proving very successful with my poultry. No hen has laid
eggs in  months. We have therefore already killed some of them. I guess
they have become too fat. If it might please you, dear Mother, I shall send
you some of the nuisance animals in alcohol at the first opportunity. I
already have several rattlesnakes preserved in alcohol, but I’ve been doubtful
about whether they would interest you and therefore I ask you about it.
I am greatly saddened about the outbreak of cholera in Berlin.35 Just
come here to me—here you will be safe from it. How glad I should be if you
came here. I should love to yield my whole house to you. In  to  weeks you
could be with me if you came by steamer, only the voyage would be some-
what more expensive than ours was. How did Father manage during the
cholera epidemic last year? I hope more peacefully than  years ago!
Here everything has already come on a lot. As long as a month ago, we
were eating good new potatoes, i.e. such as those in Germany. Round-
headed garden lettuce is ready in January. The lettuce has already gone to
seed, and the second sowing will be soon. Green peas and carrots we have
had already. Cucumbers and melons are in bloom. In front of my house I
have a fine lawn with fig, orange, and pomegranate trees and rose bushes
and a magnificent aloe. Moreover, the house is no small matter. The house
and porch together are  feet long.
If dear Mother, you should still have some of the pieces of music I left
behind, I beg you to find out whether a Beethoven sonata is among them,
which I must absolutely have forgotten. Should you find it, please keep it
safe. Perhaps one day a good man will be found to bring it along, one who
will not deliver it up for sale!
For today, beloved Mother, this must be enough, as it is evening already. I
intend to hand the letter to one Mr. Jorden, who starts tomorrow for his
native country, to get it to London, whereas I could otherwise send it only
next week.
So farewell, give my love with all my heart to my brothers and sisters,
relatives and friends, and keep dear—
Your—Maria

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, June , 

Beloved Parents,
Though not yet having received an answer to my last letter, I cannot
hesitate any longer over writing to you. First, let me present my congratula-
tions on your silver wedding anniversary; please do write to tell how things
go that day, so that after the event I can fully relive the celebration in my
mind.36 The second impulse for this letter is that I think you will like to
hear that Felix’s journey has ended and about his return. We were separated
for more than a month, during which time the prattle of the townspeople
about my beloved husband’s return tormented me still more than all the
care, work, and trouble that I, too, had much of in the meantime. On the
th, Felix came back from his excursion, sound and lighter by  pounds, in
rags and rather dirty, but he had discovered a good short route to Paso del
Aguila. He had almost left off eating, and with great pains I have now fed
him up a little. Unfortunately, this journey caused him tremendous expense
and did not yield so much as a penny. It was a sacrifice for the common
weal. I am just contented that he has returned.
Dear Parents, you will surely have become accustomed to always being
troubled with new requests from my side. This time, too, I am true to my
evil habit and inconvenience you again with commissions and expenses.
This errand is admittedly somewhat strange and ridiculous—but to me of
special advantage and great importance. Please try to get a pair of Welling-
tons for Felix, which I will present him from you on his birthday. It is
impossible to buy good boots and shoes here or at New Orleans. A pair of
coarse, quite ordinary leather shoes, which the gentlemen here wear, cost
½–, i.e. up to  thalers, and if they then hold out so long as to survive two
trips across our garden, you must thank God for this miracle. You doubtless
think this is exaggeration, yet I can firmly assure you that it is so. Felix owes
frequent chills to his poor footgear on surveying as well as during garden
work. I know that I certainly cannot give him greater pleasure than through
this present. I should not trouble you were it not that I remember the
kindness and love you have shown me so often. Yet, I have not arrived at the
end of my wishes but would like to solicit from you for me, too, a pair of
house shoes or morning shoes, as you would call them. For good footwear, I
do have one pair of low boots. Not so when it comes to house shoes. I had
two pairs, and these I have worn to shreds because of the heat. Yet I am still

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   

wearing them as I possess no others and am too thrifty to give  thalers for a
miserable pair of glued shoes. Stockings I do not wear at all in this heat,
except occasionally when going to town. The heat has been considerable for
some time already. By  o’clock in the morning it is already up to  degrees
in the shade. Indeed, it sometimes becomes a chore to be at the fire in the
kitchen the whole morning. But one does become accustomed to heat.
Now I come with the suggestion dearest to my heart and that would give
me immense and inexpressible pleasure: that you, dear, beloved Parents—
and if it is impossible for both of you, that one of you—pay us a visit here. It
is not so utterly impossible to contemplate that I must banish all thought of
your coming, as you will understand if you consider that my love for you and
my ardent desire to see you and speak to you allow me to see past all the
difficulties that might get in the way. Felix and I talk almost continually
about how you, dear Mother, would fare here and would be happy with us,
in our beautiful garden and in all this magnificent nature. And how Father
would be delighted with angling and catching sea crabs. You could then also
satisfy yourselves as to the state of my health, if our dear God preserves it. I
think that even with all possible care devoted to me, my well-being would
be less sound in Berlin. With slight exceptions, the perpetual old malady
with my heartbeat has almost totally disappeared. I live a very regular and
moderate life, with due measure of exercise and sleep. At  or  o’clock I go
to bed, always sleep wonderfully till the next morning at  o’clock, when
after a moment’s hesitation I get up.
Mr. Büsse has become a great inconvenience in our home. He has turned
into a low fellow with a very vile character, who makes a practice of bad-
mouthing Felix to me and telling lies no reasonable man can believe.
Despite having shown him the door several times, I have nevertheless kept
silent to Felix, whose absence thrusts this loathsome companion still more
closely upon me. Lying, too, is his business. Felix has turned him out several
times already, but that does not bother him. In spite of that, he remains
quite free and easy in our house. He is as dirty in his person as without a
sense of honor, evidenced by the fact that he does not finish the house
though he has already demanded as payment the piece of land on which he
built himself a house and laid out a nice garden. For some  months he has
been working on a little room for me, but Felix still has to help whenever
time permits. When it will be finished God alone knows!
I hope that the apprehension of a general war has been buried and that
everything with you may be as peaceful as here. The newspapers write that

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             ’             

the king has ordered the barracks to be fortified but nothing else disquiet-
ing now.37
Our garden and the chaparral are completely overflowing with game and
wonderful birds. The trees are alive with birds’ nests, with cardinals, and
birds that look like parrots, green jays, red and gray doves, blackbirds with
red breast and head as well as immense numbers of hummingbirds; and
cottontails often sitting side by side in rows of ! A Berlin amateur
sportsman would probably think this is a big lie, yet it is so. Half a mile
away from here our Mexican the other day found  wolves, and tied them to
take along but had to kill them because of the horses. Flamingos, too, are
here in profuse numbers, rose colored ones. Felix shot several and they
tasted very good. Pelicans come here, rafts of them, which people boil for oil
as these birds are very fat. There are butterflies the size of your hand, with
the most wonderful colors. I kept some fine beetles, but the mice ate them.
Those beasts as well as a kind of black cockroach are so troublesome here
that you cannot save anything from them. In the chests my linen is gnawed
away. Overnight I left a fine cambric handkerchief lying on the table; next
morning it had been totally ruined. Garments—everything is eaten.
Inconveniences of that kind and degree cannot be found in Germany. I
feel great pleasure and anticipation at the idea that we shall get plants of
European kinds of fruit. Here you can get no fruit at all except figs, melons,
and oranges. At New Orleans, however, you have the greatest choice. We
have some vines with bunches of grapes in our garden, but they are poor,
thick-skinned fruit. I have had many mulberries here, and once got a whole
pail full of blackberries, which delighted me very much. I now understand
quite well that when something is available, one does not want it in great
quantities all at once. I feel this about potatoes, grapes, and wine as well.
The sweet potatoes are quite good, though I still prefer ours. They are also
grown here. Last fall Felix could not get any for sowing, and wine as a
luxury has been banished from our house. I should probably never have a
great desire for it if our water were cool and refreshing, but it is always
lukewarm. We cannot get water refrigerated locally. One has to fight many
nuisances here. For example, I have been moving about from one place to
another to write this letter. You can hardly bear the flies, gnats, and the heat
in any room. Outside, on the other hand, it is so windy today that every-
thing flies off. It is not easy to write a letter here, as in Berlin.
Dear Mother, you wished to have my itinerary in a letter, but it was so
long that I tore it to pieces and threw it away. The journey was not rich in

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   

events and nor did I see especially much. The only change was what the sea
offered us, and that is little. I have already written of how we passed by the
coasts of France, England, and later Santo Domingo and Cuba, and of the
impression that the first traces of American industry made upon me, and
about the beauty of the shores of the Mississippi. Together with the delights
of the journey, I had also to remember its bad aspects, and these, I regret to
say, predominated. Would it be possible for you perhaps to procure me a
lock of the hair of my beloved friend Pauline? I shall guard it as a jewel. The
memory of her loss still affects me as mightily as if it were only yesterday
that this terrible blow fell. I think of you often now that you are at Stralow,
remember all the traditional amusements, and ask fate whether it will lead
me to you once more before I am totally Americanized and have all genteel
sensibilities choked off. I hate the Americans here with all my heart. I do
not mean to judge the whole nation by these few people but am speaking
only of those around me.
Dear Parents, I have some small matters we would greatly appreciate
your sending: a bit of good rhubarb; as well as Morrison pills, one or two,
which cannot be had here or at New Orleans; various wire tacks, also not to
be had anywhere here; and a little soldering iron, for things like tools are
very bad and extremely expensive here, besides the fact that you have to buy
them from New Orleans.38 Perhaps you can send me some scented candles
to drive away the ghastly smell that the wind pushes into our house from
some dead horse in the neighborhood. Even though this does not happen
often, it is always very unpleasant, and one wants to strew everything with
laurel leaves, which are not known here. With the next letter I shall send
along some seeds of the so-called Texas star, a scarlet-red, star-formed
creeper, wonderful, with fine featherlike leaves. Unless it’s too much trouble,
you may want to try some seeds and let Papa try them too. I shall then write
about the best manner to grown them. When they come up and blossom,
they will certainly please you so much that you will want to use the seeds
again.
Give my love many times to all acquaintances and friends of mine. Write
to me very often, and have a wonderful silver wedding night. Many greet-
ings to Aunt Rieben.
Maria

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, September , 

Dear Mother,
Don’t be astonished that I am sending separate letters to Father and you,
but I have some little questions to bring up to you that I did not want to
write in communal letter! First I must calm you about the many apprehen-
sions you pronounce in regard to my health and habits. I must avow that I
indeed cannot imagine writing such a disconsolate letter as to produce the
impression you have come to that my life with Felix is neither happy nor
agreeable. On the contrary, as I wrote during my husband’s absence, one
could only suppose that without him life is neither happy nor agreeable. It is
natural that I was very dejected and disquieted by Felix’s absence, because it
was a dangerous enterprise. In addition, perhaps as a result of a cold, I had
caught an indisposition that exercised a sad influence on my mood. I hope
my later letters have set you entirely at ease. Moreover, I can solemnly swear
that however advantageous it might appear from the outside, I would not
welcome a change in my situation if it might separate my husband and
myself. And I think the same can be said of him, to judge from the care he
bestows on me. In fact, it cannot be helped that he must be away from me
often and at times for a long period. You know every man wishes for good
progress in his affairs. The more promising things are in our case, the more
frequent our separation. And believe me, the conditions as regards the Red
Indians will certainly turn favorable, so that my husband will be able to
build on our land and can then at once give up the surveying business. It
was saddening and painful for Felix and me to read of doubts about our
relationship. I don’t wish anything more anxiously than that Father and you,
beloved Mother, should visit us to convince yourselves that even if we don’t
live in abundance, yet we are infinitely happy and content with each other, a
circumstance enhanced by the prospect of having a baby in the New Year,
which is the cause of my various questions.
Up to now, thanks be to God, I am quite hale and hearty, to which my
regular mode of living with due exercise surely contributes greatly. You
doubtless know, however, that I am not in the least well informed about
dealing with little children, and your advice would be useful to me, as I am
loath to be stranded without your guidance. There is a young German
woman here with whom I became acquainted with more closely some time
ago. She has told me about the local way of clothing babies, which seems to

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   

me really most disagreeable. Immediately after the birth, the baby gets a
little linen cloth wrapped around the body, a little shirt, if winter a thick red
woolen petticoat, and a dress. Then it is laid on a pillow with the mother in
the bed. If it is very cold, she has a big woolen blanket to wrap around the
legs of the child. I am not pleased with this manner, and I remember back
home we wrapped the baby in a longish covering and cut the corners round,
which pleases me much more. I don’t know whether this is the custom in
our family too. Here everything is so free and easy that one scarcely knows
what to do. And is it not unwholesome for the child if the right covering is
not made clean and dry? This German woman referred me to an American
woman whom I should like to look after me in the first days. She has had
eight children herself, and as I was told by Mrs. Meuly, she makes a doctor
dispensable. Mrs. Meuly herself had the woman. I should very much like
you to write to me as soon as possible with your opinions about these
matters and what linens are necessary for this little being.
You regret that I have no female domestics. It would often be of great
service for me to have help. But it is impossible to get anyone. Mexican
women never work more than they have to, and only when it is vital to
support their households. American women of the servant class prefer to
stay in a big town, and there is no American at all in service here. A Ger-
man girl came here  to  weeks ago and at once had  to  offers of work.
She chose the one where she probably got the highest wages, and I heard
from her mistress that she had arrived here several weeks pregnant. This one
I should have liked to have had, if only I had known about it. My husband
promises he will see about getting another young German girl to lend me a
helping hand for a while. Mrs. Meuly is a really nice woman aged , who
got married at , but who besides is awfully, dreadfully silly, no, stupid at
times, and has the disagreeable habit of arguing with everything and
everyone. You can barely imagine it. She visits me sometimes, and I go to
see her. You advise me not to break up the relationship with the Ohlers. But
I really cannot persist; for the woman has by now arrived at the lowest
degree, her husband having been there a long time already. Believe me, it is
better that we do not associate with each other.
Today is Sunday, and on awakening my first thought is: now my dear,
beloved Parents must certainly be at Stralow. I have always had a very soft
spot for this place, and thinking of you there also evokes reminiscences of
Stralow. It is a great pity that you had such bad weather this summer,
depriving you of some of your short time of summer pleasure. Is Father still

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             ’             

such a passionate angler? With his yen for catching fish and big sea crabs,
he would find rich pickings here, where one need not wait for the creatures
to be hungry or wonder whether they will bite or not. The other day, Mr.
Büsse brought me two immense fishes, especially very, very broad ones,
called “sheepshead.” They are extremely delicate and fleshy and almost
without bones, having only a backbone; nor have they much in the way of
guts; the whole is flesh. The back fins, however, consist of big spines. On
preparing one I skewered the upper side of my finger. This happened nearly
 weeks ago and still it is swollen and inflamed. The Mexicans think these
spines poisonous. But I think it will heal without further developments.
If you came here now, the garden would not make a very favorable
impression upon you; everything has dried up. Half of the crop is lost.
Fortunately, Felix was unanimously reelected surveyor, thus this income at
least will continue. Sometimes my husband is ill-tempered; for all the work
with his land has been in vain. Our Mexican is a strange fellow, who
although employed never misses a fandango and dances half the night.
Moreover, he is not in the least young! Like the greatest part of this nation,
he too is strange. He knows how to handle horses, nothing else. And
Mexicans love to eat sugar and cake with such passion that they sell their
things for this. During the greatest heat of the summer, °, he wore a thick
coat, claiming the mosquitos might otherwise bite. Then, at his wish, I gave
him a comb. Now he spends every free moment combing his hair! Things
are much better now that Mr. Büsse is no longer at our house, and we are on
quite a good footing with him.
You express the wish to have a floor plan of our house. I begged Felix for
one ages ago. But he wishes that our house should first be finished on the
outside at least. And then you will receive one as soon as he can make it. My
little room has now been finished and is very nice and cheerful. Let me
describe it to you somewhat. It is  feet high and  feet wide,  feet long,
and has a ceiling of white cotton cloth, as no boards could be bought, a floor
of fine joinery and less finely worked rough wooden walls, which, according
to Father’s promise, will soon be wallpapered. In the middle of the north
wall there is a door to Felix’s room; to the right of it hangs my little book-
shelf adorned on top with trinkets; on the left side is a shelf for displaying
ornaments. On the west side, in the northwest corner is a door to the
bedroom, then my piano, and above it a picture of Stralow and one that
Ette painted. In the middle of the south wall a door leads to the little porch,
now quite densely overgrown, as is our entire house, with Texas stars alive

[  ]
   

with hummingbirds buzzing around like bees. From my bed I can watch
and enjoy them, especially in the morning. They are not timid and come so
near that the other day Felix got one by its tail. To the left of the door are
family pictures—you and Julius arranged beside my bookshelf. The east side
has  windows facing the veranda and front garden, with the nice mirror
between them. I have long intended to have a little table here, but now there
is not much wood to be had. I made pretty red curtains and covered the sofa
with the same fabric. Initially I considered selling this cloth, but it pleased
us too well. For  Mrs. Meuly bought the bronze boots, which had already
suffered damage through neglect and which I therefore disposed of willingly.
Thus you get an idea of my room and little house.
The day before yesterday was the th. I hope you did not wholly forget
the day. We also celebrated it a little here. Felix presented me with a piece of
jaconet for two everyday dresses; very fine dried peaches; and chocolate,
which I am sorry to say, if one does not buy it oneself in New Orleans, is
made here of burned flour, starch, and sugar, and is very expensive—I baked
a cake with it. I also received from Felix a big, long wished for wardrobe and
linen press made for me by Mr. Büsse. Mr. Büsse came for breakfast at 
o’clock and brought me a wonderful oleander bouquet and a fine, sturdy
bridle of the kind I have so far lacked (I am only sorry that it must long rest
idle before I can use it). And then, imagine, a plate full of apples he picked
up here somewhere. Though at New Orleans infinite masses of fruit can be
bought, and very cheaply, almost nothing can be got here. Mr. Büsse stayed
with us all day. In the evening we ate partridges and chatted quietly till 
o’clock; then the festivities were over.
You surely laughed heartily when I wrote of baked plums, but imagine
the heat here and no fruit except melons. Any dried or preserved fruit is a
real refreshment, and here you cannot always have even that. Dried apples,
pears, plums, or cherries, or whatever they be, are a real treat. I prefer them
to the local butter, which is always close to melting because of the great
heat. We have now rented a cow, which is milked by our Mexican. My
husband has not yet found an opportunity to buy a good, tame cow. You
inquire so eagerly after our Mexican, Domingo; he is indeed still with us.39
As there is nothing to be done in the garden now, he has been away several
times to shoot deer, generally for  days, and on last three trips he shot
some twenty deer, some of which he brought here for us, and then he sold
the rest for the hides, from which breeches and overshirts are made. He
then brought along wonderful big turkeys, which are really excellent. We

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             ’             

have here in profusion prairie chickens, jackrabbits, snipe, quail, and

turkeys.
The other day, Domingo fared sadly, the poor devil. Seven () English
miles from here he rides to a water hole that the deer frequent. There he
turned the two horses loose to graze, and he went looking for game. The
water there had already dried up; for we are still longing for rain. Growing
thirsty and finding no water, the horses quietly departed, heading for home,
where they arrived on the third day, on my birthday. Domingo came back,
found the horses missing, and tracked them this way and that for ½ days
without eating or drinking. At last he came upon an arm of salt water,
where the bay reaches inland for  miles and has been staked out with poles.
There he saw the horses proceeding right out in the middle of the water. At
first he intended to go after them, but at that moment he collapsed. He then
lay down by the water, and tormented by an awful thirst, he resolved to
drink salt water, which of course made him totally ill. The following
morning my husband sent out another Mexican to seek Domingo; the man
found him near dying and still drinking salt water! He gave him bread,
coffee, etc., which of course was very welcome, and also plenty of good
water and a new horse. Domingo arrived safely but is still ill.
My fine dog recently went out through the gate; I at once hastened after
him. Yet before I was able to open the gate, he had already eaten some of
the poison that the tramps and gamblers spread out everywhere. And after a
-minute fight and struggle, the most faithful and excellent guardian of our
house died at my feet, right at the garden gate!
You would be much astonished to see me in the morning in my Mexican
garb, which, however, is necessary in the kitchen because of the heat. It
amounts to nothing but a shirt, fastened with buttons. I now regret that I
brought along only a ½ dozen of them from New Orleans; but here clothes
are made like that, all of them! So: shirt, petticoats, and light, very light
cotton skirts without waists! I could have made excellent use of my old
clothes here!
You write so anxiously that our money might attract thieves. But that
need not be feared, as up to now we have had only small sums for safekeep-
ing. For Felix’s chief work has been for Col. Kinney, and he has settled
accounts in lands. Then, too, my husband has had great expenses for boards
and lumber to alter and improve our house. It is very annoying that people
here have almost no money and of course do not even pay for work. Now,

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   

however, two companies of soldiers are coming to Corpus Christi, whereby

the town will probably grow somewhat more prominent.
Belatedly, I beg again you to tell me what kind of bed the little child’s
must be. Feathers are shamefully expensive, even in New Orleans. I there-
fore resolved to take feathers from our pillows, as indeed we do not need all
of them, and in the summer none at all except those pillows of horses’ hair. I
got Spanish moss fetched, which is quite like horses’ hair, for a little baby
mattress. But as to the child’s other bedding, I am not informed and await
your advice as quickly as possible.
I now have a new faithful companion in the household, and an excellent
keeper. A new dog I received from Felix, who got him when he was at Eagle
Pass. He is only  months old, very watchful and aggressive, and never goes
away from the house or out of our garden. He has become very devoted to
me and will grow very big and strong. Throughout this morning he has
been lying next to the fireplace. He is now Felix’s, Domingo’s, and my
darling. Greet my fat old dog at home. Farewell! May God preserve you safe
and sound, beloved Mother! Stay dear
Your—Maria

P.S. With this letter, dear Mother, you finally receive a little drawing Felix
made for you of our house.40 Explanation of it follows. The aspect is from
the front garden. On the right side of the house are our two windows, the
door between them. This is now Felix’s room; formerly our only room. The
line of the roof shows how far the old house stretched. The two windows to
the left of the entrance under the little veranda are my room. The little
corner of a building you see to the left is our Mexican’s house with adjoining
horse barn; until Mr. Büsse’s departure, this was his workshop. You can’t
miss the very big tree, pride of our establishment. I wanted Felix to draw in
the horses to complete the picture, but he would not include these kickers. I
therefore send you a separate picture of them drawn by my own hand.
To the right of the house we live in is a big shell cistern, and at the right-
hand corner of the drawing is our henhouse with the adjoining poultry yard.
The railing leading at an angle from the cistern to the henhouse separates
the front garden from the big field of Indian corn, melons, and pumpkins
with our fine fig trees. To right and left our house is surrounded by a very
large garden, which is missing in the picture, as I guess our house is Felix’s
chief focus. The fenced space in front of the house is a wonderful lawn, just

[  ]
             ’             

as we have on the left, where the dots on the drawing represent the rows of
fig and orange trees. To give you a complete idea of our dwelling, also
missing are the creepers that festoon our whole house, the veranda, and the
henhouse. On the veranda you really would not see anything but a tall mass
of flowers with a small opening. The plants, Texas stars, reach far above the
deer antlers. In the foreground you see a yucca, which indeed is very, very
beautiful and is planted around with rose bushes. Behind the veranda would
be our bedroom window and then the kitchen, making up the back of the
house. Now you are fully equipped to find your way around our home. I
don’t know whether you, dear Mother, have wished a more detailed drawing
of our fields and gardens. I think when this Mr. Hofrat comes here and
brings along the daguerreotype apparatus, it will be possible to photograph
that quite exactly.
At last the rain urgently needed has come, the day before yesterday, and
has been beating down furiously with little respite. I think we in Germany
cannot conceive of such rain! The water pours from the sky in torrents. Our
big cistern was completely dry and the rain filled it in but one night, and it
is by no means small:  feet deep and  feet square. As you can imagine, we
are rather isolated when it rains.
I am sorry I did bring along dominoes. Last winter my husband and Mr.
Büsse played excessively with my fancy little dominoes.
Our Domingo has not yet recovered from his hunting expedition, though
he is better than in his first days back. We are safe and well, thanks be to
God. Tomorrow we shall get two cows from Colonel Kinney, which delights
me. I have no other news to report, because nothing much is going on as far
as I know. And I guess it has been about four weeks since I have been out,
as I prefer being in our house where it is cool and more pleasant than in
town.
My dear Father, I must remind you of your promise. I beg you very much
to come to us, and you will make our joy quite complete by bringing our
dear, good Mother along with you. I should not have ventured to hope this,
but now that you speak of it yourself, I have almost no peace, thinking of it
all the time and awaiting you daily. So do not make us wait too long!
Now farewell, and greet all my dear brothers and sisters very cordially
from us. Felix sends you the most heartfelt, best greetings.
A thousand and thousand kisses—From your
Maria

[  ]
   

Corpus Christi, January , 

Beloved Parents,
Miss Mary Blücher’s [ink spot] first letter.
The last letter you will surely have received not long ago, and this one
follows it without my having received any lines from you. I wrote recently
supposing I could no longer be so active. Indeed it was so. On Tuesday the
th, at the last strokes of the  o’clock chime at noon, a little daughter was
born to us. Though we had very much wished for a little son, I could not
love such a one more than my little girl. As it would make only a few days’
difference, I thought it better to leave you in the dark till I and Miss Daugh-
ter could write to you together (the ink blotch above being made by her
finger) that you must not be alarmed about my health. All went well after I
had endured  hours nearly going mad. My poor Felix had great trouble
with me. Everything was so unfortunate. The two Mexicans, Domingo and
Juan, had started for our land at the rancho quite early, and my washer-
woman, who was to come to us at the time of my confinement, was busy in
an American house in the first two days, so that Felix was alone with me
and in those  days found himself obliged to see to everything. At the
beginning I had no idea how to deal with the little babe, yet this, too,
quickly resolved itself. She nurses properly, cries little, and is sturdy and fat.
As you cannot see her, you shall at least know that she has great blue eyes,
dark brown hair, and a fine pale skin with narrow little white hands and feet.
When she had just been born and was crying, I said if only Grandmother
were here, she would certainly cover the little angel with kisses. In the neat
white jackets she looks charming indeed. Since Wednesday noon I have
been up again and am feeling quite hale and hearty. The old Mexican
woman cares for me and keeps everything clean and in good order and also
knows how to cook very well. She is the only Mexican woman here who
knows how to work and does work.
You will surely be so kind as to inform the relatives and acquaintances of
the birth of the little one. Just now Felix has so much to do, copying out
land papers, that he cannot get to writing letters at all. I should so very
much have liked him to write to Aunt Rieben. If only I could visit you with
my little one when she is a little bigger, and then could spend Christmas
with you, what sights she might see. At first she will not see anything but
our house and garden, for now I can no longer think of going away. The

[  ]
             ’             

poor little one will perhaps not be overly well attended when I have to do
other things that take priority. As I never read the newspapers here, I am
completely ignorant of what is happening in Germany, whether war still
looms or how things have ended up. If war should come to our family, I
cannot imagine that you would support the king’s violent measures or
remain aloof from such atrocities.41 Do try in time to sell your property and
leave Germany with Mother. Even if you sell at a loss, you will still have
enough to be able to live well. Go anywhere. In America you can at any
time invest money at  to %, provided you do not deposit it with one of
the good Germans running about in America by the thousand to relieve
their arriving countrymen of every last pfennig. If you feel antipathy to
Texas, go to the north of the United States, say New York or Cincinnati,
etc. There they say one can live very well. If you do travel, go as comfortably
as possible by steamer. You’ll win back the greater expense it causes, and
nothing is more discouraging and depressing than a bad voyage. You
probably wonder at having me speak this way and may find it arrogant that
I give you advice. But you will surely pardon me when you take into account
my most fervent disquietude about the preservation of lives so dear to me.
One year spent in America always matures one to some degree. Uninten-
tionally, one becomes a politician, and politics is often the topic of Felix’s
and my conversation. The elections, too, now interest me. For if the person
elected is favorably inclined toward our area, he will look after its interests,
and our property will increase in value more and more.42 My dear Mother,
you are so very anxious about the long distance from the town. For the
present, I do not think of moving to the rancho at all, as there are so many
bugs there, and if we should move there it really would not be a big
change. For the rancho is only ½ German miles [one Prussian mile is
roughly ½ American miles] from Corpus Christi and only ½ a mile from
Nuecestown, and farmers live and grow crops along the whole route out
there. Don Domingo and Don Apollonio are still working out there as
before. We did not make a very plentiful crop, it is true, but a good crop of
Indian corn. I should very much like to see the rancho. So far the rancho
continues to carry high costs without the least earnings; for the Indian
corn reaped must remain for sowing and be used to feed the men until the
next harvest. Then only a few bushels will be left; and always there are
expenses to face. I am still teaching Mexicans various things. Juan is
learning to write. Our Domingo the other day took a deer from a panther

[  ]
   

and enjoyed it very much. Every day  to  deer come to the water
holes on the rancho, and people subsist on coffee, deer meat, cornmeal, and
pumpkin.
It is impossible to mention by name all those from whom I would love to
hear! So greet all the dear ones from me ten thousand times. Felix charged
me with many greetings to you. Fare very well and write to me soon.
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, October , 
Dear Parents,
On October  I received your missive of August  and should have liked to
answer at once had I had the time. My little babe, thanks be to God, is safe
and sound and is growing in size, strength, and understanding. Since two
months ago she has been pulling herself up alone and now she is beginning
to walk. She goes along with one hand held and also hands herself along
from one chair to another if they stand close together. One tooth is already
quite distinctly visible and will soon break through without difficulty, I hope.
The little one has legs like the corner posts of our veranda, and she is now
more than  feet in height. The black hair has become fair, and the beautiful
blue eyes have turned brown. The weaning is a big drama still pending, for
she does not like eating at all. The other day Felix held her head and hands,
and I held her legs and the rest of her body, and she was thus forced to
drink some milk, amidst among formidable crying and thrashing. I can only
give her thin cereal so far. She is still bathed daily and now wears breeches
with her little shirt. She looks like a little street boy: toddling about barefoot
the whole day. You write, dear Mother, that you would like to see her in her
soft little moss bed, but her cot is by no means soft. At night she lies naked
on a sheepskin between me and Felix, and in the daytime she sleeps on the
floor. I wish to make her as tough as possible. We have been testing how
many taps she can stand. After a ¼ hour, the red stripes where each finger
was can still be seen; this is an amusement for her, and she laughs, quite
amused at it. When she falls, she laughs.
Indeed, my little Mary is developing more and more very day. Who will
undertake piercing her ears and her vaccination against smallpox is still very
uncertain.43 Before I forget again, the rod is missing from the package you
sent, which I regret greatly, as no day passes without the little one getting a

[  ]
             ’             

whack, and for want of the rod, the end of my riding whip must serve. I
greatly fear spoiling her, and I do not know how I can break her of the
naughtiness of continually wishing to be held.44
Even now, while I am writing, I have her on my arm. You therefore must
excuse the untidy writing. I never thought so small a being could cause such
a great deal of trouble and work. Every day I must wash and iron for her, for
she often needs  changes of clothes a day. Despite Felix’s taking great
pains, it remains impossible to get a servant. My washerwoman stays only
till noon and gets ½ a dollar a day, and that is a lot. But Felix still has too
many expenses with the rancho to buy me a black girl. For a girl of about 
years costs at least  at New Orleans. Our Mexican workers receive 
and provisions each month; so this, too, is always a great expense. Our
Mexicans, Juan and Domingo, are however infinitely diligent and skillful.
Moreover, Felix gives them such plentiful provisions and treats them better
than anyone else does here:  lb. coffee and  lb. sugar a week, ample corn for
bread, rice, and then he kills wild game for them so that they have meat and
fat in abundance. Except for the inconvenience of these expenses, our lives
are happy and cheerful, barring the thought afflicting me that things with
you in Germany now look rather bleak and poised for war. If worst should
come to worst, just come and join us!
Felix sends you his deepest thanks, dear Father, for the great joy you have
given him by sending the fine needle gun. The gun more than meets his
expectations. I almost lost my horse at the rancho. He was attacked during
the night by a panther that mauled him around his neck and head. He had
been hobbled (his forefeet tied together so that he could not stray too far);
nevertheless, the horse kept the panther off. Upon going out to round up the
horses in the morning, Juan found my poor horse like that. But Domingo
nursed him well, and he is now sound and fat again. Felix took his new
gun, gathered several men, and went out to the rancho. They encircled the
place where the attack had occurred, scouring the brush till they found
the offending panther (which betrayed itself by snarling). Felix shot him
dead. On the adjoining rancho are a great many sheep, hence the presence
of the panthers. They have already torn  sheep to pieces, but numerous
panthers have likewise already been killed, and they will surely be driven
out as the region becomes more inhabited.45 They do not attack people.
In the Zoological Garden in Berlin there are two specimens of this
animal. They are gray and are very difficult to see in the thickets. Felix’s
gun shot very well.

[  ]
   

An old German gentleman named Schätzell, aged  years and having

lived in America and Mexico these past  years, has settled here.46 Felix
already knew him. He is an immensely rich man, and has a grand structure
being erected here for his residence. He is unmarried and uses a great part
of his money to help other people out of trouble and to give presents. The
other day he sent us a barrel full of the very finest flour, which of course was
very agreeable for us. Mr. Büsse has now been engaged for ½ a day to
build his house. As a result, working there he can make splendid money in 
months, and in view of these expected earnings, I have told him he owes me
 for past room and board. And, hoping he keeps his word this time, I
have spent that amount on a nice stove for my new kitchen. I still need 
to stock my kitchen. If you would advance us this amount of money, we
should thank you for it from the bottom of our hearts; for we cannot put
much aside and save as yet. The rancho, its land, the men, and the agricul-
tural implements needed, such as ploughs, etc., have cost us a good deal,
and for this plot of land in town we still owe . But if we harvest a good
crop, we will save. Up to now the weather has been promising, and there are
 acres of late Indian corn in all its glory on the rancho.
I read with great regret of the ruin of the Croll art establishment.47 I am
glad you saw the paintings of America beforehand. And if the artist ren-
dered the beauty of Mississippi shores even in some measure, you must find
my rapture as natural as looking at the reality. So you got our house painted
again. By now the greenery must already have grown up again; what color is
the house? Here we have painted our house with white oil paint. The fine
big orange and fig trees shown on Felix’s drawing have now disappeared, I’m
sorry to say, not a single one of them remaining. I hope Father and Julius
may go to London for the grand exhibition, and I should not take it amiss
at all.48 If we had the wherewithal, we should also do so. This is a splendid
venture, which will bring England considerable advantage.
The day before yesterday I was disturbed by a violent thunderstorm,
wind, and terrible hail and rain. The shingle roofs dry out so much in the
heat that at the first strong wind and rain, they generally leak somewhat.
This time the storm and rain were so violent that the bedroom and the
kitchen were suitable for bathing. Felix’s room and mine are protected by
little shutters.
I have written this letter while suffering a violent toothache that has been
with me for several months with only brief respite. I think it to be rheu-
matic, for Spanish fly and a foot bath help me achieve some relief. One of

[  ]
             ’             

my ears (or rather behind it) has become quite red from Spanish fly. This
terrible toothache is really tormenting me. It resists even creosote. My head
swims with the pain. You can certainly not complain of my writing too
little. Now fare very well and greet all relatives and acquaintances a thou-
sand times.
Very fondly loving you—your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, November , 
Beloved Parents,
Once more I entreat you not to give up the plan to come here, where you
will be safe from revolution and anarchy. Indeed, dear Father, I beg you
fiercely to extricate yourself as soon as possible from the rotten conditions in
Germany, for sooner or later a terrible storm must certainly break loose. For
if one does not live alongside it every day, but hears only now and then of
that base administration and how the people are being treated, truly every
upright mind revolts. If only you could see the English and American
newspapers, which relate the facts without reserve, freely and openly, and
what future they prophesy for the Germans, you would find it natural that I
am vexed at the thought of you dears suffering such a time. Felix has been
on the verge of writing about it, but he thrust down the pen, as he is filled
with fury about that shameful government. I know, dear Father, that you are
a thoroughgoing royalist and do not avoid saying so on occasion. Please, just
do not say it, for the German people will and must win the upper hand, and
if you stay, it will be to the misfortune of our family.49
The Americans (the United States) and the Texans are now endeavoring
to deliver Cuba from Spanish dominion, and yesterday a ship with volun-
teers started from here.50 At : I heard their cheers when they embarked.
I have not heard about conditions in Germany since your last letter but do
hope the threat of war will not arise again. As to the book about Texas, it
delights me that you found my opinion confirmed in many respects. It
appears that Corpus Christi will grow into to something grand, as a major
military depot is soon to arrive and a month ago Col. Kinney announced
great festivities, like horse racing and bull fights, etc., for next May.51 Mrs.
Kinney is a society lady who dresses only in silk and drives along four-in-
hand with  magnificent roan horses.52 In spite of all her invitations I have
not yet visited her, as her house is continually full of strangers, and I do not
find pleasure in that. I am not giving up hope that you will still come here.

[  ]
   

So far Felix has not returned. He has been away nearly  weeks on
business for the German Emigration Association and I assume will stay
away even longer.53 He is advising them about the most suitable land to
purchase in Texas, for which he is best qualified thanks to his position as a
surveyor. We have already planted our garden again, and I guess I shall soon
have some cabbage for our kitchen, and I see my shallots looking wonderful
too. I got all that done in Felix’s absence, and he is bound to be very agree-
ably surprised. I also have a big pot full of magnificent aged cream cheese,
which is in danger of beginning to spoil. It is high time that my Felix came
home!
Father’s letter of July  inquires urgently after the act of baptism. But as
there is no church here and priests come only from time to time, my little
Mary has not received any other baptism than ours. I must confess that it is
not agreeable to me to have her baptized by a Catholic person. And as it is
the custom here to have the children baptized only at an advanced age, I
wonder whether we should not wait till we eventually go to New Orleans to
have her baptized there in our faith. I shall wait and see how I might like
the next priest to arrive. In New Orleans the children are generally baptized
at the age of – or even older.
My life here is so monotonous, for my existence consists of these ordi-
nary occupations: () morning—washing () morning—ironing () morning
—baking and cooking; afternoon: nursing and feeding the child; evening—
sewing and writing; night—sometimes sleep when it pleases my little one,
but fortunately this is mostly the case. Today at  o’clock, Mr. Noessel came
to invite me for a little carriage drive. This was only the second time I have
been out in  months. We drove to his house. There we supped on fresh
butter and real fatherlandish old cheese, the like of which I have not seen for
 years, and red wine. He gave me a cheese for Felix as well. Then we had a
carriage drive of a ½ hour and I was at home again at :. Fine weather,
some wind, °.
Dear Mother, you asked about my delivery, and to reassure you and
dismiss your apprehensions concerning my delivery and health, I will give
you more exact details about it. On Monday evening, Jan. th, I felt very
unwell, went to bed at  o’clock as usual, and slept calmly till  o’clock,
when I awoke because of violent pains, which increased from minute to
minute. Nevertheless I got up at  o’clock, aiming to cook breakfast for Juan
and Domingo, who had already saddled in order to start for the rancho. But
I had to give up those intentions as I felt faint, and I lay down on the sofa

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             ’             

until Felix and Mr. Büsse had taken my bed into my room, which is more
spacious and higher than is our bedroom (and furnished with a stove). Then
I lay down in bed, and Felix wanted to fetch the midwife. But I did not wish
to stay alone, and as Felix, too, was anxious, he sent Mr. Büsse to fetch the
woman. Mrs. Schmidt, however, was not at home, as she had been called
away a few hours before and was a considerable distance from the town. Mr.
Büsse went there, and fortunately she had just finished there and then came
to me toward  o’clock, stayed with me till  o’clock, when after having
received her  fee (and some whiskey), she left in all haste. As I felt
extraordinarily well, neither incapacitated nor weak, I nursed the little one,
though Mrs. Schmidt was of the opinion I should surely have to wait a few
days before I had milk. For this is always the case with the nervous Ameri-
can women, and she could not imagine that it might be otherwise. My
little babe drank with great ease. She then remained in my bed, and father,
mother, and daughter vied with one another forthwith over who could
sleep most peacefully. When I got out of bed on the ninth day, I looked
better and healthier than I had ever looked before. I hope you will now be
quite calm.
Felix is still away measuring land for the German Emigration Associa-
tion. He told me straight out that he is by no means inclined to revert to
being German, as he puts it, as he has become an American citizen only
with great pains. I too like it best; for as to climate, Corpus Christi is the
healthiest and most agreeable place in Texas, and I should not like to
exchange it for another place, which would be necessary if Felix went to
work for the association. And we would also have to give up the rancho,
which is now finally shaping up into very fine order, with fine grapevines
and nut trees, fences, pens, corrals, etc., together with three log houses: one
each for Juan and Apollonio and the third for Domingo and his wife, as he
is now going to be married. Next time Felix will send you a plan of our land
so that you may see exactly where the trees, water, hills, and houses lie. He
has also already drawn a plan of a large house, which he will build there for
us later.
When Felix was away with Colonel Kinney for two days several months
ago, a young Mexican came and annoyed me with insulting remarks. As I
did not have a pistol at hand to teach him good manners, I quickly called
Mr. Büsse, who ushered him out. When Felix came home in the evening, he
at once found the fellow and, accompanied by  Americans and  Mexicans,
brought him to our house, where I confirmed that the man had not removed

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   

himself when I ordered him to do so. Then he was tied and  lashes were
administered, and his knife was taken from him and broken, which is
equivalent to removing on officer’s sword. Then Felix notified the judge,
after which the man had to leave town in a hurry. In this respect the
Americans are noble: if a lady is discommoded, there is stiff punishment.
And that is as it should be, for otherwise I could not be calm for a moment
when Felix is not here; hence they are on their guard. Among the Mexicans
here there are only very, very few good ones. The rest live by stealing and
gambling. But the good ones are always kindly received at our place, and
Felix cures them with great care if illness befalls them.
Some  horses were recently stolen here in a single night, including two
from our rancho. Felix at once mobilized a company of soldiers and they
were away for two days without seeing anything, as they had a very bad
guide who lost the trail. Fortunately, our horses returned here the next day,
freshly unsaddled and in a sweat. To a Mexican his horse is his one and all.
It is supposed to be the work of Don Elochio Zamora, a notorious horse
thief who hides out in the chaparral thickets between here and Brownsville.
Last week, poor Domingo cut through some veins in his arm, right
above his hand, with his hatchet and would probably have bled to death
had he not jumped on an unsaddled horse and ridden to Nuecestown a
½ hour distant when he felt faint because he was unable to stanch the
bleeding. From there a messenger came in the night to Felix to fetch the
necessary supplies and remedies. Domingo was unconscious for a long
while. My husband, who to his greatest dismay now weighs  pounds and
is developing a portly belly, has had  big boils on his back but has healed
up again now.
A letter has just arrived from Mr. Magner saying that the chests you sent
have arrived at New Orleans. A thousand thanks and greetings to all
brothers and sisters and their children and all the rest of my acquaintances.
Now fare right well and write soon.
Very—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, March st, 

Dear Parents,
Corpus Christi is now celebrating festivals upon festivals! On Dec.  and ,
during Felix’s illness, a great hunt was held for bears, panthers, jaguars, deer,
bobcats, wild boars, turkeys, geese, etc. Some  persons partook in it and

[  ]
             ’             

inundated Corpus Christi with game. On the third day they arranged a
great dinner. I kept a list of the game killed so that you might get an idea of
how crowded the surroundings are with animals. The register, however, got
lost during Felix’s illness. The chief hunter brought in  ducks,  deer, 
turkeys, and  geese after only two days’ hunting. Numbers of snipe and
quail were not announced. Big ox carts fetched the prey. On the first day of
the festivities there was a great ball, which we did not attend. People living
here are much caught up in all this, do not go to work at all, borrow every-
thing from well-off persons, and never pay them back. The ball cost one
lady her life. She had been a widow for a year and had  or  children. She
was about to be married again at New Year. She danced herself half to
death, then caught cold and got erysipelas, from which she died.
Dear Father, Domingo immensely enjoys the clock. But for safety’s sake
it has been hung in our house because it is a very good one, and Domingo
cannot yet do well at winding it. A very disagreeable event has occurred
here. Our fine, fine big dog would often go into the street and bark vigor-
ously at passersby. I went to town one day and the dog was outside the
fence, where he was annoying a man by barking. The man shot at him and
hit him in both eyes. So now he has been blind since November. It is
scarcely apparent now, admittedly, for he accompanies me everywhere,
though he has grown yet more aggressive.
Should you receive this letter only a long time after our sending it off, I
should not be astonished, for the mail boat was stranded somewhere near
here without a crew, and there are probably no other boats soon. So a hearty
farewell to you all and just write very soon. Many greeting to all dears and a
thousand kisses from
—Your Maria
54
Instead of a letter my little Mieze sends you a little curl!
n
Corpus Christi, May st, 
Cordially loved Parents,
For nearly  months I have been without news from you and now I
suppose a letter from you to have been lost, and therefore I will hesitate no
longer with mine. All of us are well, thanks be to God, our little Mieze
sturdy and fat and in high spirits. Some weeks ago I got her vaccinated
against smallpox, and of , two have come out very well. For two months
now, I have barely seen Felix at all. He has been away all of the last  weeks,

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   

and he is measuring and surveying the town and is occupied from  or :
in the morning to  or : in the evening. At noon he comes home for a ½
hour to dine, and in the evening he goes to bed exhausted at :.
Corpus Christi is gradually filling with people and animals of all kinds:
jaguars, bobcats, bears, panthers, bullfighters and bulls, cocks—(cartloads
full, their purpose being fighting, the chief pleasure of the Americans)—
circus riders, fast runners, German girls, and barrel organs. It vexes me that
the women of our nation sink so low here. For the prizes Col. Kinney has
bought magnificent and most valuable silver things, worth many dollars, all
the objects very tasteful, such as: a big silver coffee machine, big water jug,
bowls, all inscribed with Col. Kinney’s name as donor and the date of the
festivities; dozens of knives, forks, and spoons, the boxes bearing similar
inscriptions on silver plaques—all in all, an immense number of items.
Kinney has also bought a steamboat, which transports the new arrivals
promptly off the big schooners in the harbor. All speak and think: Festivity.
I shall stay away from all performances, as Felix expects to have so much to
do during the fair.55
I have long been expecting some letters from you, beloved Parents, and I
hope you are all safe and sound. How much I should like to see you again; no
day passes by without my speaking of it, and no hour without my thinking of
it. I should so very much like my little Mary to spend Christmas with you
and the whole family. I find much pleasure in my little rascal. She walks all
over the house and is into everything. The day before yesterday and yesterday
we were visited by Hungarian fugitives, followers of Count Kossuth, two
most interesting persons to whom Kinney, by the by, has presented ,
acres of land. As for the other fugitives, as soon as they come here, up to
, acres have been promised them. The Hungarians now here are
certainly known to you: Uihatzi, former governor of Komarom, and his
friend Pumusz.56 Perhaps I have spelled and written the names wrongly, but
this is how they are pronounced. The first is an older, kind man, not tall,
with a long, long white beard and wearing a Hungarian officer’s uniform;
the other is a tall, nice man with fair beard. Both of them speak German
well. They were much moved when they spoke of their native country and
called it the richest and finest country in the world. They seem, incidentally,
to be short of funds, as between them they have traveled , miles on
foot. As the older one told us, a cheap saddle harmed their horse and they
could not afford to buy even a cheap horse. As I was writing this, they
reappeared. Felix says you may not tell anybody that he is helping followers

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             ’             

of Kossuth, and that he gave the Hungarians some cigars, for it might cause
you trouble with the police. They are frank with Felix and talk politics long
into the night. Felix is aware of their limited means, and he will give them
as much as is in his power.
My cow still provides us with milk, but it will certainly soon run short. In
all Corpus Christi, drought has already depleted the grass, and our pond too
is already half dried out. The town’s artesian well is always being dug, dug,
and dug. The digger, however, gets  a day and free board and lodging in
Kinney’s house. This fellow thus has plenty of time, has indeed been
digging  years already, and always says, “In a fortnight there will be water!”
May God keep him with us for just two more weeks!
Tomorrow the Mexican I have in the house leaves, too, to celebrate the
festival. I am not at all sure how we will fare. For these fellows are really too
awful, lazy, and unclean. If we did not have the rancho, I might already have
two black people.57 For recently, Felix has been earning quite well and has
presented me with a doubloon, worth . Though I keep all our money, I
prefer having some pocket money as well. You see, I am cashier and book-
keeper. Around here we keep precise track of expenses, receipts, etc. And all
this trouble before I can even get a washerwoman! Last winter I had to give
washing a miss for three months, unable to do it myself because of rheuma-
tism. If only we can do well with Indian corn this year, we will probably
come out all right.
The festivities have commenced and are proceeding mightily, music and
dancing everywhere. There are also races every day, and some of the valu-
ables have already been distributed as prizes. Every evening there are circus
performances, and land auctions in the mornings. Felix has his hands full,
and I have all this through hearsay and have not yet been in town at all.
Now there is a tent with ice and refreshments every few yards in town. Iced
lemonade is what I fancy and request; it is agreeable. They say there is very
mixed company everywhere. Felix will go with me to the bullfight, and I am
indeed curious to see it. Every day new fighters come in.
I now have a new servant who seems to be very good, and at least rather
clean. All the pots are clean and shining; all is swept clean; he polishes
spoons and teapot, etc., every day without being asked. I cannot begin to
describe how sweet and funny our Mary is. The heat here is already so great
again that the little one is clothed only with a little knee-length smock and
a pair of shoes, and at night she sleeps quite unclothed. She still has  teeth
only. Her food is very plain, but she is sturdy, fat, and very robust. She does

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   

not have cereal and the like; milk, white bread, at noon a soft-boiled egg
(her favorite dish). Bread she does not like especially but favors water and
oranges. Her father’s passion, reading, she will probably also succumb to
later; for she now sometimes stoops for a ½ hour over a written or illus-
trated page, looking attentively at the letters. An old album is now her
reading matter. Do greet all relatives and friends a thousand times and write
me very much—once more a thousand greetings and kisses
From your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, November , 
Dear loved Parents,
It seems I am never to begin my letters but with the complaint about your
not writing! Since September  I have again been quite without news from
home, which surprises me now when I have been hoping to hear something
about the shipment of the chests from Bremen, so that Felix might take
steps to get them sent here from Galveston. For I am very keen to receive
the winter supplies speedily, as we have already had some northers. Is it
really so difficult for you to write?
On October  Mr. Schünke started from here to travel to Europe. We
sent his trunk to Galveston for shipment, and along with it I packed a nice
jaguar skin and some egret plumes for you, dear Parents. The really fine,
large skin I had written to you about was sold just eight days before, and not
for  but for only . The good man felt no one would pay such an
excessive price. The skin I sent is quite nice, but unfortunately not the
largest or finest in quality. I found a damaged spot on one ear, but I had no
choice, it being the only one here. Yesterday, I asked a gentleman from
Mexico to procure me another really good one. If he sends a nice skin to
Felix soon, I shall send it to you with a bag that Mrs. Belden gave me for
you so that you may have a sample of the hand-woven textiles produced by
the Mexican women. It is the same kind as the big Mexican rugs. I don’t
know if the egret feathers will be useful. Should this be the case, I beg you,
dear Mother, not to let them lie unused.
From all my letters you surely recognize how little credence I give the
hope that you might really come here! And how should I indeed? You
scarcely even write! And in truth my time is as restricted as can be, but I do
not neglect to send you my news from time to time. I can hardly find time
to sew. With much difficulty I found time to make Felix a winter waistcoat

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             ’             

he needs, which was his birthday gift. The days are so short now, and our
Mieze keeps me constantly busy as I must always be on the lookout and
rounding her up from the far corners of the garden. I can never sit still for
an hour and sew.
At least I am more comfortable in my home now, in that I am no longer
cold. We have two good fireplaces and I can go to the kitchen through a
closed warm room. Our rooms are now papered, as are the fireplaces.
However, so much is being built here that no carpenter is to be had. And
Mr. Büsse cannot be persuaded to do it; he mends some rifles but he will
have nothing to do with continuous work. A month ago I ordered a little
table for the child, as she always sits at a chair to eat, and this is not appro-
priate. But he does not complete even this trifle. And Felix gave him boards
to use, so want of lumber is no excuse this time. Felix has diligently done
the carpentry, and the room between the living area and the kitchen is
better than the first. He has also built a good stable. Our livestock has
increased by a little hog that Mieze got for a present from Mrs. Meuly. My
little girl will soon get a little property together. I save all the milk money I
make for her, and when it reaches , I will buy another cow.
Before I forget it, I wish to tell you, dear Father, that when you see the
maker of the needle gun, please procure as many more as possible. For Felix
keeps his firearms like dolls, elegant and clean, and he is overjoyed with the
needle gun.
Mrs. Ohlers has rented her beautiful house with garden, furniture, and all
conveniences to the colonel of the soldiers now stationed here for  a
month, and she now resides in a little apartment in town. She no longer has
social intercourse with anybody, and her position is not very enviable. She
has fine horses and carriages from Kinney, black servants, and every posses-
sion conceivable but must use these for herself alone. Her husband, as you
must realize, is of no account. What they now have is mostly hers, and she
can do with it as she likes.
Mrs. Kinney and her eldest daughter went to their plantation some
weeks ago. I think she finds things tedious in Corpus Christi. But now that
a government depot has been moved here, there will certainly be more
traffic.58 In the time we have been here, the town has increased and im-
proved so immensely as to be unrecognizable compared to when we first
arrived. Every week,  to  new houses rise, and the workers are in such
demand that Antonio has left us, as another pays him  a day.
Before this letter reaches you, Christmas and everyone’s birthdays and

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   

New Year will probably already be behind you; so we should be sending best
wishes for the New Year! Who knows what kind of Christmas or New Year
we shall have? My birthday as usual did not pass unobserved. But I did not
even have dinner with Felix, who was gone. I spent the evening quite alone.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Kinney’s daughters, Louise Love, and Rebecca
Britton all came to see me, amused themselves for a few hours with playing
ball, etc., and that was that. But I was not left empty-handed. For some days
before, Felix had presented me with  town lots and building sites that he
bought for me from Kinney, and now I am a landowner!59 Up to now their
value has been  to , but prices have been rising for some time as in
the town itself, the lots have almost all been sold and built upon. Then I got
a nice gift from Mrs. Webb, who sent me  magnificent white turkeys, and I
hope that in the spring I shall have some more. Mr. Büsse brought me fine
flowers; the baker had made a cake which he gave Felix at a very low price.
Our Antonio, too, brought me his share, which pleased me extraordinarily,
not the thing so much but the attention. He presented me with a bottle of
very fine Malaga.
There is so much noise here that I cannot go on writing, as Felix is
quarreling with a man about land affairs, and I cannot keep my thoughts
together. To all my greetings; Felix and my Mieze greet you a thousand
times.
Your—Maria

(Belatedly) In addition I want to let you know that the old Mexican Doña
Carmel is again washing for me and will probably be my nanny for the
Miesbock.60 This will mean one less difficulty, for she is very kind and clean:
only (according to Felix) she has a tongue like a mudslinger or sailor.
n
Corpus Christi, January , 
Dear loved Parents,
This time you can reproach me for having made you wait an excessively
long time for a letter. This letter was delayed because on January , toward 
o’clock, another little daughter was presented to us. Thanks be to God I am
now quite well and running my household again. I should have liked to
write you sooner, but my eyes were so affected that I was not allowed to read
nor write nor sew. The cause is perhaps sewing by candlelight, which could
not be left undone as my household requires sewing a great part of the day.

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             ’             

I was still up and about till  o’clock, which the midwife had recom-
mended to me this time as more appropriate than lying down. Then I had
her fetched. This little creature came into the world with much more
difficulty than our Mieze, and her birth might perhaps have taken even
longer had the woman not told me that if she were not born immediately,
she would die. I have now gotten over it and will not torment you or myself
with the memory. It was a difficult labor, and the baby took a pummeling.
Her forehead and head were covered with dark blue bruises, and from her
nose across her forehead was a big, big swelling, which, however, disap-
peared on the second day. The baby is longer than Miesbock was though
much less fat; but, thanks be to God, she is visibly gaining weight. In the
first three days I was miserable and unable to nurse the little being. The
little one also had and still has a kind of thrush, little pustules in her mouth.
To treat this I continually apply: borax, honey, and syrup water. I had an old
Mexican woman assisting me, and this one has stayed with me a fortnight; a
very good woman, but unclean and disorderly like her whole race. Unfortu-
nately, Felix was so busy all the time that during the  days I was in bed, I
neither saw him nor spoke to him. Sometimes he had to write land papers
half the night; every evening he had to go to Kinney’s. And thus my Mieze
is my only companion, and often troublesome company. The many visitors
were more fatiguing than enjoyable. Mrs. Kinney presented the little one
with a nice agate cross on a chain. As I write this scarcely legible letter, I am
rocking the cradle with my left foot.
The crate fortunately reached us on New Year’s Eve. The schooner had
been here since  days before Christmas but was not unloaded until then.
We might very well have had it on Christmas Eve. The Bremen ship had
been sailing so extremely long that we thought she had perhaps been lost at
sea—from Sept.  to December , on which day she arrived at the bar at
Galveston. As in all the earlier crates, we have again found all we wished for
and other delightful things in it. Pardon me if this time I restrict myself to
saying many thousand and most heartfelt thanks in general. In the next
letter the details will follow. Felix wishes to thank you again for the gun,
with which he is thrilled, for according to him and Mr. Büsse it is excellent.
Miesbock is chiefly very glad of the jester and Noah’s Ark, and the other
toys I have tucked away for the next time. The winter supplies and things
are utterly welcome, especially the stockings and shoes; they could not have
come at a better time. Felix always means to write to all as well as to his
Mecklenburg relatives, but he has become so absolutely a businessman that

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   

I have lost him for myself and for all the rest. Sundays or holidays he now
declares as nonsense and he just keeps hard at it.
The ground oats and pick-me-up did me proud, and I also got a great
boost from a glass of jelly. From the th day they gave me some spoonfuls a
day, and I drink a cup of chocolate a day for extra energy. Above all, how-
ever, I thank you for sending the insect powder. For  days after the child
had been born, I awoke in the night with sharp stinging pains and found
my body covered with swellings; soon I saw that I had been lying in a
regular ant hill, the ants having come for breadcrumbs that had fallen into
my bed. Get up I could not, and it is to this insect powder that I owe the
children’s and my deliverance from the terrible tormentors. I sleep accompa-
nied by my offspring; Felix has yielded his bed to Mieze and lives fully in
his office. On Tuesday he rode away again for several days, and today I
expect him back.
Indeed I must close without expressing my pleasure about the charming
clothes for me and for the child: jackets, hats, caps, and the umbrella for
Mieze. The skirt and the silk bodice fit excellently, and I only wish the silk
bodice had sleeves, as the old ones have been thoroughly damaged by
perspiration and contrast much with the new cloth. The red shawl is
magnificent too! But if I go into detail I shall not finish this.
Mr. Seyler, who arrived here on December th at  o’clock in the morn-
ing with  cents in his pocket, also delivered a little package, for the
contents of which I thank all as fondly.61 Mr. Seyler is a very good-hearted
young man, only he does not yet seem to me ripe for Texas! Without a cent
in his pocket, unable to speak a word of English, he plans to go back to
Berlin in a year’s time as a rich man! Felix, however, has found him work for
½ a day and maybe a later job for ½ to . But at the same he is never
content and says so; thus he surely would never get on here. What was he
thinking of in coming to Texas?! For I can firmly assure you that he is not
able to make himself understood in the least, and now, Oh God!—he
complains about there being no confectioner’s shop; no Bavarian public bar
on Sunday evenings; no balls over the holidays! How can that be endured,
he asks! Yes, and at Papa’s there was always wine at noon—not so with us;
on Sunday champagne and nut tarts—nor that with us! He should have
come here with us in the beginning; he would have been well and truly
astonished. Now enough of that; it will eventually become clear whether he
is worth his salt.
Many thanks for the feather bed. I can’t tell you how heavenly it is. I no

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             ’             

longer dread the northers! For the first two nights I slept with joy (indeed!).
Felix has grown very envious, and I shall gather feathers so that I can
perhaps make him one next year.
Christmas we spent peaceably and pleasantly at home with Christmas
tree, etc., and only Mr. Seyler could not properly enjoy so calm a Christmas.
Do write and tell me how you spent Christmas. I wished you a happy New
Year in my last letter, and I now repeat it. On New Year’s Eve your package
arrived, so we had a great fete, and on New Year’s morning the baker
brought us excellent Berlin doughnuts.
I do not yet feel entirely well. As for the birth of the little one, you will
surely be so kind as to announce it to all the relatives and interested ac-
quaintances; for Felix cannot be relied upon to do so. When will the day
come that you, now a dear Grandmother, can give my little beasts a fond
kiss? Much as you write, I do not believe you are coming. Our Mieze is such
a sparkling, healthy child. When Mr. Seyler entered our home, she was just
dancing and singing to herself. On seeing her for the first time, he re-
marked: “My God, how flourishing and healthy that child looks!” This
Texan seedling is not fat but has flesh like iron; rain and northers matter
little to her; she always strolls about out of doors. When the little one was
born, she sat at my side on Felix’s bed and did not leave me in the  days of
my lying in. She showed immediate affection for her little sister from the
very first moment and rocks her cradle with rare dignity, warms her long
cloths and linen at the fireplace, and is altogether very occupied helping me.
She is only two years old herself! And when there is too much milk, she still
likes to drink her fill at her mama.
I am enclosing an advertisement from the New Braunfels German
newspaper. Again you can see from it that Corpus Christi is by no means so
bad. There are now two bands here (one military); some  men in one,
nearly all Germans, and almost every evening there is music in the public
square, and wonderful music indeed. When sitting on our veranda we can
hear it quite distinctly. Weather wise, it is very different from with you. On
New Year’s Eve, it was ° with magnificent moonshine; on New Year’s
morning, °—a bitter difference!
I am so tired that I can write no longer. So a thousand greetings to my
dear brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends, and to you many kisses from
our whole little family. Only do write very often to your
Maria
(Excuse the extraordinarily bad writing!)

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   

Corpus Christi, October , 

Dear Parents,
Your last missive of August  I duly received on Sept. . You have again
gone a very long time without news from us, and I have been constantly
bothered by the thought that you feel apprehensive on our behalf about
yellow fever, which has this year caused unheard of devastation (worse than
in living memory). Galveston, Indianola, New Orleans, etc., enough, in the
whole area people have nearly died out. But Corpus Christi, thanks be to
God, has been quite fully spared, a new proof of the wholesome influence of
the fresh sea breeze.62 I kept all the newspapers with the weekly reports, but
they are not at hand just now. I intended to send these to you as proof of my
statement. A single lady died here from it, but she had embarked at Indianola
on Thursday hoping to recover here, and she died one hour after her arrival.
This was the only fatal case in Corpus Christi. By the way, it is said to be
most peculiar that persons who fled apparently healthy from afflicted places
fell ill in healthy towns and died from the yellow fever. In New York,
especially, the disease is said to have spread not at all except that persons
from foreign regions bearing the contagious matter died there.
My last letter, I guess, was written during Felix’s illness. That same
evening I had to send for the military doctor, who gave Felix  g. quinine
and  g. blue mash (quicksilver) in the evening; at  o’clock A.M.  g.
quinine; at  o’clock A.M. ditto; after which the fever finally broke and let up,
and he thus gradually recovered. He lost  pounds and was scarcely recog-
nizable. How he is now I cannot tell, as he went off  weeks ago to Eagle
Pass with General Smith of the troops here in order to dig wells along the
route in case war should break out with Mexico.63 Eagle Pass is the frontier
fort between Texas and Mexico. He is being rather well paid for this work.
His contractual agreement with the government goes on and on and
designates him Major Blücher, etc. He commands a column of some 
wagons, conducting the work under his direction at his own pace. He has
spacious, comfortable equipage with  mules and a driver for his comfort;
gets paid $ a day; and has a Mexican servant he selected but who is paid by
the government, good provisions for himself, and a full range of servants
and a riding horse. He is making a map, for which he is paid extra, etc., etc.
If such an offer were made to any man in Berlin, one would fear it might
make a fool of him! A young man accompanied Felix, traveling just for

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pleasure. This fellow died on the way. I don’t know any details about his
death, as Felix did not write; the news came with a pack train from Eagle
Pass to Mr. Belden.
While Felix has been away, I have had great trouble with the children,
even having to fetch the doctor. First the little one was ill, and as the doctor
said, she is about to get her eyeteeth though she has only  incisors. The big
one is getting molar teeth and has had no high fever along with that,
though for some weeks she has had cholera-like attacks every other night,
without stomach ache but only vomiting and diarrhea, from  in the
evening to : o’clock in the morning. All day long she has been feeble,
though not otherwise ill. What chiefly alarmed me was a kind of angina
cough that she had – times in the night. The doctor gave me an expecto-
rant that I should give her in case of great alarm and heavy mucus accumu-
lation in the throat. The angina has been and remains my horror, and if
anything exists that can replace the leeches according to Dr. Henschel’s
opinion, do send it to me.64 For several children have now died of it again
here. It is probably attributable chiefly to the autumn air after the great heat,
for it is still hot enough, only at times we also have rain. Though the
younger one’s teeth are not in yet, they are about to break through. She is
quite well again and has not lost weight but is still the thick skittle—still
much fatter than the Miesbock was—with big blue eyes and fair hair. Taken
by the hand, she already trots about a little. The great Mieze is growing fast
and is now fit and in good health, still with flaxen hair and black eyes. For
your comfort I can now tell you that I have a maid and servant, a German
peasant girl, young, nice, and robust, for  a month in pay. How would
such a girl feel, coming from Germany where she would be paid so little, if
she immediately received – a month here? She has been in my house
for several days, and Felix does not even know it.
October . There has been an -day delay with my letter, as last Friday
morning, when I had just sat down to write, my Felix, my husband arrived
from Eagle Pass. I hope you will forgive me for not continuing to write that
day. He arrived safe and sound and much sunburned. You must not be angry
that Felix does not write at all. I have often reproached him with that
myself, though I understand it very well. At other times it was always the
greatest pleasure to me to fill up with letter writing as much time as ever I
could spare from my household chores. Now, however, even if I have time
for it, I do not always feel inclined to it or am too distracted to gather my
thoughts properly. How much more must that be the case for Felix, who has

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   

to talk, draw, and calculate all day long. When he has finished that, he of
course is not in the right mood to write a gay, cozy letter. Just consider what
our household costs, and that we are always getting on and saving some-
thing, too. On top of that, Felix’s illness—(and when the little one was born,
having the Mexican woman also cost a lot)—meant nearly  months
continually in bed and a fourth when he could not yet earn anything; then a
Mexican at the rancho, who gets  a month; the girl at ; then we pro-
cured a carriage and one more fine mule this year, dug a well, built rooms,
etc., and Felix must earn all that with his head and hands. And it is his wish
that if possible I shall not do anything at all. I firmly believe that I am very
unjust to be astonished that Felix does not ride out or take a walk with me.
For his thoughts are continually on work, and he allows himself but little
rest. Perhaps you think it ingratitude that he does not even thank you when
you send him things. Yet, it is not so, for he often says, “I know I ought to
write if I could find time and leisure.” Today he spoke of how useful the
brushes and colors you sent him have been in making the large map of the
Eagle Pass route.
My beloved mother, you speak of the journey hither with pleasure and
sorrow. I have reflected on it much and talked about it to Felix but am
always doubtful as to what to write about it. For I need hardly assure you
further that it is our greatest wish to see you in our midst. But I should
always reproach myself, if you, beloved Mother, should suffer any health
effects from the journey. As soon as you arrived here, it is my firm conviction
that the climate, tranquility, etc. (and most of all the exercise) would do you
an extraordinary amount of good. I am not able to judge your present state
of health so far as to know whether the passage on a comfortable steamer
might affect you too much. Seasickness is often avoided if you lie down and
remain in a comfortable position until every uneasiness has passed. At any
rate I certainly warn you against traveling alone. I will not write more about
it, so that you are not moved by persuasion from my end to ignore what the
doctor says about it. I even think it my duty not to make any further
demands on you, my dear Father, as you shall not perhaps leave Mother for
our sake in the event the doctor thinks it more advisable not to undertake
the journey. If you could travel with Mr. Schünke, that would be a great
advantage, as he speaks English.
It appears one will soon no longer be able to say that one is from Berlin;
for our worthy countrymen are seen in a very poor light here. My eye
trouble continues. My eyes are very easily affected and then ache. According

[  ]
             ’             

to your advice I shall find a set of spectacles. Felix is already amused at the
very prospect of seeing me wearing them.
Dear Father, one thing has greatly afflicted me: that you gave up our
home at Stralow. I always expected to stay there when I eventually come to
see you. I have nothing against Treptow, but I always felt uneasy there.
Taking a walk in the park for an hour is very nice; but living there never
pleased me. Now I miss two dearly beloved things: my Pauline, and my snug
little Stralow room. I cannot imagine that you were indifferent about
moving from there. Your new little home must be remarkable, when it has
only  rooms. You should know that here in our garden the castor beans you
sent have grown so large that we use the leaves for umbrellas. I now have a
great, dense clump of such trees,  feet and still higher, near the chicken
run, casting fine shade for the animals.
Felix is not at home. He is now delivering the map, which has turned out
so well that people have asked him to make copies so as to avoid sending
the original to the general, as it might suffer on the way. Felix entirely
agreed; for his pay continues until he has delivered what is required. For
that, however, Felix gives himself by no means enough time but works from
early morning to late at night. Today he will receive ; this is the better
part of what he earned during the journey.
My servant girl is entirely worth her pay; for in Felix’s absence I saved
½ in washing and ironing money. Elizabeth washes every Monday and
the following day she irons, and she does her work quite well. She also helps
me sew the children’s things.
It is growing dark, and I must finish. Just write very soon. Many fond
greetings to all family members and friends. Farewell! Yours,
Maria
n
Corpus Christi, February , 
Fondly loved Parents,
On January  I received your dear letter dated November , and I have long
been planning to answer, but things keep on cropping up. Now, however,
my conscience pricks me too much—as Felix says—and if possible I will
clear away all obstacles in order to finish a letter by Sunday. The crate you
sent arrived on December . However, as the ship probably was not
unloaded quickly, there was a delay till January  before we received it. We
should not have gotten it even that fast had General Smith not seen it on

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   

the steamer—from Galveston to Indianola—and himself had it brought

along for us. General Smith is the commanding general of the United
States troops here, and his things enjoy the fastest dispatch. Above all we
both send you the most heartfelt thanks for the picture, which really is so
excellent as to outstrip any I ever saw. And if I had the chance to send you
excellent pictures of my children, we should not spare any cost to get them
made. I think I need not aver that the memory and the wish to see you
again as soon as possible has been more vivid than ever in me. This wish has
intensified so much with the possession and sight of the picture that I have
begged Felix to let me travel home by autumn. We often speak of it, and of
course I always bear in mind that such a trip would keep me away from my
household for a year, and there are still more important apprehensions—
whether the children would safely stand the journey or might be overcome
by some children’s disease at the onset of rough weather. Now, let us see
what time will bring!
To return to the crate! The objects you listed have all arrived in good
order. They caused the greatest pleasure to all of us! I especially thank you
for the charming petticoats and dresses. The dolls, you may easily imagine,
gave the children infinite pleasure. The gingerbread has contributed much
to the general pleasure. Felix found the raspberry jelly incomparable refresh-
ment. And as always, thanks a thousandfold for the various medicines,
vaccines, knives, forks, spoons, medallions, etc. I wanted to save the gold
thaler you sent along. But one Sunday a ½-year-old filly was offered me for
sale. I bought it for the children for this thaler and think they will have
more pleasure from the little creature than if I had preserved the thaler for
them.
As I have not written to you at all since Christmas, I will report how we
spent the festival. Up to Christmas Eve everything seemed very promising.
Mr. Büsse had put up the Christmas tree; and two miserable things scarcely
deserving to be called dolls had been gift wrapped. I had killed a splendid
turkey and was hoping for a very merry holiday. Then suddenly at noon of
Christmas Eve, Felix again came down with a fever; so, too, on Christmas
Day and on the following day. In the evening, it is true, the fever receded,
yet he did not feel well and was scarcely able to eat and drink. He had the
fever about  or  times. After having been well  days, he at once rode away
again on December  for distant measuring work. On January  he
returned and, as expected, had suffered fever on the entire trip. On the rd
the crate came, and on the th he already had the fever. Dr. Turner, another

[  ]
             ’             

excellent military doctor who replaced Dr. Jarvis, gave Felix some pills,
whereupon the fever left him.65 All this winter so far, Felix has had very
much to do and most of the time he has been away.
On January , we had a (great) big revolution here in Little Mexico. On
the bay there is the town, and partway up the hill is Little Mexico. Parallel
to the town on the hill are the Mexicans’ huts, the last of which borders our
fence. On New Year’s Eve the Mexicans had a fandango, which is an event
frequented only by the most disorderly sort of Mexicans and Americans.
The government wagon drivers and soldiers were there that night, too, and
a quarrel began, whereupon the Mexicans as usual drew their knives. And
though the Americans took flight and had no weapons, the Mexicans
stabbed one, thoroughly butchered him, and wounded four others. One died
the following day. The owner of the house where the fandango took place is
named Blas Falcón.66 His wife had arranged this festival despite his forbid-
ding it, and he has had to pay dearly for it. Don Blas, you should know, was
away surveying with Felix. On January  the affair was scheduled to be
legally examined, and the criminals called to account. But of course these
thieves and murderers had at once stolen horses and had long since made
their escape. And the rest, as they are all equally bad, pretended not to have
heard or seen anything—all of them! The soldiers were so angry about the
crimes going unpunished that at noon of the same day [ Jan. ] some  men
took up arms and began searching the Mexican huts, not of course proceed-
ing legally or properly. That morning I had received your letter, and full of
pleasure, I wished to celebrate the day a little and took a short walk with my
big girl Mary. I was sitting in Little Mexico with my old Mexican woman
friend, in her house, when suddenly the mother of the young Mexican boy
who is now helping me mind the children rushed in and said: “Where is
Andrés; where is my son? They are killing all Mexicans and burning
everything!” Indeed, I looked out and saw three houses in flames already,
and the soldiers shooting to right and left. Toward our fence they stood,
warning everyone not to try to quench the fires, as they would shoot down
all of them. As I had left the boy Andrés with the little one alone at our
home, you may well imagine that I got quite a fright, and to get back to our
house I had to pass this whole band. So I picked up the child and ran
straight home, and just as I entered they shot a Mexican down only  paces
from our fence. As the fire was spreading further, the officers rode up at a
full gallop and intervened. The soldiers gradually retired, but they swore to
come back again. Of course the entire Mexican rabble at once moved to the

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town with bag and baggage. In the evening by : o’clock there were no
more living beings in all the houses in Little Mexico. It was only eight days
ago that they became inhabited again. Up to now the citizens have con-
ducted civil night patrols and thus prevented further crimes. In spite of that,
on the evening of the th, on Mary’s birthday, they burned down the house
bordering our fence, which as aforesaid had been vacated by its owner at the
time. It is difficult to determine whether such conflicts will recur from time
to time.67
Aunt Rieben again wrote me a most cordial letter. From all I know of
her, the sympathy and love she shows me really come from her heart. I also
can tell you that in each letter she speaks of you with greatest love. It is
much to be regretted that Felix is not more susceptible of proofs of love;
otherwise he would certainly maintain his correspondence more. For he has
the good luck to have very excellent relatives. His two uncles in Mecklen-
burg are as cordial and amiable as Aunt Rieben. I shall give up advising
Felix to write to you or to Mecklenburg, for he proposes doing so a hundred
times and yet never carries it out. He never used to know the pleasure of
being treated kindly and tenderly. So he of course does not grasp the need
to open his heart to his friends and let them know of his affection in
writing. We so often talk of you and of the possibility of meeting again, and
Felix remains of the opinion that conditions in all Europe will develop so
that you will perhaps come here against your will. It would be really sad if
the Turkish affair should evolve into a general European war.
Among my acquaintances here I have sustained a little loss. After  years
of war with each other, the Kinneys have finally realized that they will never
be able to make peace, and Mrs. Kinney has gathered up all her goods and
chattels and departed, not scuttling secretly away but with the full consent
of her husband.68
Corpus Christi is now advancing rapidly, and there is no longer any
comparison with the time when we came here. Major stores have been
opened, but in spite of that no umbrella, i.e., no good umbrella, can be found
here, and ditto for jaconet. The other day Felix drove around with me for an
entire afternoon, but we returned without success. After nearly  years of
confronting summer and winter here, my umbrella has at last split, and Felix
wished to have a good one again. But we found only quite miserable things.
Felix commissioned Mr. Gilpin to bring me a very good one from New
Orleans, where the gentleman goes in  weeks. Now let us see!
We found only imitation jaconet; I did not buy that, of course. The other

[  ]
             ’             

day Felix made me a nice present of a big, fine new cooking stove, just
arrived from New York, with many good pots. Our house has also been
newly whitewashed and now looks much more cheerful again, and for
manner of building here, our house and garden are exceedingly beautiful. I
am completely surrounded with greenery.
Finally, I beg you, do greet all relatives and friends many thousand times
from me and do write to me very, very soon!
My fat rogues are safe and sound and well fed. The little one now has
molar teeth coming in and is somewhat uneasy. They know exactly who
Grandpapa and Grandmama are and kiss them often and fondly. The big
fat one wishes to go to you Grandpapa; you shall give her apples and
knitting needles, she says, and take a walk with her. She already makes
attempts at knitting with hairpins. As to sewing, she has already achieved
attaching buttons. The little fat one is a funny little monkey, still much
larger than the Mieze was, and already beginning to speak. If only you could
see them running about in the garden, each seizing a big tomcat by its
collar.
Now farewell very fondly!
—Your Maria
n
Corpus Christi, June , 
Dear Parents,
I received your last missive of May  on June , and I was really happy to
hear from you again after such a long, long, time. You should know that
yesterday Felix did not come to the table before  o’clock and then with
such a beaming face that I knew he had again had a little drinking fit. I do
not know whether I told you last time that this has long alarmed me, and
only the Red Indian troubles shoved the memory of it somewhat into the
background. A courier between here and another military post was so afraid
of the Indians that he cut his mission short, returned, and arrived here in
the night toward  o’clock. He then notified the government office that the
Indians had attacked him, and as these couriers have the best horses, he had
escaped them—which was not too difficult. But he reported that they were
only three English miles away and had resolved to storm Corpus Christi.
The news was brought to us from town in the middle of the night, for you
may well imagine that all was in commotion, as the Indians had caused
plenty of trouble in the area before. I must say that from the beginning my

[  ]
   

husband, and also other men, as I later heard, found the matter hard to
believe. Felix nevertheless loaded all his firearms for my comfort. Mr. Büsse
also came to us. He was not without great apprehensions. We all lay down,
but you may well imagine that, for my part, I did not spend the first hours
in quiet sleep. The general had at once sent a military detachment to find
out whether the Indians were really present or if it was rumor—as was later
confirmed. I must confess that I am terrified of the Indians, principally
because of Felix—when he is out surveying, an encounter with them would
definitely be his ruin. After this uneasy night had passed, when I expected
every moment to be frightened by their horrible yelling, I began a letter to
you with the prayer to send as soon as possible a mail-shirt for Felix; they
use these in Mexico against the Indians. They are well tested so that no
arrow nor ball can pierce the mail. But I fear you might perhaps be need-
lessly disquieted. On Monday Felix will start for a survey very, very far away,
where there were Indians on their last trip. My two big dogs were then my
hope! Unfortunately, Felix had to kill the big black one (kind of a New-
foundland) as it was biting the other. In spite of calomel, mites had infected
his ears and head. I was infinitely sorry, but there was no other choice.
Yesterday evening we received other sad news, that a young German
named Frank Abbe, who had lived with Mr. Büsse and sometimes took me
out for a drive, was drowned during a work trip. He was a horse dealer.
While driving his horses across a river that was anyway quite swift flowing
and that had been swollen enormously by three weeks of rain, he was swept
away.69 It was a bold move to depend entirely on the horse, as Abbe could
not swim at all! Seeing and hearing all this, one might grow thoroughly
uneasy. I must avow that I always feel greatest apprehension for you in the
cholera season. This year our rains were admittedly late but more frequent
and ample than ever before, so that our pond and a big water hole we dug
for the horses inside our fence are completely filled. I don’t know whether
this weather might favor yellow fever, etc. I hope to God that Corpus
Christi may be spared as usual. For a while I took a drive with the children
every day—our present Mexican is rather a good driver—but for about a
month, though there have been some fine days, I have not been able to take
a drive, to the children’s great dismay. The inconveniences indeed are never
ending! Last evening they brought Felix news that our remuda had been
stolen by Cecilio Balerio, a noted horse thief and trader. Among them was
my pretty chestnut mare; so probably she is gone, along with the rest.70
Dear Father, I hope the war troubles are not looking worse for Prussia. I

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             ’             

am constantly alarmed for you and our relatives. Otherwise, Germany’s

revolution might not really come amiss. I can’t begin to tell you how pleased
Felix was at your just indignation concerning the English ambassador, as
Felix often thought that you might find acceptable many actions of the
Prussian government that he considers great absolutism. I often think that
the foul conditions may perhaps drive you to us, and it is not without
apprehension that I think you might not like it here. For you are accus-
tomed to so many things one could not have here for all the tea in China,
—i.e., a cool glass of pale Berlin beer! The heat of summer is present, but
not the cool pale stuff!
Should you, dear Father, be willing to send a crate this autumn, I still
think it better to send it to New Orleans instead of to Galveston, as be-
tween here and Galveston for the past two years there has been no direct
communication. Address the crate this way: “To F. Belden & Company,
Corpus Christi/care of/ H. L. Stone & Co., New Orleans.” I summoned
Felix to write to you himself, but he took it very amiss; he said he had “no
time to write.” He is sometimes very strange and base. He always has his
head so full of business that he is half crazy.
I should be very glad to receive a drawing of the Treptow house so as to
be able to imagine myself there. I shall close now and begin other letters
calling for attention, for I must necessarily finish up today. I have suggested
that Felix take his meal elsewhere today, for I don’t want him bothering me.
So for the present farewell! I kiss you
Your fondly loving—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, November , 
Fondly loved Parents,
This time you had to wait a while for news from us. Unfortunately, illness
has prevented me from writing. For more than two months now I have been
ill, some of the time in bed, some of the time up. At first I ran a high
temperature, which receded after a week but left me feeling extremely weak.
Eight days after that, Felix rode away for a survey. You should know that on
the morning after Felix’s departure, Mr. Büsse brought me the news that Dr.
Turner and his eldest daughter had suddenly died of the yellow fever during
the night. I was on very friendly terms with the family, and Dr. Turner was
my doctor!71 Just as he told me that, I caught the fever. Felix was now away
and I quite alone with the children! This hampered me greatly, and unfortu-

[  ]
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nately Felix stayed away ½ weeks. As a result of the unusual rain in the
summer and the prevailing sea breeze being absent, we had burning sun and
heat, so that troublesome fevers arose here too this year. Yellow fever
appeared in the streets where the water had no outlet, thus producing
contagious matter. Up here on the hill nobody fell ill with it. As cause of my
fever the doctors state: overexertion and exposure to the sun. The least
exertion revives the fever; I never shiver or feel chilled before an attack. I am
already so weakened by this little bit of writing that I must pause!
I received two letters from you in August and September, the latter of
which also contained some lines from Felix’s mother. Her letter to Felix
contains nothing much: nothing at all! Empty words of her affectionate
loving mother’s heart (and very tenderly composed). Yet nothing about how
unjustly Felix’s mother behaved to him, no reasons as to why she withheld
the money from him. But I now suffer the consequences of that baseness,
for from the beginning we lacked the means to keep a domestic. And this
has been among the many things that have gradually worn out my body—
along with the changed climate, much work, being shut off from all family
intercourse, not going out, having no distractions, enough, enough; in short,
the totally changed mode of living—which all resulted from our limited
means. For in this country  thalers more is a great difference, but to have
or not have , thalers is an incalculable advantage or loss. Thank God
we have made our way by our own effort, and made it well. That Mr. Kill-
Mar claims he never meant to misuse Felix confirms that he is an impostor
and a rogue. Felix, however, begs you, dear Mother, to keep up friendly
exchange with them, as such a rapprochement between you might be
favorable to him in perhaps getting the rightful inheritance he is owed.
The crate you were kind enough to send us has not yet arrived, and
perhaps its arrival will still be delayed a little. The crate seems from the bill
of lading indeed to contain hundreds of things that are impossible to
procure here. I wish to thank you with all my heart for the ample gifts you
provide us, and I am very impatient for their arrival.
The children and Felix are very well, thanks be to God, and my old man
is growing pretty fat. I must indeed look funny between my husband and
the children—Felix extraordinarily well fed, and the latter downright
cylinders. Yesterday I received my Christmas gift from Felix, with which he
has indeed greatly surprised me, consisting of: three chairs, a rocking chair,
one table, and one wash stand or toilet table with white marble top. All the
pieces of furniture are extraordinarily finely worked and lacquered in sky

[  ]
             ’             

blue, adorned with flowers and rich gilding. A long time ago I saw these
pieces of furniture; I was then quite enchanted. I forgot to mention that
they include a very pretty towel rack or stand. I really was totally delighted
when they all arrived.
I have now prepared a medicine that a Mexican woman advised me to
take, as the two doctors I had after Dr. Turner’s death refused to give me
anything because they said I was too weakened. I now take rhubarb in the
evening with a maguey syrup, which I prepare myself as fortunately we
possess such a maguey plant. Besides ours there is only one other here. In
Mexico they use the plant to make the renowned mescal and pulque. Now
one doctor says, “yes, yes,” if only he had known I could get the stuff here,
for it is the best! It has indeed begun to restore me.
I must stop now as I am flagging. Greet ten thousand times all who are
dear and affectionate to me! I have just realized that even this letter will
arrive after Mother’s birthday. Therefore let me finally add my sincerest
congratulations to you, dear Mother, and I always pray to God that he may
grant you lasting good health. I wish all a Merry Christmas and New Year!
Many greetings from Felix! Farewell!
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, January , 
Dear Parents,
We received your December letter at the beginning of January, and I had
long been awaiting it. I regret very much that Carl has been so sick, and it is
a singular coincidence that we both keeled over at the same time, only with
the difference that Carl had tender nursing and good doctors, which I
lacked. Not even a domestic had I. But why burden you with this distress.
When Felix came home, things were much better. I hope Carl may be
restored with God’s help and be his old self!72 I am more or less back on my
feet but tire easily and am not fully back in action. My husband has stayed
with me until now. But as the temperature keeps recurring and will perhaps
continue to do so for a while, he started on Monday, first to Brownsville and
then to Camargo and Roma (Mexico), and he will probably stay away for
some time. After having lain ill ½ months, I am minded to travel to you.
There I would certainly get proper nursing and be sure of good doctors and
rest. God, how often I have longed for a rest! But I could not escape
needing to watch over the children, and the Mexicans we have in the house

[  ]
   

never cared whether I needed or wanted something. When that was the
case, I had to shout through three rooms toward the kitchen, and it some-
times took me ½ an hour to attract anyone’s attention. I surely shed more
tears in that time than in the first  years of my life. But don’t worry about
that, for heaven’s sake; indeed, I did not die from it.
While writing I am sitting at the window looking for the crate that has
yet to arrive. Because of low water, only two schooners have been here since
December. On Monday evening word arrived from the merchant Stone that
our crate was in the schooner Esther Burr, which came in on Saturday. Since
that time I have been sitting waiting for it to be unloaded and sent to me.
Eight lighters have come in a dozen times with cargo, and the crate still is
not yet among it. It really is a test of patience!
I am now planning the arrangement of my garden, which I have had
enlarged. It really is a pity that the remaining five acres within our fence lie
uncultivated because of the horses, but pasture is indispensable for them.
How did you spend Christmas? Mr. Büsse was with us on Christmas Eve.
We hung the Christmas tree with sugar cakes, but there was not anything
else. On that occasion I drank to your health with my first glass of cham-
pagne in Texas.
We had hoped for the crate, but in vain, though it had been at New
Orleans since the beginning of December. The businessmen are utterly
careless out here in the hinterlands. Mr. Belden tells me that ordinarily
Stone used to be a very punctual man. But—our bad luck—a short time
before the arrival of our crate, his wife ran away with another man, which is
said to have deranged him much. Since my illness I have suffered constipa-
tion beginning at the stomach and running across the left side of my body,
just as hard as stone. Cupping, mustard poultice, Spanish fly, and pitch
plaster are the remedies I have tried. They have not only been unsuccessful
but have worsened matters. The Americans call it “fever cake,” the Mexi-
cans “spleen swelling.” Now, thanks be to God, it is gradually disappearing.
I shall probably stop this letter short, for I received the crate yesterday
evening; I did not finish unpacking it, and today I am running a fever again
from the joy and excitement, and writing is awkward. I cannot begin to find
the right words to thank you for such ample supplies and gifts. It is all so
beyond my expectations that I have been beside myself with delight and
emotion. The children are swimming in happiness. The five dresses and hats
surpass all you can see here! The shoes fit excellently well; indeed, today’s
miracle is a pair of felt shoes, for there can be nothing more comfortable.

[  ]
             ’             

The little shirts, small clothes, and petticoats, everything is so charming; the
little ones are half crazy with joy. Felix’s things are all excellent, and I can
still see his delight. It is impossible to mention every single thing and
express the pleasure it gives.
Forgive me for stopping my letter here, but I am feeling very low, and the
mail will start at noon, and I should not like to make you wait eight more
days. Don’t be disquieted about my indisposition, for heaven’s sake, for it is
quite trivial. So once more my deepest thanks for your love and devotion
Remember with love—Your Maria
P.S. The children send many thanks and kisses to the dear Grandparents!
“Dear Grandparents: We thank you a thousand times for the nice things.”
Your little Mary () & Julie ()
n
Corpus Christi, April , 
Fondly loved Parents,
You must surely suppose we have died, so long have you not received any
news from us. But things have been such a muddle in the house that you
must pardon this delay. When I last wrote, workmen had begun to paint our
rooms, mantelpieces, etc. with oil color, and they have been at it so very
long that I have been obliged to keep the children in the dining room for
nearly fourteen days, and that with the house always full of people to feed.
Then I set to ironing and have been ironing continually for  days. For
from the beginning of my illness the linen lay unironed in the chests. Then
after six weeks’ absence Felix came back from Mexico, and when he is at
home there is much more to be done. And on March  toward  o’clock in
the evening, as a result of an alarm, I had the misfortune to be delivered
prematurely of a dead boy. On Friday the rd, in the afternoon, Fat One
(Mary) fell while holding a knife she had secretly taken out of the work
basket and, in falling, thrust it in her mouth. I almost passed out when I saw
her lying before me bleeding. I at once washed her with vinegar and water
and then saw that fortunately, she had hurt only her lips and chin, which
have already healed up without any scar. The next morning I fell ill, and as
Felix had to be in court all day long as an interpreter, I had no chance to lie
down until he came home at  o’clock in the evening. He immediately went
away to fetch the midwife, and in the meantime the baby boy was born.
After that I at once felt much better physically, but Felix and I grieved
deeply and wept sorely that we had thus lost our little son. Today is the

[  ]
   

tenth day. From the third day I went from room to room and lay down on
Felix’s bed all day long. From the fifth day I have been up and about and
have felt better than while in bed.
This time you are not getting a letter from Felix. He really is so ex-
hausted that I am often frantic with rage. Here no person at all can begin
anything without Felix’s advice and assistance. When court is in session,
every ½ year, he doesn’t even have time for dinner. At every case he must
give his verdict. If ever he does not appear, the sheriff hunts high and low
for him! Not one of the attorneys or judges, I gather, has sufficient com-
mand of the Spanish language as to be able to read and write it properly.
Hence they summon Felix, who at once reads out the old Spanish land
deeds in English, saving much in time and expense. It’s just that Their
Honors, etc., are very lax about paying. A Mexican to whom Felix gave
good advice that secured him , acres gave us a cow and a calf in
payment as well as a big China cock and hen of the Shanghai breed. In the
evening when Felix comes home from court, he sometimes has to write half
the night. Saturday was the last day of court. He was at it writing things up
the whole of Sunday and deep into night, until : in the morning.
Yesterday (Monday) likewise, and at  o’clock at night I was still dictating
to him so that he could finish more quickly. And this morning he rode away
with some men to select land for them on the Nueces, and Mr. Belden has
already been awaiting him on his rancho for eight days so that Felix can go
with him to San Antonio, New Braunfels, and Austin to conduct land
affairs for his clients. So he will again stay away a long time. Felix, you must
know, always tells me less time than he will really be away. For example, he
said four weeks on this trip, and I took a bet with him that he would
probably be gone six weeks. If I win, he has to give me ; if I lose, I must
make him another waistcoat.
You should know that Felix is now very corpulent, and I think stouter
and much heavier than Father. Felix danced about with happiness over the
contents of the crate; the mathematical instruments made him utterly
happy. The pistol I told him was mine, as he already has five or six of the
best: Colt’s Navy pistols. For  he bought a Sharp’s patent rifle, which is
even simpler in construction and faster to load than a needle gun. He really
cannot write to you at present, though it might perhaps not seem so for one
who can find so much time for business. Even while bidding farewell to me
and the children, he was still concluding a land negotiation. By the way we
can be glad that we received our crate on the Esther Burr, for following four

[  ]
             ’             

ships were stranded at the bar near San Joseph Island. All big ships stand
off there in order to unload for lightering, as they cannot get as far as
Corpus Christi.
In the future you will perhaps receive a package from us, for Mr. Noessel
intends to start a daguerreotype salon. He expects his equipment on the
next steamer. He gave up his hotel and has arranged a studio for daguerreo-
types. You then shall receive a photo of the children and our new domestic.
I want to warn you in advance so that you will not think him to be an
orangutan—he is in fact the best Indian I ever saw (this is a tame Indian!).
During my illness he cooked good food for Felix and made me good coffee
and good chocolate. Felix has often expressed his wish for us to be rendered
in a daguerreotype. It may seem ridiculous to you, but I should myself like
to have it. We enjoyed the drawing of the Treptow house immensely and
only regret that we cannot have such a house built here for want of bricks.
Father, you probably misunderstood me when I wrote of the money. I
meant exactly what I said! It is by no means my intention to squeeze money
from you by hinting, certainly not! If I were in great need or might ever be,
I should frankly ask: “Can and will you help us?” The matter is simply this:
Felix and I have often spoken of the advantages of capital here, whether it
be great or small, and we discussed whether Papa might embark upon such
a business here, as you certainly are a very well-off man. I took up the idea
and wrote to you of it, knowing that Felix has sufficient property in land to
stand security. I took up the idea all the more readily as my greatest wish is
that Felix may give up the office of surveyor. I hope you may now be
reassured that you need not trouble yourself anew to provide us with money.
Again, many thanks for the ample supplies and gifts in the crate. The crate
itself I shall use as a bathing tub. Near our gate Felix has already dug a
second well, which contains sulfur water. This water has been used success-
fully as a draft and for a bath against liver complaints and boils, including
infirmities of long standing.
We have often gone visiting at Noessel’s in the evenings. I happened to
be called upon to play the piano, after not having played seriously for almost
six years, and Noessel suddenly discovered that I am an eminent talent! As a
result they invite us nearly every day, and the other day my young Misses
received an invitation to a ball. But I did not risk going or taking them.
They say here the Russian emperor is dead—if that is the case, what course
will the war take now?73
Much to his dismay, Felix now weighs  lb. American weight; he has

[  ]
   

quite a paunch! Again, and once more, greet everyone you can and keep on
loving your children in Texas! Farewell!
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, May , 
Dear Parents,
The time between arrival of letters always seems to me awfully long, and I
will not make you wait so. Though it is already  o’clock in the evening, I
have begun to write. Above all I wish and hope that you are all safe and
sound. We here, too, are quite well, and I hope now to maintain my own
health better than in the last year. You, dear Mother, so hope of a journey
for me. I should make it if the means to travel with the greatest comfort and
a maid for the children were at my command. But alone with two children,
and sure of seasickness to boot, it cannot well be done, no matter how
anxiously I wish it. Felix virtually lives elsewhere, so it would make little
difference in that respect. By the way I am now quite well and have an
excellent appetite. I have totally given up drinking coffee, as tea agrees with
me very well. Only one thing is disagreeable to me. After the fever my
stomach became swollen and I think it to be weakness in the bowels or
stomach muscles. If I wore a well-fitting girdle it might perhaps abate. The
children are growing pretty tall and at the same time remain equally sturdy.
Felix is ever richer in blessings and earnings and will soon be the very
epitome of a rich landed proprietor.
Have you sown and worked over everything in your garden? The drought
here is again so extraordinary and terrible that everything has dried up, and
already we have to buy all our drinking water. The last good rain was in
December. A new doctor has joined the troops here; these military men are
mostly very good doctors. He comes from New Orleans, where he is said to
have healed the governor of Louisiana of the yellow fever in fourteen
days—which reportedly cost the said gov. $,; this, it is said, he had to
pay directly to the doctor! This new doctor wrote and sent to New Orleans
a medical prescription for me, which he insists will restore me forever from
the fever. We shall see!74
June nd. I had to pause in order to make some new trousers for Felix, as
he had to go away again on business. He started out tonight. The dresses,
hats, gloves, shoes, etc. from your Christmas crate have been to my excellent
advantage of late. There was a big soirée at Major Chapman’s to which we

[  ]
             ’             

had been invited.75 Though Felix was not here, I attended nevertheless, and
I should not have been able to go had I not received your dresses. For here
the invitations always come only the evening before or even on the same
morning. One has no time at all to make any arrangements because of this
wanton habit of sending invitations out for such festivities only three or four
hours before. So the gloves, too, were utterly welcome. In Berlin they would
not be able to comprehend that even in the foremost and most dignified
establishment, as Major Chapman’s is here, a ball could be held with only
two pairs of gloves in evidence. Each excuses herself to the next for her bare
fingers, as in all Corpus Christi not one pair of gloves can be bought. So
when your crate came, I went forth proudly in gloves! Only the notables of
Corpus Christi were there, and judging by the luxury, one would not have
believed one was in Texas. Each person, of about fifty in attendance, was
presented an individual silver nutcracker. Only champagne and fine wines
were served. I should certainly have been wonderfully entertained, if not for
the fact that after two hours I had to go home because of feeling unwell.
The Chapmans might be the wealthiest people locally. Here a man can
quickly double his property, as the taxes are not as in Germany. For ex-
ample, the taxes on our entire property amount to perhaps , at a rate of 
cents per . You must truly wonder!
I have taken up horseback riding again, and I drive out in the carriage
every day with my children for an hour in the evening, pulled along by our
old mule. Indeed, we are now living as people of rank, although Felix goes
his way, and I go my way with our children. Felix now gets  for each of his
maps (thanks to the fine case of mathematical instruments from dear
Father), and no one could work more neatly or carefully, or could handle
things with more precision, than Felix does with all his scientific instru-
ments and firearms (pistols, rifles, needle guns, shotguns, etc.). Felix goes to
town early in the morning, before the great heat begins, and he comes back
only very late. Often he takes his supper at , , or : at night. The
nights are wonderfully beautiful here now, with a full moon by which I sew
without further lighting. The military band sometimes plays until  o’clock
and later at Major Chapman’s or General Smith’s, by which making agree-
able entertainment for us. The other day Felix even tried to teach me a
Scottish waltz on our lawn in front of the house!
Nothing much further has happened here except that we read in the
newspapers that Col. Kinney has married an exceedingly beautiful and very
rich girl in New York.76 Mrs. Kinney is still in Galveston, and we conduct

[  ]
   

steady correspondence. Farewell now, and give my greetings to the whole

family. And excuse this shabby writing, but I am writing in a hurry, late in
the evening, and still with a thousand interruptions. The children each send
a tender kiss. (And Doña Feliciano comes washing tomorrow!)
Keep on loving—Your Maria!
n

Corpus Christi, November , 

Fondly loved Parents,
About ten days ago we received your letter dated Sept. . I have often
complained before about you making me wait so long, but this time it has
been longer than ever. In the meantime you must have received two letters
from me. And as I did not wish to write before having received a letter, you
will also have three months between arrival of this and the last. Many
thanks for the cabbage seeds!
Mrs. Kinney was here last month for fourteen days, and I spent several
days agreeably in her company. She invited me to spend the winter or at
least some weeks with her at Galveston. But I cannot think of that at all.
She hopes very much that in April next year I shall go with her to Europe.
Probably not so because of my companions, for the children would certainly
be too much trouble as a trade-off for my easing her way with the lan-
guages. But as agreeable as her personality is to me, such a journey would
meet neither your nor my wishes. She lives only for pleasure and is rather
committed to this, and for her, to spend a week at Treptow would be to
suffer the torments of hell. She claims to be just the right age to have “fun.”
Even before setting out here, she wrote to me that Felix should in any case
prepare himself for my being away.
Now, some months having passed since the conquest of Sevastopol, have
you heard if Hermann, Felix’s brother, returned safe and well when so many
fell victim?77 What if Lady Kill-Mar knew that it was even in the New York
newspaper that her son joined the English foreign forces and was accepted
with pleasure and great expectations? Are the Kill-Mars in Berlin again?
The children have acquired a goat, which is so attached to them that it
even accompanies the children when they take a walk. The goats here are
smaller than ours in Germany, not bigger than a sheep. The children’s
livestock holdings are already significant and remarkable. They possess: 
head of cattle, mostly cows, some few young bulls among them. Money
invested in cows doubles every year.

[  ]
             ’             

Felix has received a permanent position managing the land formerly

belonging to Kinney to ensure that no timber is cut illegally, which brings
him  a month. About two weeks ago, Felix was in bed for some days with
fever, which still recurs now and then. On the whole, however, fall is rather
favorable here, and there was little illness. The children, thanks be to God,
are healthy and growing like the mushrooms. Mary is extraordinarily tall for
her age but not very inclined to learn reading or writing. She knows how to
knit, sew, and string pearls, dust, wash, etc. Some days ago the little one,
Julie, fell on an iron shoe scraper and got cut just between the eyebrows, and
her face is so swollen that she looks terribly deformed at present. Our
children are so innocent and natural, as they are completely confined to
themselves at our home most of the time. I prefer them never to come in
touch with the other children here, who roam the town like wild cattle.
Mary and Julia even speak their own language, a mixture of Spanish,
English, and German.
I always regret that I have little of interest to tell you, as we are really so
short on changes and events worth mentioning. I calculate that this letter
will arrive around Mother’s birthday, and let me add my wishes for your
well-being: “Health, ease, and repose,” and as always the hope creeps in that
perhaps next year we shall celebrate this festival together. Felix sends fond
greetings, having charged me with this before he rode away. To all many
greetings!
Yours, Maria

[Attached to preceding letter] November 

My dear Mother,
As this letter contains little to delight you, I thought it my duty to add some
words for you, as I wish with all my heart to be able to convince you that I
am devoted to you with the same unchanging love but nevertheless cannot
neglect the care for my children. It is no straightforward matter to give
someone who does not know the conditions here a true picture of our
position. Felix has certainly come to be regarded as an important person in
Corpus Christi, as his intellect and education are superior to those of many.
But people have their own opinions about the outward position of a man.
To give their wives the comfort and appearance of being a lady, they mostly
sacrifice good name and honesty and indulge in all kinds of swindling. Now,
as Felix has done his utmost to get us ahead strictly with hard work and,

[  ]
   

instead of using his gain for superfluous luxury, has on the contrary em-
ployed it to augment our property, it is therefore nearly impossible for me to
enjoy the comforts of a social life, as this would be in constant conflict with
our means as regards house, dress, etc. For to join in the enormous pomp of
these ladies would result in infinite debts in New York, which are then
settled by ½ or ¼, as with others. It is thanks to your care that on the few
outings I do undertake, I can appear matching up to expectations. On June
 we were at a wedding involving the most fashionable family, at Mr.
Bee’s.78 My yellow dress served me excellently well, and you completed my
ensemble with white gloves, hat, etc. Just a week earlier on June , I was at a
Mexican wedding. Don Alvaro Pérez’s daughter,  years old, got married,
and it was a magnificent wedding. Nearly all of Corpus Christi was there.79
Felix and I had positions of honor as padrino and madrina, just as at our
baptisms we have godparents. We led them to the marriage ceremony, etc.,
and with regard to their conjugal relationship we have more rights than
their parents. The custom is to address those persons always by these titles.
The young couple call Felix Padrino and me Madrina, and we call him
ahijado and her ahijada.80 Felix gave the young man a pair of pistols and I
gave her some silver spoons, for which they presented us with one of the
most magnificent Mexican rugs, handmade, a  value. We and the couple’s
parents are compadre and comadre, which is always how we address one
another.81 This year we had five balls in the best private houses, Major
Chapman’s, Captain Fullerton’s () and Mr. Belden’s (), as well as some
children’s parties. But I went to only four and the weddings. I wore my
black dress at the wedding, the old red silk one saved me on another
occasion, and the new one I wore at the last event.
I now take a horseback ride every day, which seems to do me good and
which I will continue as long as possible. Since October, except for six hours
of drizzle, we have had no rain. The cattle are dying of hunger and thirst;
the ground splits open everywhere five to six feet deep and one foot wide,
such that many a route is impassable. The work on our new rancho pro-
gresses apace. Mr. Müller lives there and works it; he built a good house on
it and keeps his and our cattle there.82 The land belongs to Felix, and when
they sell cattle, the proceeds are divided in half.
I wrote to Father that I wished to acquire a decent house. I must there-
fore first give you an exact description of our present house. You have the
drawing of the old house: in front there are  rooms of  X  feet and  X 
feet, the smaller one my little room, the larger one our general bedroom;

[  ]
             ’             

behind it  wooden rooms; behind them a dining room, small but built of
rough lumber; then the kitchen. In line with this house stands the new one,
begun and planned out in good proportions, so as to yield a fine house when
means allow. So far there is only a room with unpapered walls and a roof
without a ceiling, but of the best material (wood), with a nice veranda in
front. And everything has been whitewashed. Just to finish the inside of this
room, which is Felix’s office,  would be required, and to turn it into the
intended decent home for us, at least  or , thalers would be needed.
Our household, together with the men, who get  daily, costs , to
, a year. Felix must work hard to afford that, and although improve-
ments are continually made here and there, there is no prospect of much
being left over as net gain; what had already stacked up, , has been
spent to build the office. It surely is the most natural wish to have the place
where one spends the greatest part of one’s life, as I am not a fan of going
out, at least a little agreeable. Possessing a sofa is a luxury I know only in
the homes of others. Therefore I cannot be silent about how anxious Father
has been for the “comfort and setting up” of my brothers and sisters, while
I am always to have “patience, patience”—I who could certainly use more
comfort. Felix’s picture is now in hand, and we shall send it at the next
opportunity.
Fare cordially well! And write soon! And not angrily, for don’t be angry
at your
—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, January , 
Fondly loved Parents,
First of all I wish you a “Happy New Year.” We began it sleeping and gave it
little thought. Christmas we spent very cheerfully. The children got the
Christmas tree adorned with little sugar dolls, etc. Mr. Büsse presented both
of them with dark blue silk dresses, and I had bought such playthings as
could be had here (awfully poor things and especially no dolls). Their delight
was enormous. So far the crate has not yet arrived here, nor have I heard
whether or when the ship arrived at New Orleans. Time indeed stretches
out when one is expecting something. As soon as I hear of the crate, you
shall be advised.
The cholera must haunt you horribly. Year after year it spreads such
devastation in families. I have thought so ardently of returning to Germany

[  ]
   

in order to give the children the chance of a good education, but I would
always live under the apprehension of losing them sooner there than here.
And if perhaps I should still have more children, journeying will become
ever more inconvenient and my existence here not more agreeable. Felix is
away from home more and more and has only one pursuit: riches and a
position in the world. As these two things have little attraction for me and
domestic joys are unattractive for him, I am convinced that if Felix could
live free and myself among my family, both of us should be better off.
Since New Year Felix has again been at San Antonio and Austin. The
Democrats of Corpus Christi elected him ambassador without payment for
an assembly that meets today at Austin. This appeals to his vanity. So he
starts for God knows how long, takes a servant, three horses, and not a little
money, lives in the best inn, etc. It seems he could not care less what
happens here as he left me quite alone, and I shall probably have the baby
before his return. Disregarding whether the expenses suit him, I have this
time hired a Scotswoman, who has been with me since the th, when I
again caught the same fever as last year: three times only, thanks be to God.
The woman who is with me is of a decent family. She does not do any
housework but prepares the table and sometimes irons, but she is an
excellent seamstress and has proceeded apace at sewing the children’s linen,
as I have not yet been able to make anything at all. She lives in the expecta-
tion, as I suspect from her comments, that I shall go to Europe and take her
along as a nurse for the children. The girls now have a difficult time speak-
ing three languages at home. For yesterday I again hired a Mexican boy for
the housework. Both my little girls speak Spanish very well, less German,
and least English. But I hope they will learn all well soon.
Since Christmas winter has hit hard here. We have had very cold weather
almost without a break since then, and whatever was coming up in the
garden has perished. Our cabbage crop was frozen.
My letter will probably be brief this time, as I see and hear ever less of
what happens in the outside world. A matter that occupies people in
Corpus Christi intensely is currently before the court. You should know that
the rich old German Peter Schätzell, who died here ½ years ago, did not
leave a family (wife or children), and according to the statement of his
administrators there is no last will and testament. Now, a good German
cobbler turns up with his family in order to take possession of the important
treasures, landed estates, etc. of his uncle. All of a sudden people find
themselves wanting to swear under oath that there was a will, in which they

[  ]
             ’             

were all more or less remembered; and they now accuse the administrators
of having destroyed the will in order to gain authority over these riches, etc.
Each party has now retained attorneys, and the issue is very uncertain and
probably dependent on the craftiness of the attorneys. Mrs. Ohlers, too,
claims to have been denied ,. As the man bequeathed me scarcely a
thing, I can very quietly await resolution of it all.83
Besides that, everything chugs along as usual. There is much building
and expansion in Corpus Christi. We even have an icehouse under con-
struction, and when it is finished and in operation, it will be an enormous
improvement. There is a smokehouse, too, offering wonderful smoked meat
not inferior to the Hamburg meat.
The other day at my instigation Felix talked to the local schoolmaster
about instructing our children here at home, as I certainly do not have the
time to devote myself to it seriously every day. He says, however, that we had
better wait until Mary is  years old. He also is of the opinion that the
children will learn faster then and without disadvantage for their health. In
spite of the cold and wind, the children stand at the garden gate awaiting
your crate. There is a big schooner from New Orleans lying at the island,
and it is possible that this one has the crate in its hold. As Felix is not here,
I will not get word of it until they send it to me. I so often think how Berlin
must have been decorated, and if you have an opportunity you should send
me little illustrations of the city and its embellishments.
Last night our best mule sprang over the fence, and I do not yet know
what has become of it. But I hope it has safely joined the other horses. Now
farewell from all my heart, write very soon, and just beg my dear friends and
brothers and sisters to write to me as well. Adieu!
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, February , 
Cordially loved Parents,
The delivery of young Major Blücher came on February . The said
descendant was born at  o’clock in the morning. As I expected, Felix did
not come back, which afflicted me greatly as I had told him that I should be
confined between the th and the th, and he promised faithfully to be
back. Everything is now safely behind us, thanks be to God, and I am back
at my usual occupations. I was nervous that I might not recover so quickly,
as on the nd night I was suddenly seized by diarrhea and violent fever, and

[  ]
   

I feared infection, as I was afflicted with the most insupportable pains and
am even now not quite free of them. My boy is a beauty in size and weight
and has so far shown a very amiable character. The Scotswoman I have in
the house, has unfortunately proved a mere cipher, incapable of performing
any tasks but good needlework, and I had to send for a Mexican woman to
make me a bowl of soup.
I cannot write at length, for which reason you are getting only a short
letter. I beg you to announce to all the arrival of my boy. The girls are safe
and sound, thanks be to God, and pleased that they now have a brother. As
for the crate, we have not yet received it, for which Messrs. Eaton &
Henderson of New Orleans are at fault. After the crate had been in New
Orleans for a month, they informed us that they were not able to get it
through customs, and as the papers were in a “foreign language” they
thought it best to move the crate over to another house. Now, after his
return, Felix has written to a German outfit, Kramer & Comp. of Bremen,
to take the matter in hand with the promise that if they carry out this
commission promptly, all our future shipments and banking affairs shall go
to them. These good people will get big ideas if little business.
Here in Corpus Christi things fare rather badly; the army depot has been
removed, all property has become valueless and sales are impossible.84 In
consequence there is no activity in land affairs and no surveys are needed,
and the prospects are very depressing.
My little prince is crying; I shall write more to you soon. Fare cordially
well!
Your—Maria
Felix sends many greetings and the children send many kisses.
Our impatience for the crate has now reached a pinnacle.
n
Corpus Christi, August , 
Fondly loved Parents,
I have not been able to write to you for a long, long time, and I hope you
will find it natural and forgivable that my little prince engages me so
completely. My boy is tremendously heavy, strong, and alert and makes the
finest progress from sitting to crawling. I also think he will soon get four
teeth, which can already be felt through his gums. My son is named Charles
Frederick, and I wish with all my heart that like you, my dear father, he may
be active and vigorous.

[  ]
             ’             

We finally received the Christmas crate on June . Amazingly, everything

is in good condition, and as ever, there has been great, great joy at its arrival.
Everything of the best quality and fitting so exactly and meeting our wishes
as closely as it possibly could have had we selected it ourselves. Felix, the
children, and I thank you with all our hearts! Felix has again been in San
Antonio and Austin for two weeks and will still be away several weeks
more. I wish Felix could rather have said, “I set out for Germany  days
ago!” Mr. Schünke has returned to Corpus Christi and has settled as a cigar
manufacturer. He came to see us one Sunday and told us much of Berlin, of
the luxury, shortages, and poverty.
Aug. . I did not mean to forget this letter, but with three children in the
house, Felix gone away for God knows how long, and incompetent help, I
return to it only now. From your last missive I see that you do not give my
resolution of coming home in the spring much credence; and yet I consid-
ered it more seriously than ever. It’s just that my fears for the children’s
health hold me back. And often I think how here my children have fine
cows, increasing year by year, and after fifteen years they could supply each
with a good start in life that might dissolve if I were to journey away. For
Felix does not concern himself about this at all. Only the future will tell.
Mrs. Kinney is here for a visit from Galveston, and the day before
yesterday my children and I spent the whole day at her mother’s house,
which is a ¼ mile from our place. She is quite keen to pay for me and the
children to return with her to Galveston. This of course I cannot do, but I
wish it were possible as here in Corpus Christi times grow continually
worse. Felix is already considering a change of residence, because in all
Corpus Christi probably not , can be found. As a result no business
can be done. Therefore, in view of the bad times here, I bother you once
more with a letter pleading for Christmas gifts and needed supplies. I really
beg your pardon for this with all my heart, my dear Father, but if you had
been in Texas ½ years, you might perhaps also wish for certain things. My
dear boy is again cutting more teeth and is very out of sorts. The girls are
asleep. Farewell!
Your—Maria
Next time I shall also send you a package, albeit a miniature one!

[  ]
   

Corpus Christi, November st, 

Cordially loved Parents,
I must frankly admit that I am hardly in the mood for writing today, as a
violent toothache and the devil of a swelling—i.e., fever, swelling in my
neck, breast, and right arm—has kept me pacing these past four nights and
days. I have had the pains for eight days, but in the past four an abscess
seems to be forming. And as nothing at all, indeed nothing in the world can
be procured here, I shall have to wait, in patience or impatience as the case
may be, for progress and recovery. Not a single half raisin or fig or a sugges-
tion of ground oats or linseed can be had here. Such circumstances really
tempt one to run away. But I received your last letter with your kind offer to
add something to the money that Aunt Rieben is sending us. At any rate I
should prefer you to procure the necessary things, as for the same money
that would give me three times more and much, much better and more
reliable good things than here. And your crate is always the joy of a whole
year. Three weeks ago now I let the Scotswoman, Mrs. Dunn, and our
Mexican go, and I perhaps caught this rheumatic swelling while washing or
in the kitchen at the fire and then out in the wind. Felix is healthy and hefty
and will probably go to Austin and San Antonio again in  days. The girls
are hale and hearty and wild as can be. My son already takes little steps
along the chairs, is now getting his fifth tooth, and when six months old
weighed twenty pounds in his shirt. I shall no longer be able to write much,
for I am suffering what I can only describe as mental anguish. All day long I
am on my feet and hard at work, and then at night I must walk about
carrying the little one, as he is suffering with a tooth—it is not easy. Felix
now sleeps in his new office; thus I cannot even call him if I need him. Yet I
hope this, too, will pass, and days free from sorrow will come again.
Please tell brother Julius that I shall write just as soon as I feel a little
more human, and I thank him for his kind offer to come here and help,
which I may perhaps soon have to accept. Tell him I can offer him my
“palais royal,” which—though it lacks stables as yet—boasts  horses and 
mules at our disposal,  cows for rustic charm, and  bulls for bullfights.
My table is not especially distinguished, and my cellar has room for much
wine. The mosquitos bite me so much that I jump more than I sit. There-
fore I close with the best greetings to all relatives and friends. Farewell!
Your—Maria

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, March , 

Beloved Parents,
On February  I received your last missive of January, a fortnight after the
arrival of the crate, which arrived here quite unexpectedly on January . As
ever we went through its rich contents and surprises with great joy, and I
will abstain from mentioning anything in particular, as everything is as
desirable as it is tasteful; except that I must say the dolls are the non plus
ultra of all seen here hitherto, and of course they made the children very
happy. To sum up, I will tell you that we all spent a happy, contented day
and felt the sincerest thanks in our hearts, probably more than I can ever do
in words.
Pauline Horn will leave Corpus Christi on April , for her wishes can
never be realized here. She is a girl skilled at work but not patient with the
children, and that has often placed us at loggerheads; nor do I think that it
was her wish to serve here as a domestic, as she brought along with her
neither an apron nor a simple dress fit for the purpose but only fine clothes,
etc. Whether she intends to go to Germany I do not know as I believe that
her first priority is to find a rich husband!
With us here everything is much as before; we are all well, thanks be to
God, and the children are growing up. My son excels at naughtiness. My
dear Father, you wish Felix to write a book about Texas. I talked to him
about this again, and he wishes to write to you himself with his opinion
about this. He thinks it might be time-consuming work that may yield no
return. I now have to cut this short as an unexpected visit has shortened my
writing time today. Farewell and keep in your love
Your—Maria

N.B. Following are a few lines from my husband Felix!

[Corpus Christi, April , ] Beloved Parents—You will probably be
astonished to see a few lines from me at all. But my Maria writes so often
and in such detail that it becomes difficult for me to add anything that
might be of interest for you. My affairs engage me very much and are
progressing steadily, even if slowly. I continue constantly acquiring more
property in the form of land, which increases daily in value. Laying by ready
cash is not possible for the moment, and our expenses rise daily as our family
grows. Besides, we are living as well as people of the same rank in Germany,

[  ]
   

even though not in abundance, and if several enterprises turn out well for
me, we shall become independent in some years. All I lack is the capital to
make my enterprises more extensive, yet I hope I have the most difficult
phase behind me if only I remain healthy, for which there is every prospect.
I have now begun a new, larger rancho, and next week a wooden house will
be sent out there on two wagons. Our stock of cattle is increasing slowly but
visibly—in short, we are doing so well that we cannot complain of our fate.
And that is good enough.
Many thanks for all the things you are always so kind as to send me.
Everything you send is so much better than one can get here that it fills the
inhabitants with amazement, and I use it all and guard it with great care. If
I were to write a book about Texas, I should indeed not lack material.
However, if I were to do justice to writing a book, it would claim my time
for at least six months, and that is not possible now. For today, farewell and
remember your son
—Felix A. Blücher
n

Corpus Christi, July , 

Cordially loved Parents,
“God spare me from my countrymen!” is Felix’s prayer, morning, noon, and
night; and after dealing with the insolent demands Pauline made upon us, I
agree. Felix has not yet returned from his journey, and yesterday I heard he
had gone to Mexico. Whether it be so, I do not know. This means he was
here for the celebration of July , and on the th he went away again. On
the th there is the greatest celebration: the Independence of America. Far
from holding back, Corpus Christi does its utmost for this day. The festivi-
ties began at  o’clock in the morning, opening with thirteen cannon shots
fired by our resident Captain Müller. The first shot came at midnight, at
daybreak there were , at  o’clock ,  shot after each recital, some shots
at the beginning of the dinner, and at sunset again  (the number of
original states). My children were allowed to participate in such public
festivities for the first time. Felix took them in the morning to the court-
house, where recitals and songs lasted until between  and , when the
whole company set out on a parade, the dignitaries on horseback in front,
then the schoolgirls, whom our girls joined, then the boys, and after them
all persons present. Right in the worst heat of the day they had to parade
about a ½ hour from the courthouse to the city hall, where a meal was

[  ]
             ’             

served, of which the children partook too. Felix came home, and Mary and
Julia stayed there until  o’clock in the custody of “Uncle” Büsse and “Uncle”
Schübert. I had no suitable dress, therefore I remained at home, as I have
worn my yellow summer dress three times in a row at great festivities. If
possible, I shall procure a good white dress and keep that one for all summer
activities.
So, to come back to July : what stories the children now had to relate!
As they speak three languages, mostly Spanish and English, less German,
the tales were all the more droll. Mary at once began: “Mr. Lovenskiold read
aloud, then they kicked with their feet (here people stamp their feet to
applaud), and then Uncle Müller fired the cannon.” Mary is already almost
 feet tall, as tall as girls up to  years of age, but her speech is often still
hesitant. Then they related what a fine dinner they had had: roast suckling
pig. Julia immediately wagged a finger, pointing out: “No, Mama, I tell you
it was a dog!” And the reports went on that way. As the facilities are too
restricted for large crowds, it is the custom at such occasions to have dinner
standing up; first the ladies, as the gentlemen assist, and when these have
gone, the gentlemen. Julia now declared that she did not eat without a chair;
and Mary asked, most astonished, “Whoever laid the table? They had
indeed forgotten the napkins!” As a treat for me that day, Mr. Büsse brought
some ice, and we spent the afternoon over a good iced tea. After supper the
gentlemen went to the ball, the children and I to bed. They were so ex-
hausted that they no longer had any thoughts of the ball.
I still take a ride on horseback every day from : to  o’clock. The
children are already passionate little horsewomen. Mary rides just as well as
I. Riding on horseback is my greatest pleasure. As long as I can ride, I never
go to town. On July , Sunday, we had a large riding party. Often we ride
along the bay, and sometimes the horses go into the water up to their knees,
letting the waves roll up their legs. I confess that this simple, straightfor-
ward life has great charm for me. After nine months of drought, we had ½
days of rain that has made everything burst forth in great green splendor.
Unfortunately that is not enough; ponds and cisterns remain empty.
On the first Monday in August an election is to be held, and Felix is
therefore always dashing about. [August ]—I am sorry not to have sent
these lines to you before but resolve to write you a few words today, which I
hope will not arrive too much later. The election passed on Monday very
calmly. Felix’s opposition party had put up another candidate during his
absence from here. In spite of his absences, my husband got  votes here

[  ]
   

in Corpus Christi and his opponent ; and at the other polling place Felix
got , his opponent . So he remains in the surveying office. Felix and the
children send a thousand greetings, and I close in haste.
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, December , 

Cordially loved Parents,
I still ride horseback every day with Felix, Mr. Schübert, or our Mary, who
rides as well as any woman, and often when she is riding with us in the field,
she has Julia before her. My horse is the darling of all, and one can sit on it
as calmly as on a sofa, scarcely feeling any movement even it goes fast. You
will certainly have read already of the great calamities in New York, and
God knows whether, as a land agent, Felix too will be stranded with more
than  of a , contract still to be received from his client.85 Since
September neither money nor letter has arrived from the man, despite all
communications from Felix. This would be a hard loss for us, as my hus-
band has no more assignments for a long time. For the businesses in Corpus
Christi are still the same: nothing, nothing at all to do and no money! Raw
hides that used to bring – cents a pound in cash now bring at best 
cents in credit, which is tough for the stockmen and rancheros. However,
two big schooners have already come into Corpus Christi by the dredged
canal, and there is now a direct passage between here and every other
harbor, whereby greater traffic can be expected. One ship has twice taken
horses as cargo to be sold at enormous prices in New Orleans, making those
here increase in value; horses that once cost  are now worth .
We still have not seen anything of our New York money, and our Christ-
mas will not turn out very rich. Mary, or “Fat,” to use her usual family pet
name, is now an excellent and fearless rider. I should have liked to give
her a nice saddle for Christmas, which Mr. Noessel had ordered from
New Orleans for his -year-old daughter. Horse, riding habit, everything
had been received, and now she does not have the courage, and so he will
sell the saddle for . But I have no money to spare now. You must know
that here no ladies’ saddles can be had in the stores, and they are enor-
mously dear.
With us everything is much the same; Felix goes his way and I go mine,
with the children. For a year Uncle Schübert has been our evening compan-
ion almost daily and he is teaching Mary to read. Now seven years old,

[  ]
             ’             

Mary is only slightly smaller than I and nearly as tall. She is very diligent at
reading. I demand very little from her mentally so that her health does not
suffer at such rapid growth. Julia is small and the boy medium and, thanks
be to God, well again and on his feet. He speaks extraordinarily well but
only Spanish and is the pet in the house. Greet all relatives fondly from me!
A fortnight or three weeks ago the mail steamer ran aground, again, at
Galveston, and it may well be that our letters have been lost.
Your—Maria
Fond kisses from the children and greetings from Felix!
n

Corpus Christi, March , 

Dear Parents,
I send these few lines to let you know that at one o’clock in the morning on
last Saturday, the th, my dear Maria was safely delivered of a healthy boy.
The mail starts in a ½ hour and we have no time left to write. My wife and
I join in sending you all our best love. More next time.
Love in friendship
Felix A. Blücher
n
Corpus Christi, August , ,  P.M.
Truly loved Parents,
At last then! This is how I hear you exclaiming, and you have every right.
For five months have passed when I have not written to you. But having
four children and no servants is enough to fill up days and nights so that
there is scarcely time left for eating and drinking. We received your last
letter of June  in the middle of July, and I was quite astonished that the
arrival of my little Richard surprised you so much, as I wrote in September
or so to tell you that at the end of March I was expecting an addition to the
family. Perhaps this letter was lost. Although I have had a servant for only
one month since January st and have been working in the kitchen and
doing the washing at –°, I can assure you that I am very fit and well.
Our poor “Thick” or “Fat,” Mary, is of course worse off, for all day long she
must help, and her only recreation is that sometimes she goes riding on
horseback. Nor have I given that up, and when I have a washerwoman I
take a ride in the evening for a ½ hour. Otherwise I could not endure such
uninterrupted work.

[  ]
   

We had an extremely hot and windy summer with such ample rain in
May that  more acres of corn were planted on our rancho. However, it has
since been so enormously hot and dry that the harvest is doubtful. Times
are still bad here and money is not to be found. No payment has yet arrived
from New York. Felix started for Mexico on Saturday, and Mr. Wardwell
(the New York debtor) was in Corpus Christi on Monday but at once
departed that same night on hearing that my husband had documents and
invoices delivered to an attorney to file suit against him here. But Mr.
Wardwell rendered himself as invisible as possible, and it was only from me
that Judge Neal heard he had been here. Money has been very short for us,
and a fortnight before my delivery I had not yet procured anything for my
little one. With joy—and with great sorrow—I accepted a proposal from
Mrs. Meuly to buy my piano to have her eldest daughter instructed. I did
not reflect on her offer long, for my piano was no longer of any use, and it
brought me only  in cash and  in things from the store. I likewise sold
the necklace I got for a wedding present, for . To have , acres of
land and no money!! I have often told Felix he should teach us to eat grass
and send us out to pasture!
In spite of money being so short I got myself daguerreotyped twice and
threw away much money, for the pictures are of no use whatever, and I will
not send them to you. You will already have received Felix’s portrait by now,
I hope. It too is only mediocre, as the men have awfully poor equipment
here.
After several years’ absence and having divorced his wife, Colonel Kinney
has arrived here on a visit, and in consequence of this there were big banquets
and balls, in which of course I could not take part.86 Felix is almost never at
home and spends most of his time with the attorney Mr. Lovenskiold.87 He
eats and drinks there, works there, and everything. I no longer bother him
about that, for I am sure it would be futile. I am feeling so exhausted that I
shall cease. Farewell, give my most cordial love to all who can be greeted, and
do soon write to your
Maria

P.S. The children send a thousand greetings and kisses and are happy with
their dolls. Charles has now become sturdy and strong and talks most
delightfully. Richard is already teething and is the nicest of our children.
The other day Felix, Uncle Schübert, and I rode to the bay on horseback
and amused ourselves with a shark.

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, November , 

Cordially loved Parents,
We are all hale and hearty, thanks be to God, though Corpus Christi has
been surrounded by yellow fever on every side. Fortunately, we have had
severe northers since Nov. st, which might have interrupted the epidemic
somewhat if New Orleans, Galveston, Indianola, and Brownsville had had
them to the same degree. In Corpus Christi there has not been a single case
of illness. No special troubles have prevented my writing, yet my work and
the little ones require all my time. Mary is a tall girl and it’s a shame to have
to put her to work so young. Yet you can certainly understand that when she
sees to the little one, I have more than enough to do with the time. Mr.
Schübert remains her teacher. Every day that I can ever do without her, she
goes there for reading. She learns with great difficulty, yet she is skillful at
writing. Julia learns through play and is as sharp as a tack.
Christmas will soon come, and God knows what it will bring us. For I
cannot make anything for the children, nor have I money left over to buy a
thing. Felix has had rather a lot of work, but the payments are all still
pending. We have had such a terrible drought that our cattle are again
suffering for want of food and water, and a good rain would be a great
blessing. Now and then I still ride horseback. And that is all the recreation I
have, for Felix has sold the carriage.
[November ] The other day while writing I was interrupted by the little
one, and only this evening could I return to it. For a full two months now I
have had a very bad finger. Despite this I have had to do all the work, but
with weeping and gnashing of teeth. One evening I just tumbled down
senseless with pain, and two nights after that my arm and hand swelled up
so much that at  o’clock in the morning Felix was forced to cut off my
wedding ring. With poultices of cactus leaves and cauterization of the
infected flesh, the finger has now healed up again. For two months I had an
open wound! Now, after nearly three months, it is only stiff and painful.
The children are feeling very sad that there will not be a crate this year.
But it can’t be helped; the bad years are generally very bad. Felix and the
children are sleeping around me, and I think I must also get some rest, for I
don’t usually manage much. It is very cold, by the way. Since Nov. st we
have had severe cold.
Let me hear from you soon and tell me about all dear friends and

[  ]
   

relatives. The girls are captivated by playing forget-me-not, would love to

have the chance to learn to draw, and are eager for a little package from
Berlin. Once more greet relatives and acquaintances a thousand times and
soon write to your
Maria

I had the bad luck to lose one of the fine new cambric handkerchiefs, which
has afflicted me very, very much.
n
Corpus Christi, February , 
Dear beloved Parents,
Happy New Year! I received your dear letter dated January . Just as with
you, in our family nothing much has happened except Christmas. As
always, we celebrated Christmas as best we could. Uncle Schübert and
Uncle Büsse were with us. The old Christmas tree was decorated again, the
dolls that were in the last crate were dressed up again, each child received a
trifle as a present, and that was all. Felix and I, too, had Christmas gifts this
time. Felix received from all of us a wonderful silver bridle, between  and
 in value, and I was presented with baked nut macaroons, on which we
all feasted. Then we had our roast turkey for supper as always, and that was
all. Thanks be to God we are all well, and that is the main thing.
Winter has so far been extraordinarily mild here, and we have needed
fires indoors only a few times. Everything is already green here and the
vegetables available are those we get in May and June in Germany. But very
often the cold comes later and does much damage. Felix is almost always
away from home, and despite that he can scarcely earn what we need, as
there is little money around and he must most often take land as payment.
In Corpus Christi there is no longer any work for him, and I think he does
best going to Brownsville, where there is much business traffic and money. I
shall not go there, at any rate, for yellow fever rages there every year worse
than in New Orleans. Corpus Christi is a blessed place in that respect.
Yellow fever ravaged communities all around us last fall: Indianola, Gal-
veston, New Orleans, and on the Rio Grande, and here no person has fallen
ill. We have not heard anything from Felix’s parents for ages, and we do not
even know whether they are in Berlin or not.
On our rancho, Müller will sow corn or perhaps has already done so. Pray
God that we make a crop. Our cows continue to increase, and their milk

[  ]
             ’             

greatly bolsters our household income. How much a household here costs
one can scarcely imagine. I have calculated that with four children, if we eat
only meat, which is very cheap here, with coffee, tea, sugar, candles, soap,
bread, and butter, I need  or  cents a day, which is  minus  cents. Now
add clothes, shoes, corn for hens and horses, and the expensive wages if you
have help, and you may well imagine that if business is not good, we will
have no rich haul. My horse has had colic, and I have sent it to the rancho
for a while so that it may have better pasture. Mary and I thus lose our only
pleasure, which is all the harder as the boys make the house a complete hell,
the big one (Charles) with willfulness and rage and the little one (Richard)
by screaming. I do not believe that in the whole world there are three such
children as Richard. Often I think he is not a human creature at all but a
Satan. The other day old Büsse said if a snake bit Richard, the snake would
die, as it would not be as poisonous. Now imagine all that work and no time
without a crying child on your lap or arm; no night without being awakened
– times, often to sit up the whole night with him. He is by no means ill
or weakly, however; on the contrary. He runs about everywhere, dashes up
and down stairs like the others, but is continually in a bad mood. I use a
horsehair cord on the big one, Charles, which breaks the skin and draws
blood at a hard blow. But even this scarcely tames him!
I can indeed say that because of the children I should like to live in Berlin,
as here their education is being totally neglected, and I cannot redress this evil
in the least myself. Now, finally, there is a very good lady music teacher here.
If “Fat” were a little more advanced in her schooling and I still had my piano,
I should certainly get her taught to play the piano. For I should exchange the
pleasure I have had in playing the piano for no other. And I should also like
her to learn drawing, which in my opinion is a really feminine and interesting
pursuit. I instruct them in needlework myself, and the two girls already know
how to quilt and hem very nicely. You have asked about the news of the
Indians in Texas and said you were very alarmed. But I must tell you that I
had not heard of it before your letter, and upon closer investigation I learned
that Indian disturbances had taken place –, miles from here.88
Now I come to a very important point in my letter, namely your kind offer
to send us things again. As I have been so overwrought with the continual
bawling of the little monster, I forgot what I wanted to request. Now, after
four hours of wrestling with the little one, I have at last succeeded in getting
him to sleep, and I will use these quiet moments, though my eyelids are also
drooping. I accept with great joy your invitation to send us the things we

[  ]
   

hope for, hesitating only for fear that all this will be a nuisance and a burden
to you. Thus, I shall note on a separate sheet what I mainly lack, and the list
is not short. You may then choose what is convenient to send.
I am really very glad not to be present when you, dear Father, receive my
“little” wish list. You will crown your kindness by sending something for
Uncle Schübert, for he is so generous to us. He likes my husband and has
great affection for the children. And please get an ordinary chess board for
Uncle Büsse, who also does many a thing for me. And I can never do
anything for them.
Fond farewells, and greet all friends a thousand times.
Maria
n
Corpus Christi, August , 
Dear beloved Parents,
I have unfortunately not been able to get letters to Berlin regularly this year.
I received your dear letter of May  in the middle of June, and I should
have liked to answer at once but was prevented from doing so by another
very sore finger. Of course so much work is left undone when I am ill that
once I improve, my hands are really full, especially as I take care of the
washing and ironing myself. It is hard work. But I now prefer doing that
myself than having lazy Mexicans in the house with half a dozen of their
dirty children, and then still having to pay  a day besides.
The happy prospect of a crate keeps us all in joyful expectation, as you
may well imagine, and I only hope and wish with all my heart that we soon
shall get news of it. You have again gone to great expenses and have favored
all of us so amply, and my letter must have appeared to you rather insolent.
Felix has given up his office in Corpus Christi and is now surveyor at
Brownsville, a worse nest of yellow fever than Galveston or New Orleans,
and there he lives all the year round. Felix is not afraid of yellow fever,
because he has had it. On Thursday the th he left to move his office there.
In that district he expects to have much to do, as for several years there has
been no surveyor there. Here anyone who does not have the capital to open
a store or keep cattle must take some civic office, which keeps many men
away from home for months. But for Felix, staying away has become
habitual. I am more quiet and content when Felix is away and I am alone
with my children. For when Felix is at home, he is ill-tempered most days,
saying I must not bother him and complaining that the children give me so

[  ]
             ’             

much work and trouble. And this makes matters no better but only more
disagreeable; we can never have meals at a predictable time, etc. I have
already become accustomed to managing the household independently.
Uncle Büsse and Uncle Schübert are my factotums.
The children now go to Sunday school. Here Sundays are kept so strictly
that many people do not even buy a loaf of bread. Especially the Irish.
School is from : to  o’clock and then the sermon runs until :. How
the children stand that in the heat I really do not know. This much, how-
ever, is certain—they very much enjoy going there and have already made
good progress in reading. The heat has been insupportable here this year,
and in recent days it has been ˚ in the shade, which you must agree is an
impressive and almost intolerable heat. The corn crop, on the whole, has not
turned out as well this year as we initially expected. The rain has again been
late and scanty. However, the farmers are now growing a significant amount
of cotton here, and cotton of excellent quality.
Here things chug on in the old way. Since we parted with the piano, we
are short on lively entertainment, and you might consider favoring me with
a barrel organ. That way we can all have music with no need to learn how to
play it! After school the children sit around so drearily on Sunday afternoon.
“Fat” then rides in the evening while the little ones lounge about. And I
regret not having thought sooner of asking you for some little society games,
as the children might then stay out of the sun and amuse themselves quietly.
A great joy I have had: Col. Kinney found our finest white cow after she
had been gone two years, with a charming calf at her side. Some people at
San Patricio had her and were milking her.
One thing I intend to procure for myself, and I am already saving for it,
is a good sewing machine like a Wilson & Wheeler, acknowledged to be the
best.89 You probably remember the imitation diamond earrings and brooch
that Papa gave me. These Don Pérez sold for  in Mexico, and I had sold
them to him for , which I am holding as founding stock for the sewing
machine. The  is quite a sum; but dollars saved here and there, now and
then, are stacking up.
It is getting dark and I must end. Fare very, very well! And please do write
to me soon. Greet all relatives a thousand times. As soon as I hear about the
crate, I shall let you know it at once. For the present take our sincerest thanks.
Your loving Maria
P.S. Many kisses from the beasts!
n
[  ]
   

Corpus Christi, November , evening, 

Cordially loved Parents,
What surprise and joy, what magnificent gifts you have bestowed on us! The
crate arrived on Sunday afternoon the th, and I must try in vain to describe
to you our happiness and that of the children, to whom only you can offer
such bright days. I beg you to accept the sincerest and most deeply felt
thanks from all of us and also to convey these to all relatives, friends, and
acquaintances who had a share in sending it.
One affair dampened our joy to a degree, i.e., the disturbances at Browns-
ville. I do not know whether your newspapers report it. First, the occurrence
in itself is very sad; and second, it totally disrupts our good prospects for this
winter and leaves us worse off than ever. First the yellow fever quite upset
all our calculations and now the insurrection. But let me keep to the point.
A Mexican, but a Texas citizen, named Nepomuceno Cortina, of one of the
richest and best educated families of Brownsville, has taken up with a band
of good-for-nothings, and they attacked Brownsville to take private revenge
upon persons who opposed him. But, as is usual in such cases, innocent
victims fell, and the affair turned into a siege with all the consequent misery.
Brownsville was almost deserted of people because of the fever. There were
no troops. So the few inhabitants were abandoned. For three months
already this sad drama has been playing out.
Cortina now has  men, has occupied all the entrances to Brownsville,
and has opened all the mail and thereby interrupted every communication.
From all the neighboring places volunteers have been summoned to help
and have marched off; – set out from here. In our area they have taken
the precaution of requiring every Mexican not resident here to declare and
hand over any weapons.90
You can surely imagine how hopeless our prospects are. Here we are with
, acres of fine land, goodness knows how many head of cattle, fine
horses, etc., and we have not one dime in our pocket. Felix has advertised a
great part of his land for sale. But who will buy it just when one has to sell?
But do not be concerned over all this. We have already undergone very hard
times quite often, and I only wish Felix had been able to save enough to buy
me a good sewing machine. But it is not so, and I must do my best. I work
without pause from morning to night: I wash, cook, scrub, boil up my own
soap, make candles, churn butter when I have enough cows, make cheese,
and mend and darn and tailor for the great and small of the family through
thick and thin. And when I occasionally run to town every three or four

[  ]
             ’             

weeks to make necessary purchases, then I am a lady. Yesterday I washed

and today I starched and ironed, etc., and it is already  o’clock, and I must
at least finish this letter tonight. Let us still hope for a happy and cheerful
meeting someday! Again farewell!
Your—Maria

[  ]
       

Civil War

THE YEAR  proved fortuitous for Maria von Blücher. Her husband
found employment and success in Brownsville, which had rebounded eco-
nomically from the Cortina revolt of the previous year.1 Felix’s surveys brought
him a new client list of the most powerful entrepreneurs, merchants, and land-
owners in the Lower Rio Grande Valley: Charles Stillman, Henry Woodhouse,
José San Román, Francisco Ytúrria, John Young, and a host of others became
important connections.2 Moreover, Felix cemented his friendship with the
veteran steamboat operators Richard King and Mifflin Kenedy, whose Nueces
County lands he had surveyed in  and . They advised him that in their
opinion Corpus Christi would surpass Brownsville as a transportation center
and that they would soon be investing large sums of money in the Nueces
country.3 And on December  at Galveston, Felix finally received a portion of
his long disputed inheritance from his grandmother’s estate.4
The amount of money was not specified, but it must have been substantial.
For Felix immediately contracted for the building of a “new house,” and he
provided Maria and the children with Christmas gifts richer than ever be-
fore.5 Even more important, Maria and Felix seem to have reconciled emo-
tionally, and a son, George Anton, would be born October  the following
year.6 With the noise of carpenters working on her new home competing with
the melodious notes of her “magnificent” new piano, Maria looked forward
finally to continued prosperity and happiness. As she and Felix closed 
with a Christmas “never before celebrated as noisily,” Maria had no reason to
suppose that the way of life she chronicled to her parents would not continue.7
Her radiant outlook, her familiar and now richly promising world, however,

[  ]
             ’             

would be swept away by “that great blast of ruin and destruction,” the Ameri-
can Civil War.8
The Texas Secession Convention met in Austin on January , , and
voted to secede from the federal Union. When a secessionist ordinance was
presented to the voters a few weeks later it was approved by a vote of , to
,. Nueces County voted for secession,  to .9 Unlike many German
Texans, Maria and Felix, who had close ties to the pro-secessionist establish-
ment in Austin, aligned themselves politically and ideologically with the Con-
federacy. Indeed Maria, with minimal realism, became something of a local
“fire-eater.” She wrote to her parents: “We are justified in saying: God is with
the South! . . . Maybe the North will totally break the South. . . . But make us
submit voluntarily—never!”10
Felix entered Confederate military service as a major in the engineer corps,
helping to design and build fortifications up and down the vast Texas coast.11
Small fortifications were built at the approaches to harbors at Port Lavaca,
Indianola, Matagorda Island, and nearby Harbor and Mustang islands. At
Corpus Christi, embankments and earthworks were thrown up on the bluff
and at the bay’s edge. These bulwarks, though their flimsiness ought to have
been cause for despair, actually inspired confidence. In the defenders’ minds
(and Maria’s), the justice and invincibility of their cause would prevail. In fact,
any battle would be decided by superior manpower and firepower. Ignorant of
the destructive capacity of steam-driven warships fitted with rifled cannon,
the defenders of Corpus Christi mounted a battery of two old smooth-bore
cannon—an  pounder and a  pounder—and “gaily prepared for the com-
ing conflict.”12
Surprisingly, Corpus Christi was targeted by the Federals early in the war.
Early on the morning of August , , a bold and aggressive Union lieuten-
ant, John W. Kittredge, came ashore under a flag of truce and demanded the
town’s surrender. Denied this, he announced that he would bombard the city
and gave the Rebels forty-eight hours to evacuate women, children, and old
people. At daylight on August  the Confederates ended the truce with a
salvo; Felix von Blücher fired the first shot and successfully directed the subse-
quent fire that drove off the Union gun boats. Early the next morning Lieu-
tenant Kittredge landed thirty-two sailors south of the Rebel fortifications
and advanced on the defenders, which consisted of local volunteers under Felix
and four companies of the Eighth Texas Infantry under Maj. Alfred M. Hobby,
who easily repulsed the attack. Corpus Christi was proclaimed throughout
the state as the “Vicksburg of Texas.”13

[  ]
       

Maria’s letter of October , , provides a vivid description of the evacu-

ation and battle of Corpus Christi. Yet in spite of what the town’s newspaper
proclaimed as a “Great Victory!” Corpus Christi remained blockaded and vul-
nerable to Federal attack. And when Union forces returned in larger numbers
in , the citizens of the town, now faced with starvation, offered allegiance
in exchange for food and protection. Corpus Christi remained “a divided and
stricken city for the duration of the war.”14 Maria described her hometown as
“abandoned by the friend and not yet taken by the enemy.”15
Maria hung on desperately through the war. The Union blockade, a severe
drought in , and a frigid winter in  brought almost total economic
collapse and famine.16 Maria’s letters document in detail the suffering of the
populace, as she chose to stay in Corpus Christi to protect her home and
property from Union confiscation. Only with the aid of her parents and rela-
tives in Germany, who managed to get supplies and money to her past mili-
tary lines, did she persist. The war scattered her friends like chaff in the wind.
She observed death and loss of property; her world simply “vanished.”17 She
had to concentrate on staying alive (“I had to sell many of my things to get
by”) and protecting all of her and Felix’s worldly estate for her children.18 To
that end, she rejected an offer from her father to pay for her family’s return to
Germany and likewise her husband’s demand that she relocate with him to
Mexico. Perhaps because of this, Felix abandoned her and remained in Con-
federate service, seeing extensive military action in the Lower Rio Grande
Valley, as the Rebels under Rip Ford’s legendary “Cavalry of the West” cam-
paign redeemed Brownsville from Union control in .19 During his ab-
sence she gave birth to a daughter, Anna Elizabeth, on August , , only
to watch in horror as the baby died from dysentery “in cramps” on October ,
.20 And yet through this chaos, her letters also reveal a daily life she at-
tempted to “make normal.” She especially worried about her children’s educa-
tion: “I regard the time during which this war left our children deprived of all
instruction as irreparably lost, and I fear it will influence them for the whole of
their lives.”21
Maria remained ideologically committed to the Confederate cause until
the bitter end: “I believe that if ever the North is victorious, the last man from
the South must have fallen. And of the immeasurable riches of this country
nothing will remain but ruins and fallow fields useless for the white man.
Lincoln has stamped his name with infamy through the Emancipation Dec-
laration!”22 As the Confederate Army on the Rio Grande melted away in May,
, Maria’s aspirations withered, and she faced hopeless poverty. Neverthe-

[  ]
             ’             

less, she steadfastly refused to give up hope: “God has always cared for us so
wonderfully that instead of losing heart I am feeling more and more encour-
aged . . . as by much experience I have come to the firm conclusion that the
events seeming vexatious to us mostly turn out for the best.”23 Determined to
save the Blücher lands and to remain at home, she managed to ration meager
food and clothing supplies carefully among her family and friends (“I have
known how it feels to have to maintain a family without having the means”).24
With her modest wealth and southern institutions destroyed, and her needs
so great, she had to open her home to occupying Union troops. Necessity
probably drove her at first, but she came to see by early  that the Yankees
were not a gang of grave robbers dressed as soldiers. Indeed, she came to
depend on a number of Union officers who settled in town after the war, while
Felix, always the adventurer, crossed the border to join the French Imperial
Army under General Tomás Mejía in Mexico’s civil war.25 For almost three
years, from late  to , she rarely saw or heard from her husband, whose
abandonment of his wife and family was virtually complete.26 Moreover, Felix’s
war experiences apparently left him a broken man in health and spirit, and he
returned to Corpus Christi in September of  in the throes of alcoholism
and depression.27 It is clear from her letters that this time her marital relation-
ship with Felix came to an end. As a decade of Reconstruction politics com-
menced in Corpus Christi, it would be the unending love of her parents and
relatives in Germany, along with the help of loyal friends in town and two
Union officers (one of whom became her son-in-law), that helped Maria re-
build home and hearth in South Texas.28

Corpus Christi, March , 

Cordially loved Parents,
On Saturday, March , I received your letter dated January , and I had
already long been awaiting it. I sent a letter at the end of November, I guess,
which must have arrived in your hands at Christmas or New Year’s. It
contained our thanks and details about the arrival of the crate. The gold
dollars in it were untouched.
Felix has not yet been back. Tomorrow it is three months since he started
off. Since January  I have not received any word from him, but I heard from
someone that he is again at Brownsville. My dear Father, you are so ready to
look after Felix’s interests, yet I again beg you urgently, let the whole
company there go to the devil; do not even spare them a glance. Felix’s

[  ]
       

portion of the inheritance from his grandmother amounts to ,½ thalers,

according to Kill-Mar’s letter, which sum has always been and remains in
the hands not of Kill-Mar but of Herr Normann of the council of justice at
Greisswald. And he must be content with that, even if they deprive him of
the rest. Felix charged me with writing to Kill-Mar—if a letter should come
from Hermann [Felix’s brother] or him. But I do not wish to have anything,
anything in the world, to do with them. What Felix will do I don’t know,
and I shall also probably not be the first to hear. For Lovenskiold is his
advisor and administrator. Felix is infinitely generous, but too disorganized
to draw profit from his property, and at the same time too indifferent about
cultivating closeness with his family and making them happy. I should
already have left long ago, had I had the means. For I really cannot regard
myself as other than an administrator or landlord’s agent for an absent
master’s property. If there is anything at hand, it is at my disposal; if there is
nothing, Felix is the last to worry about it. Felix has immense quantities of
the finest, most exquisite land, and if only we could eat grass, we would be
well off. I am by no means unhappy under such independent conditions, and
I believe on the contrary that they suit my character better than does
dependency. Yet, confronted with having to live alone, I might have chosen
a more sociable and more advantageous place for the children. I am think-
ing of taking on a young girl as a governess for the children and having
them instructed in the basics. A female educated in the seminary here would
probably not to be able to take them farther than that. The children have
great desire and aptitude for drawing, and I beg you very much to procure
the Berlin systematic school of drawing book No. , “Beginnings of Draw-
ing,” by Wilhelm Hermes.29 I sometimes practice drawing with them.
Our “Fat” [Mary] rode horseback to Nuecestown the day before yester-
day. Mrs. Littig came to see me on Tuesday morning with her sister, and in
the evening they all rode back in the moonlight.30 I don’t think that females
in Germany could risk riding twelve miles unmolested, while here you often
see ladies riding quite alone on horseback or in a buggy. Uncle Schübert will
drive up there with Julia in a buggy on Sunday to bring them home.31 Mrs.
Littig provides me with excellent butter.
Our winter has been like yours. We had cold and ice as never before, and
now spring has come. All the gardens have been worked over, sown, and
planted. Unfortunately, though, they are all deprived of their finest orna-
ments, the orange, peach, and oleander trees, etc., the unseasonable frost
having killed every last one, and likewise the fig trees.

[  ]
             ’             

On February st I received  that Felix sent me from Brownsville, and a
hen laid the first egg of this year at our place; and in the evening came the
second of the big steamers that run continuously between here and Indi-
anola, bringing each week – barrels of freight and never less than 
strangers, last time bringing . Thus she keeps things lively enough here; if
she can just persist, costing  a day to run.
I beg you, dear Mother, to see whether you can procure for me the book
The Doll by Carl Müchler.32 It is the nicest book for little girls that I ever
saw. Finally, once more my sincerest thanks for the money that you sent for
my benefit. Now farewell, greet all my old friends a thousand times. The
children send many kisses and each a little wild flower. Write very soon to
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, May , 
Cordially loved Parents,
Felix came back from Brownsville on March , and his first words were
that now he would fulfill his promise to me and that I should travel home,
especially as he would probably stay away from home this whole summer. I
was very glad of it and the following day immediately began to get myself
ready. Felix gathered information about the ships from Galveston to
Bremen, and we received news that on April  the barque Fortuna would
start. But it was already April . Felix at once went to Galveston to make
the necessary arrangements, and he suspected that the Fortuna would not
set out so soon. But she did sail on the th, and as she crossed the bar she
collided with another ship, broke her masts, and suffered significant damage.
She then returned to Galveston and reimbursed the passengers their
passage.33 Felix now says that no ship will start before the end of June or
July, all of them to be loaded with cotton, and that in his opinion, arriving
in Europe at that time of year they will get there might be dangerous for the
children. Passing from summer here to fall in Berlin would not be advisable.
Felix considered all the possible children’s diseases and this largely induced
him to put off the journey until next spring.
Felix wanted to send you full power of attorney and authority, dear
Father, but I was decidedly against it. Kill-Mar is an old rascal, and the less
one has to do with him the better. Felix has already been away from home
again for more than a month, and I expect him back today. He has given me
a great surprise to console me for my nonjourney. A fortnight after he went

[  ]
       

back to Brownsville, a magnificent piano and first-class sewing machine

arrived from Galveston; the former with wonderful sound and excellent
workmanship; and the latter of the first and best kind and name: Wheeler &
Wilson. The sewing machine cost  in Galveston, and when opened, the
cover forms a surface for work basket, etc., and is richly adorned with rose
bouquets, inlaid with mother of pearl. The piano cost  at Galveston
from Kauffmann and Klaener. It was made by Julius Blüthner in Leipzig.
Since the arrival of these things I have not yet seen Felix at all to tell him of
my surprise. The sewing machine sews wonderfully from the finest cambric
to the coarsest cloth. In just two hours I made a whole suit (trousers and
jacket), with nine buttonholes and buttons made by hand. That it is a great,
great help for me, you may easily imagine. In a Berlin newspaper I read of
sewing machines that make buttonholes and that overcast seams. Such
machines are not known here, and it would interest me greatly if you could
send me a bit of cloth with such work. My machine has a seamer that
overcasts the seam and stitches right on the edge, so that it looks much like
hemming work.
Mr. Schübert gave me this view of Corpus Christi for you, taken in front
of our house from the hill that rises from the foreground of the picture. Our
house is of course not in it, as it was behind the camera. No.  is Belden’s
estate, which is situated directly between us and the bay, showing his home
and warehouse. # is the City Hotel, which you can see with a magnifying
glass, and you will also find #, Meuly’s home. # is California House and #
the house of Dweyer, who went bankrupt and then bought a hacienda in
Mexico with money obtained by swindling, and sent his wife and one child
to Ireland for a visit; she left three children here. # is the home of the
Catholic priest. The picture shows scarcely a th or th of Corpus Christi,
and the pretty views are missing. On either side of the view are nice houses
on the hill. Had he taken the picture from the wharf, he would have had a
pleasing view. Perhaps I can send you a better one.34
You must excuse my poor writing, but I am always in such a hurry, and I
write so rarely that my hand is quite unsteady. I can tell you nothing new.
Things are much the same with us. The children are well and disappointed
that nothing has come of their journey, as the idea of traveling by steamer
charmed them. Our Richard is a most lovely boy, cheerful and boisterous
and talking so well. I must confess that frankly I was afraid to undertake
such a journey alone with the children, as I get so seasick, and who would
then attend to the children?

[  ]
             ’             

We have not heard from Kill-Mar again, and I wish you would ignore
him, for he is nothing but an old hypocrite. Nor have any of Felix’s brothers
or sisters written.
Just now I came from the cow pen. My fine white cow that was lost for
so long has been bitten in her udder by a rattlesnake and looks appalling. I
think you will find it right that I submitted to Felix’s wishes to give up my
journey for this year. For had I insisted upon it, he would have kept his
word. But I thought if anything happened to one of the children, it would
probably be regarded as my fault.
Now fare cordially well and write soon . . . to your
Maria

Many kisses from the children.

P.S. Mary has been away from home for eight days for the first time. She
has been with Mary Littig, and Uncle Schübert and Julia brought her back
in the buggy. My horse, on which Mary had ridden there, ran away from the
Littigs’ place and turned up at home a week later. Mary sometimes rides
with Mr. Schübert to the Littigs on Sundays. There and back is  miles.
You may imagine that she is not weak!
n
Corpus Christi, December , 
Cordially loved Parents,
Christmas has passed again, and never before was Christmas Eve cel-
ebrated as noisily as this year. Felix was here, fit and well, and Mr. Büsse
was back in our midst. Thus it was a real festival for the children. In
presents, too, they have never had as rich a haul as this year. Uncle Büsse
made Charles a toolchest with a complete set of carpenter’s tools, and he
made Richard a boat, not a toy but a real one, which has already taken its
maiden voyage on the pond. Büsse crafted both things finely and accu-
rately. Uncle Schübert had a big drum for Charles and for Richard a big
trumpet and other toys. The girls each received from him a fine brooch
and from Uncle Büsse nice chenille shawls. From Papa they got two
dresses each and many other trifles. I received a nice dress from Felix and a
very nice clock from Uncle Schübert. On December  Felix was paid out
some of his inheritance, and from Galveston he ordered me richer presents
than I have ever been given. I got a very nice cut-glass table set, with six

[  ]
       

bottles for vinegar, oil, etc., which are always on our table; English plates, a
fine saddle, an extraordinarily good lamp, a silk umbrella, and a new kind of
patented flat irons, in which the glowing coals are placed inside and the irons
have a chimney and draft valve so that the iron maintains uniform heat for
two hours, often longer; a fine cooking stove; and a new washing machine. So
you can see that I did not come off badly.
In September all four of the children got the measles, which this year
broke out with great violence, for the first time since I have been here. Had
they caught the disease earlier, I should have been distraught. As it is, I am
quite calm, though not without plenty of trouble and exertion. Yet it is not
so severe in this climate. We had no doctor or medicine except an elixir with
licorice, etc., and only lemonade to drink. Charles was worst off, for he got
whooping cough as well and this meant suffering, of course. Richard has not
had whooping cough at all. For Charles, though, after the measles receded,
he quickly got rid of the whooping cough. The best means they have found
here against it is to keep the children cool and bathe them with cold water.
Applying warmth always made things worse except for linseed poultice
fortified with tobacco and placed around the neck. I gave them nothing but
mustard poultice, foot baths, and enemas. It is curious that none of the
other children had it. From the bottom of my heart I am glad that you have
all been well, for it is miserable to be dealing with patients.
I shall soon dismiss my Mexican girl. She has been with us since June but
is still as just she was on the first day. She cannot even make a cup of coffee,
nothing at all. As long as I supervise her closely, we manage; but if I should
fall sick, it would be worse than having nobody.
Mr. Schübert is now in Mexico to make a deal for a major sheep purchase.
He will now also move to our rancho, together with Müller. Sheep are the
best business here, better than cattle.35 Schübert has sheep, Müller breeding
knowledge, and Felix land; each will take a third of the proceeds. Our Mary
would well fit in at the rancho. She can milk and is not afraid of cows.
Please procure two first-class saddle blankets for a person to whom I owe
much gratitude and who in the past year—when I was sick and Felix was
gone for three months, leaving me with only  thalers at home—provided me
with everything needed in the house without my ordering it. He is our baker,
whose customer we have been these ten years and who brings us bread in the
morning. Then I have a private affair concerning you, dear Mother. I will
need another baby cap, a shawl, and little hat. I wish I were mistaken.

[  ]
             ’             

It is already  o’clock, and I close herewith. Fare very well and write very
soon.
Your—Maria
With kindliest compliments! Yours faithfully,
Felix A. Blücher
n

Corpus Christi, February , 

Cordially loved Parents,
Texas, too, has now seceded from the United States, and people’s opinions
about the future of the southern states differ widely. Some think that they
would form a more effective republic on their own and would establish
direct commerce and traffic with Europe. Others fear war with Mexico,
Indians, and excessive taxes. So far everything is as before.
I still beg you to ask Dr. Henschel what I can best do for a much swollen
gland under the arm, which is painful and persistent and accompanied by a
continual pain in my breast. The more pronounced the swelling of the
gland, the more the pain in the breast diminished, and I now feel nothing
but inconvenience when exerting the arm. Yet I should like to know
whether I should use a dissolving ointment or what I can do.
You, dear Mother, wrote last time that you would like to come here. What
indeed could please me more! But I know that such a journey would involve
great discomforts and being deprived of the comfort that has become a habit
for you. As regards health, I am convinced that you would feel very well here,
for it is without doubt a healthy and agreeable climate. It is very difficult for
me to write about this subject. For to summon you urgently is too risky, and
to dissuade you against my heart’s desires is very difficult for me.
Greet many times all my old friends. Fare cordially well and let me hear
something from you soon.
Your loving—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, May , 

Cordially loved Parents,
On April  I received your letter, my dear Father. I did not answer sooner
as I wanted to wait for Felix’s return from Galveston, where he was at that
time. On shipping a crate, we can only say that we must wait until we reach
an understanding with Bremen. I can assure you that not the merest

[  ]
       

difference can be observed here. I don’t like what I hear of how things are at
other places, like New Orleans, Charleston, etc. The Indians at once fell upon
Texas again when the troops of the United States were withdrawn. They
succeeded in slaying  people, among them Poly and her husband and child.36
You will perhaps remember that Poly stayed at our house for several months
last year with her baby daughter. But after that the Indians were defeated and
driven back, with the loss of some lives and all horses and prisoners.37
Felix has received his money from Kauffman. He will try to set matters
straight through Kill-Mar as far as possible. I am pleased that you had
nothing to do with that at all, dear Father, for several more rounds will
probably still be needed. Felix is now eagerly busy building the new house.
And if only I could get a servant, I could not wish more comfort. The
children are safe and sound, bungling through their learning. Felix brought
along fine carpets and curtains, etc., from Galveston for the new house.
Greet all family and friends a thousand times from me and do not forget
Your—Maria

P.S. N.B. Write to me very soon, as it seems likely that in August a blockade
will begin, and whether mail will get through is in question unless prior
arrangements are be made to dispatch it from New Orleans.38
n

Corpus Christi, October , 

Dearly beloved Parents,
Best love to you all! I have not heard from you in eighteen months, and I
doubt whether you ever received my last letter, which I sent in June last year.
Thank God we are all hale and hearty, and my youngest son turned one year
old the day before yesterday, October rd. He is walking and has four teeth
and is the cutest and best, as the youngest always is.
War now has completely cut us off from all communication with the
outer world. Gold and silver are things known only by name. We have
nothing but paper money that is valid only in the Confederacy. Times are
hard for all families. Clothing cannot be bought at all, except if anyone is
fortunate enough to be able to send silver to Mexico to get some. Perhaps
one person in a hundred is so lucky. There are no shoes at all, and it was
good fortune that I had two hides of good leather from which I myself
make shoes for our family. Mr. Büsse made me tools as good as possible. I
have resolved to wear out all my dresses before giving  for plain white

[  ]
             ’             

calico to make dresses for myself and the girls. Calico now costs  a yard.
The worst and toughest hardship is the lack of flour and corn. About a
month ago the last flour came to  per  pounds. A bushel of cornmeal
is ; one pound of coffee, ½. People might be willing to pay that if only
they could get it. Felix bought himself a pair of shoes for  and a pound of
soap for ½.
Corpus Christi has been in a state of siege since June, with more than
 men and soldiers in the place.39 On August  we had Yankees visiting;
there were  boats. On Tuesday the th in the evening, they came for the
first time and anchored about  miles away but in front of the town, after
having captured one of our boats and after our soldiers had burned  other
boats to avoid allowing them to fall into the northerners’ hands. The
following morning Capt. Kittredge came ashore with a white flag and called
for surrender of the town. As this was of course refused, he announced that
bombardment of the town would commence in  hours. After negotiations
he extended that time to  hours. Then you should have seen the migration
of people! Felix was not in Corpus Christi and returned only on Thursday,
whereupon I packed up some clothes in all haste. And on Friday morning at
 o’clock Mr. Schübert came with  buggies, designed for  persons each,
and took us to Nuecestown to Mrs. Littig’s, where I stayed with the chil-
dren for  days. From ¼ of a (German) mile from town and for – miles
along the wayside, one saw one household after another loaded up. In one
place there was a big mattress on the grass, and four most charming chil-
dren were jumping around on it. In another place breakfast was set out on a
neatly laid table and the family was sitting in rocking chairs as comfortably
as at home. The only inconveniences were lack of water and the great
expense of transporting things. That much aside, no one seemed to be
making much of a fuss about the migration. On Saturday morning between
 and  o’clock I was standing in the courtyard with Mrs. Littig when we
heard the first booming of cannon, and thus it went on until sunset. A
gunboat and  other boats fired on Corpus Christi with  and  pounders,
using shells filled with sulfur and gunpowder and solid round balls or
shrapnel shells with  small balls (about the size of a Borsdorf apple). They
flew merrily over our house, into our field, and through our fence but did
not do any harm at all. In our yard the children found a shell " long, a
similar one " long weighing  pounds, and one of  pounds, " long, all
of them unexploded; careful opening showed them to be filled with sulfur
and powder, and one had a full -pound round ball. The greatest misfor-

[  ]
       

tune was that the commander, a goods merchant chosen by his soldiers, was
absolutely incapable and irresolute; despite having had three days to prepare,
they had no battery and only two guns,  pounders. Felix and a young man,
Bill Mann, volunteered to build a battery and defend the town. At first the
good man did not want to permit even that. But as it was essential to do
something, the permission was given, and a small battery was erected below
the town close to the bay shore, which Felix, Bill Mann, and ten volunteers
defended with the two cannons. Sunday was a day of rest, and on Monday
before daybreak  Yankees landed with cannons to take the battery, attack-
ing from the rear. They were protected by the guns on their boats; in spite of
that, they were knocked back without achieving anything. In the afternoon
Felix fired  shots, which holed the gunboat and put an end to the affair.
The boats hastily withdrew, with the loss of one man on our side and one
slightly wounded; a ball rolled from the deck of the battery onto the man’s
head. Fourteen days ago, Capt. Kittredge again ventured hither and then our
men succeeded in capturing him with  men. He was escorted to San
Antonio. General Bee was here from San Antonio, after everything was over
of course, and brought guns, and horse-drawn artillery has also arrived. Felix
was appointed major of the engineer corps by General Bee in order to erect
the fortifications here. It has done most people good to emerge from the
dreadful inactivity produced by the war. This double victory has filled
everyone with new courage, and there is no thought of succumbing or giving
up as long as any man can bear arms. All men from  to  years have
already been called up, and they say that the next draft will go up to  years.
A great number of houses were shot through and through; two cows were
killed, and a Newfoundland dog had its head torn off by flying shrapnel.
People who were near the places where the shells exploded say bits of fence
poles, etc., were driven into house walls with incredible force. Fortunately
nothing was set on fire, though this had been the clear intent of using sulfur
and gunpowder. The Yankees fired their shells across more than three
English miles.40 When the little one was born we hired a black woman, who
proved extraordinarily good on this occasion, and I am sorry that I cannot
reward her for it to some extent.41 She remained in the house during the
bombardment, and she watered and milked the cows and calves while the
balls whizzed past her ears to right and left. She cooked for Felix’s acquain-
tances during all the time that the wives were away, and fought with the
soldiers who robbed all the houses. All the hens were killed except ours. I
lost three cows, which were possibly killed; this, however, happened far away

[  ]
             ’             

from the town. I wish you could send me cobbler’s awls and thread and
cobbler’s wax. Mr. Noessel scampered off with his family in good time and
lives at Matamoros, Mexico. Mr. Schübert and Mr. Büsse are safe and
sound and send greetings to you and their families.
We of course have never heard any more about the crates or what became
of them. It was inexcusable that they went to New York. Father should have
taken the advice given to him at the embassy for what it was: the advice of a
fool who believed in the impossibility of a rebellion against the mighty
North. One must not go to the enemy for good advice.
I must finish. The gentleman who takes this letter to Matamoros is
waiting at the gate with the carriage. If you wish to try to write, you can
send a letter to George Noessel, Matamoros, Mexico.
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, December , 
Dear Parents,
A little more than two months ago I sent you a letter. Whether it ever
reached your hands I shall hear with time. I then wrote in haste as the
gentleman who was willing to take it to Matamoros for me had his carriage
waiting at the gate. Yet you will have seen enough there to get an idea of
how things are here. Taken together, everything has grown rather worse.
The prices of provisions here have been driven to such heights as to sound
fabulous. Lincoln’s proclamation declaring all black people free after January
st made it necessary to call up whoever is able to bear arms. All men from
 to  years have now been drafted. Felix has been away from home these
three months. He is at Port Lavaca in the engineer corps and it is difficult to
say when he may be able to return. The natural consequence of all the men
being soldiers is that no field is tilled, and soon neither flour nor corn will be
for sale, and anyone who cannot live on meat must starve. At Brownsville,
which is now the only port serving Texas for imports, you can no longer buy
anything for paper, as they can no longer buy cotton for paper. So anyone
who has no silver can absolutely no longer get anything. And had it not
been possible for Mr. Schübert to go to Matamoros and bring us  pounds
of flour and a little coffee, like many others we would have tasted no food
other than beef for a month, as hens and turkeys are skinny for want of food
as it is not possible to get them food. One bushel of corn now costs –,
and Mr. Schübert says that farther inland a bushel of corn already costs –

[  ]
       

 (our corn or maize for you is Turkish wheat). A hundred pounds of flour
costs ; one pound of coffee, ; one bottle of whiskey, . There is no
[white] sugar, the last of it having been sold; brown sugar is ½ a pound; a
pair of shoes, ; a pound of tobacco, ½. Mr. Schübert bought Felix ten
yards of blue checkered shirting, ; every ready-made shirt, ; a pair of
black trousers, ; a dozen eggs, ; one pound of butter, ½; one quart of
syrup, ¼; a quart of milk,  cents. Everything else is in proportion. You
can well imagine that I do not buy nor have I bought any clothing; I stitch
up all the old rags and keep the children as presentable as possible that way.
My own linens are scarcely worth washing, yet getting new ones is very
unlikely. Mr. Schübert has already sacrificed on our behalf  of the silver
and gold he had, and now the question is what will become of us? He has
debts outstanding, but no one can successfully be asked to repay money at
present. We ourselves still owe  to the carpenter who built our house.
But there is no silver to be had, unless one is trading in Mexico. The
government pays in paper only. It was my intention to come to Europe with
the children this spring; but it is most unlikely that I can get the money
together. I offered my piano for sale for  in silver, and all our cows, but it
is not possible now to think of converting anything into cash. All my hope
turns to you then, dear Father, that you might be able to procure for us 
or . I know that you have no business but only a certain income;
whether this allows you such an expense I do not know. Thus I can only beg
you to borrow such a sum for us, and the repayment will not be impossible
as soon as this war concludes. At present I am not in a desperate situation
that might move me to entreat you for it; rather it is my conviction that
every week, perhaps every day, the shortages will increase, and the only hope
is to have means in hand to buy food from Mexico. The French are now
turning to Matamoros and that too might in turn worsen matters for us.42
We have not yet heard about the crate, and you may well understand that its
contents are now invaluable to me.
Today is Christmas Monday, but I need not tell you that Christmas
passed unnoticed. The children each got a slate from Mr. Büsse as a present,
and Uncle Schübert brought along gowns for the girls from Mexico. That
settled it for our Christmas. It is not a shortage of food that renders every-
thing so expensive but the speculation of the greedy money-grubbers. But
they will find their comeuppance, then the rest will take heed. Mrs. Ohlers
is at the head of these speculators in Corpus Christi. On the whole most
people are willing to suffer to the last to win victory and independence.

[  ]
             ’             

The other day eight of our soldiers again took two boats from the
Yankees in Corpus Christi Bay and killed three Yankees, who were buried
here.43 Captain Ireland and Captain Wilke were our leaders.44 They were in
a small boat reconnoitering Corpus Christi Pass. Realizing that they were
being pursued by two launches (the Yankee blockade bark was near the
mouth of the pass), they landed and lay in ambush until the  Yankees were
near enough. Then they fired, killed three, wounded the officer, put the
soldiers to flight, and then returned to Corpus Christi—all safe and sound
—with the Yankee boats, three dead, and a great number of excellent arms
and provisions. Capt. Wilke paid me a visit some time ago and told me that
formerly I had been well acquainted with his sister, who is dead now, but
who had sent him news in Austin at the time of our wedding. He is a
school-fellow and classmate of Felix’s. I cannot remember his sister and the
only possibility is that we were together at the Griebens. Please ask Julius
whether he can help me with recollecting this.
The Noessels have moved to Matamoros, as I told you in my first letter,
and in case you did not receive it, let me repeat: address your letters to me
c/o Mr. George Noessel, Matamoros, Mexico. When you write, I beg you to
include one or two vials of variola vaccine if possible, as smallpox is always
present in Mexico and now also among the soldiers. My two youngest boys,
Richard and George, have not yet been vaccinated. If you can raise money
for us dear Father, it will be possible to send it only via Matamoros, and I
think it best by the German consul. Which of the two is the official consul I
do not know, but the firm is Droage, Oettling and Co., located in Mata-
moros.45 I am concerned to provide for myself in time, for Schübert’s silver
is at an end and there is no chance to get silver now. Besides, I fear he will
have to enter military service. Up to now he has been exempted by General
Bee by virtue of his business “acumen.” This new draft is by the governor of
Texas, and it is very doubtful whether he will be exempted.
In Corpus Christi, as also in other places, they have held concerts,
performances, etc. at the hospitals. At one I played the piano, and yesterday
I received an invitation for another on Jan. . But as in the course of the
last eight months I have played only perhaps three or four times, I shall
probably not do so. On January , Mary will be turning  years old: she is
already nearly as tall as I am but more vigorous and stronger than I was at
. If only she would maintain better posture; I wish I could get her a brace
with a plate at the back.
How are Julius and Anna, etc., etc.? You may well imagine that I am

[  ]
       

anxious to hear of all relatives, special acquaintances, and friends, as almost

two years have passed without my having received news from you. I hired
the black woman for another year, for  and a garment a month, which is
very cheap. Everyone must pay –, but she told her master she did not
want to leave us and that she was content. Besides, her services are now
invaluable for me. She is fearless, resolute, and stronger than many men I
know; she also has a devilishly sharp tongue and natural common sense, too.
I have seen her lift a cow by the horns and pull it out after it fell into a ditch
in front of our house during the night and was quite unable to move. Alone,
she drew it out and settled it in a comfortable place. The cow died never-
theless.
Greet all, all a thousand times from me and answer very soon. Farewell!
Your—Maria

Mr. Schübert and Mr. Büsse send you cordial greetings. From the children
many thousand greetings and kisses. Excuse the bad writing; I am writing
late in the evening, and my hand is quite unsteady from want of exercise.
n
Corpus Christi, July , 
Dear beloved Parents,
On May  I laid hands on your long-awaited letter, and the same day I
received via Mr. Oettling  in gold, which came like a heaven-sent
blessing as it enabled me to get provisions sent from Brownsville, the only
place where provisions are in stock as it is situated on the Rio Grande and is
three English miles (½ a German mile) from Matamoros and has imports
constantly coming in from Mexico.46 The only inconvenience is that one
must use gold or silver, and Felix’s pay is of course in Confederate money
(paper), where  in paper is worth only . Felix has just been posted to
Brownsville and in government carriages he at once sent me  pounds of
flour,  pounds of coffee,  pounds of sugar,  pounds of starch, a little
crate of dried apples, vinegar, candles, shoes, shirting, sole leather, one
length of cotton, and one piece of colored skirting, so that I am now
provisioned for some time. Mr. Oettling wrote to me that if I wanted to
journey home, he was charged with covering the cost. Nothing could be
better for us now than for me to be in Germany with the children, and I
therefore at once wrote to Felix. He agreed completely. But the costs of such
a journey for a large family are immense, so that only in the case of the most

[  ]
             ’             

dire emergency can I make use of your kind offer, my dear Father, especially
as I have already received such a considerable sum. As soon as I am some-
how able to do so, I shall indeed reimburse you. For if the war ends victori-
ous for us, property in Texas will double in value. For the moment one
cannot realize anything. At auctions made necessary by legal proceedings,
things are given away at half price.
Felix’s pay is  a month; but once reduced to real market value this is a
little more than , which is not sufficient to cover the costs for him alone
at Brownsville, where everything has climbed to enormous prices, as Mr.
Oettling probably informed you. Washing a dozen items of linen costs ½
or  in paper money. Everything else is commensurately high—a pair of
shoes for the children,  silver; for Mary, ; one pound of tea, ½ in silver;
one pound of coffee, ½ in silver; etc. If I should wish to travel to you, I
should necessarily have to make preparations as regards linen, which is now
not feasible.
Felix has been away from home one day short of nine months, and two
hours before he arrived here from Brownsville, a steamer came from Mata-
gorda bearing Col. Sulakowsky, a colonel in the engineer corps, who has
taken Felix away ill to build forts at Aransas Pass, Corpus Christi Pass, and
Paso Cavallo.47 One day before he intended to travel home, Felix had an
attack of yellow fever, which kept him at Brownsville a month longer. The
journey here provoked a new attack, and on the second day after his arrival
they took him to the steamer from his sick bed, in Mr. Schübert’s buggy,
because they have absolute confidence in his knowledge of the surroundings.
His ambition is all that kept him going. God knows when he will now
return. Since he became a soldier, he has lost  lb. of fat; I wish I had it for
roasting. Two days before Felix’s departure from Brownsville, on June ,
our crates arrived in Matamoros, and with God’s help they will be here
soon. The quartermaster, Major Russell, will transport them here in govern-
ment wagons.48 They should reach us from Brownsville in eight days. Felix
might have waited for them, but sometimes it takes weeks before they can
unload the ships, as such an enormous number lie off Matamoros.49 Felix
brought along , in government money destined for paying of his
workers. Had it been me, I would have made them give me , in gold
at Brownsville for the workers and would then have bolted and returned to
Germany on the same ship. Perhaps it is good luck that the crates arrive
only now, as we are in need of the things now more than at any other time.
Mary, however, will probably scarcely find anything to fit her. She is almost

[  ]
       

as tall as I am and as broad and heavier. The regimen people have in

Europe, shutting children into a schoolroom from their youth and totally
breaking their health, is unfortunate. When they are nine or ten years old
they will still learn as much. Mary has super stamina compared to the
others. In the morning at : A.M. she prepares the coffee while the black
woman is at the market, and sets up the dining room, and at : A.M. she is
in the cow pen, where each calf is her doll. Since Felix’s arrival there are
horses here again; now she is completely happy. He gets government forage
for three horses, and his two clerks each get it for one horse, so that the
horses are all in good condition and they can ride on horseback as much as
they desire.
We are justified in saying: God is with the South! We have had such a
superabundant harvest this year that if it weren’t for the speculators, every-
thing would become cheaper. I just bought green ears from this year’s second
corn crop. Hundreds and hundreds of wagons laden with cotton are being
sent from Corpus Christi to Mexico, where they exchange it for provi-
sions.50 And if I only had enough shoes and clothes for the children, I
should have no complaints. Mr. Schübert has stood by us and cared for us as
best he could. So has Mr. Büsse, although he is near rotting with dirt, etc.
Upon the arrival of your money I settled part of our debt to Mr. Schübert,
and I was very glad I could. Just now he brought me a case of vermicelli,
which is a good extra in our provisions. The children are all hale and hearty.
The little one is not yet talking; you do not even know his name, although I
thought I had told you. It is George Anton. His papa, too, had forgotten his
name, and the two do not yet know each other. Mr. Noessel is still living at
Matamoros, and we are in correspondence. Here in Corpus Christi nothing
of consequence has happened except that yesterday the Yankees burned two
ships laden with cotton at Mustang Island, a few miles from here.
Vicksburg has not yet been taken! Today the news arrived that New
Orleans was taken back by the C.S.A. soldiers!51 We hope it may be so.
Dear Father, my heartiest congratulations for your coming birthday. May
heaven permit you to enjoy many more, healthy and happy! This is what we
all wish with all our heart.
Maria

P.S. Mr. Taylor, Felix’s clerk, today sold his worn boots for , three boxes
of blacking for , and one new hat for , which gives me the sum of 
Confederate money.

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, October , 

Dear beloved Parents,
On July  I sent a letter to you through Mr. Oettling. It is doubtful whether
you ever received it. Therefore, I announce the happy arrival of the crates.
Words cannot convey the perfect happiness their contents brought after
such extended waiting and deprivation of anything but the most basic
needs. A thousand, thousand thanks to you and all the dears who have
supplied us so amply. The things in the big crate are in excellent condition.
The smaller one, however, showed some signs of dampness; but except for
the orange blossoms, nothing had been spoiled, as even the plums were
preserved as if freshly packed. I guess we can be very satisfied to find
everything still in good order after so long a time. Once more, many
heartfelt thanks for your great kindness.
The articles that enchanted all Corpus Christi were the dolls! I cannot
describe to you the sensation these caused. On the afternoon of the first
Sunday after their arrival, I had no fewer than eleven children crowding to
hold “the babies” for a moment, and the children thank you from their
innermost hearts for the great joy you have given them.
I must also tell you what the poor crates went through. On July the th
they landed at Matamoros, and they were transported to Brownsville for
shipment to Corpus Christi. Droage, Oettling and Co. have a managing
clerk at Brownsville, who ships all D.O. & Co. goods from there. This
young man committed the unforgivable blunder of sending our crates to
Austin ( miles from Corpus Christi) and sending us the things destined
for Austin, which arrived here on August . I’ll pass over the ghastly scene
of bitter disappointment. Felix’s clerk, Mr. Taylor, a very agreeable gentle-
man, offered to go to Brownsville to find out about our crates. He took a
carriage and six mules and at Brownsville heard that they had gone to Herr
von Biberstein in Austin. Mr. Taylor came back, hired an ambulance wagon,
got two government mules, and Capt. King gave us two mules, and after
three days he set off for Austin, where he arrived on the same day as the
crates—which had been forwarded from Brownsville by ox wagon and had
passed within five German miles of Corpus Christi. But all’s well that ends
well. We fortunately have them in hand. When Mr. Taylor drove into our
courtyard, he shouted a loud “Hurrah for home!” and his hat came flying
right over the mules and in among the children, where it remained undis-

[  ]
       

turbed, for everyone’s eyes were focused upon the crates. While they were
being unpacked and all was a tumult of enchantment, Mr. Taylor came to
me and said with deep emotion, “Madam, this is the happiest moment of
my life. I never expect to see a happier one.” I made him a present of one of
Felix’s pipes, and a saddle blanket, and for his willingness to expose himself
to the inconveniences of these travels. To give you a better idea of Mr.
Taylor, let me describe him: he is a little taller than Julius and somewhat
fatter, and he has an imperturbable good humor!52 This blunder cost D.O.
& Co. several hundred thalers (paper), but that cannot be helped.
Felix is now at Sabine Pass. But he has a boat for his own use in his
position as major of engineers, he has already been here twice for several
days, and I expect him any day as I informed him of the arrival of the crates.
I cannot give you any news of the war. When  Yankees are killed, ,
fill their places. Yet I believe that if ever the North is victorious, the last man
from the South must have fallen. And of the immeasurable riches of this
country nothing will remain but ruins and fallow fields useless for the white
man. Lincoln has stamped his name with infamy through the Emancipation
Declaration! Felix has  black men under his command for the construc-
tion of fortifications; every  black men have their white overseer.53 Our
black woman is still with us, all gracious energy in running and ruling the
household. I made her a present of colored fabric that many a lady here
would be pleased to have. Having received all the fine things from your
crates, I did not want to leave her empty-handed.
We get by through everyone giving a hand, especially the children. Mary
gets up before daybreak, sees to the hens, then goes milking with the black
woman when she returns from the market. Julia prepares the coffee, and
when I come down and have washed and dressed the three boys, she gets
everything ready for breakfast, fresh butter, etc. We wash, iron, dye, make
soap, make indigo from a shrub (which is a curious procedure), and burn
our own lime from shells. All this takes up a good deal of time. I give piano
lessons to young girls; in exchange, their mothers help me with sewing as I
do not wish to accept payment from them in cash (which no one has in any
event). I indeed thank you from my innermost soul for having provided me
with instruction in music, as it is not only a source of the greatest pleasure
here but has also given me a certain superiority over the womenfolk, which
is invaluable under the circumstances. For an American lady says: “No true
lady must work!” As cultivation is their greatest and only concern, while I
combine the useful with the agreeable and have always have felt and shown

[  ]
             ’             

an immense indifference toward their company, they do not rightly know

what to make of me, and they think it best to treat me with respect and
esteem, and the liberal gifts from your end contribute to enhancing this. For
the American parents do not send anything, as far as I know, or feel the
need to bring joy this way. Even a trousseau is a thing unknown.
I should like to keep you informed about the prices here for food and
articles. But I must note in that regard that a sad but inevitable inconve-
nience has crept up on us as a result of Europe not recognizing the Confed-
eracy, and this will lead to its ruin. This is the worthlessness of the paper
money. One dollar () in paper is now worth only  cents in silver. All
goods come from Mexico; abroad our money is not even accepted. Every-
thing hinges on hard currency! Whoever does not have it must pay , ,
up to  times the true value. You can well imagine what misery results from
this as the soldiers receive their pay in paper money. The only way to get
around this is to restrict our necessities. I regard the time when this war has
left our children deprived of all instruction as irreparably lost, and I fear it
will influence them for the whole of their lives. Charles is now nearly eight
years old, and it is not possible for me to get him instructed anyhow,
anywhere. Felix speaks of perhaps wanting to take me to Mexico, but I
think as long as there is a chance of retaining our property it would be
foolish to abandon it, as he and I have worked hard enough for it. Should
the Yankees be victorious, his property would be confiscated. If this misfor-
tune should come about, at least I cannot reproach myself over having lost it
for the sake of my personal comfort.
Greet all brothers and sisters and aunts from me many, many times, and I
wish all a richer Christmas than we shall have. Fare very well! Remember us
and write soon. Give cordial good wishes to Felix’s Aunt Rieben!
Your—Maria

N.B. Tell brother Julius if he wants to read a good book that will give him a
precise understanding of the standpoint of North and South: Planter’s
Northern Bride by Caroline Lee Hentz.54
n
Corpus Christi, March , 
Fondly loved Parents,
At the end of February I received your letter written in September. You can
imagine how glad I was to receive it, as I have not had any news from you

[  ]
       

since May  last year, except that Mr. Oettling wrote to tell me that you,
beloved Father, were willing to pay the passage for me and the family if I
wished to return to Germany. How much we should have liked to answer
this call had Felix not fallen ill in Brownsville and prevented it at that time!
Later I again packed things up and arranged for a carriage and every-
thing necessary for the voyage, and then I changed my mind. First: Felix’s
resignation from the military was not accepted, and I should have had to
undertake the tour to Mexico alone at a time when the routes were unsafe.
Second: I should probably have had to wait several months in Mexico
before I found a Bremen or Hamburg ship. Third: I did not wish to come
without possessing at least some of my own means, even if few. The ex-
penses of five or six children are not insignificant, as I know from experi-
ence, without even a cent being spent for their education. We have had a
hard time here; I can truly say famine. But I am nevertheless under my own
roof, and thanks to your kindness, I have many good things that I can sell
by and by to survive. Acorn coffee without milk, moldy flour, and bacon are
our daily fare.55 To add to the calamities of war, we have had a drought such
as I have never experienced, and cattle and sheep are dying of hunger in
such masses that it is not difficult to count , a day on the Nueces River
and in the creeks. The animals are so worn out that when they go to the
water they get stuck fast in the swampy banks and slowly die there.56 Such
distress seems to surpass human understanding. But when need is greatest,
God is nearest. I have found new friends in these hard times and kept old
ones, so that I remain optimistic. Mr. Schübert is no longer with us. He
thought he could boss us around, and one master is enough for me. Felix
was sent away on Dec. , and I have not heard from him since. Phyllis (my
black servant) is true to us in all distress. The worst is that when I packed
up my things, I gave away a good deal that could very well have been useful
to me, especially all the baby linen. But all in good time. If I can sell our
house and otherwise keep going, I shall set out to you by the end of this
year. I sent word to Mr. Oettling to ask whether you would be willing to
send me another  so that at the time of my delivery in August I shall
not be completely destitute. I am in anguish that once more I must beg for
your help. But who is master of such conditions?!
I hope to send these lines you via New Orleans so that you may receive
them more quickly. Your answer, please, send to Oettling. The Federals
sometimes pay us a visit; but there is not yet communication between here
and New Orleans or Brownsville. Open letters like this one are sometimes

[  ]
             ’             

expedited by the kindness of these visitors (Federal soldiers). As I have no

political news to report and am content to hear from you and our family, I
think our correspondence will not face obstructions. Everyone here has his
sorrow, poor or rich, and I can indeed say that wherever I look, all condi-
tions inside and outside our family teach me patience, resignation, and to be
content with my own fate. All our children are healthy and unconcerned
about bad times, thanks be to God, and Christmas itself did not pass
without pleasures, even if quite small.
I have only a short time to write to you and must close so as not to miss
this opportunity. For I cannot say when I may find another one. So farewell,
write very, very soon and let me hear as much news as possible. One fact I
will still mention. Mary is now  years old and is as tall as I. The children
kiss and greet you a thousand times and are eagerly looking forward to the
time when they can be united with you; and they never tire of hearing about
the Treptow garden, of the flowers and fruit trees in it, which sound won-
drous to them. For they never see fruit besides apples, oranges, and bruised
peaches, except for canned fruit sent from the North, and even that has not
been seen for the past three years. Delicate canned vegetables of that kind
come to Matamoros from Germany, and I ate the finest asparagus and green
peas, etc., at the farewell dinner party our friends gave when we were to
depart for Germany (which we never did).
Once more fare cordially well, greet who ever may be greeted, especially
Aunt Rieben, who seems never to forget us despite her great age. Remem-
ber with love
Your—Maria v. Blücher
n

Corpus Christi, May , 

Cordially loved Parents,
Thank God we are all well, and though I can no longer flash a single cent
around, we do not lack the food we need, thanks be to God, except flour.
We are now restricted to cornbread, and after the great cattle plague we only
very seldom get meat, which is given to me at no charge. Schübert pre-
sented Julia with  lbs. of coffee, and I got  lbs. of sugar on Felix’s
account, so that I have not suffered want. Of course butter, milk, vegetables,
etc., are luxury articles that we no longer know. Nevertheless God has
always cared for us so wonderfully that instead of losing heart I am feeling
more and more encouraged. I had to send Phyllis, my black woman, back to

[  ]
       

her master, which has loaded me with an immense burden just now. Mary
unfortunately feels the burden more than I, as she is vigorous and healthy,
while I can no longer manage any work.
I wrote to Oettling inquiring whether he was willing to advance me 
on Papa’s account, which I wanted to use to get provisions sent to me. Last
week I received the answer that he was not authorized to send me money
and could do so only at your instruction, dear Father. As by much experi-
ence I have come to the firm conclusion that the events seeming vexatious
to us mostly turn out for the best, I thought that this time too it was
perhaps to better advantage, unless you are weary of supporting me continu-
ally, that you send me needed articles of clothing from Germany, as they can
be bought there about  times more cheaply than at Matamoros. As crates
arrive each time that the Yankees pay us a visit, I guess the commanding
officer would mount no obstacle to allowing any family to provide itself with
needed articles of clothing. Please therefore send things via New Orleans,
which might possibly be faster. Should any changes occur here as the
months go by, I guess it would always be possible to communicate via
Oettling.
On March , Felix was here for a few hours to fetch his last things and
papers, and after that he seems to feel he has left his house forever. He had
carriages with him and was resolved to take us along with him, but every
house that is forsaken is totally demolished within two to three days, and I
could not face throwing away all this to go off to an unknown destination.57
For I cannot go to Europe until I have in hand at least some means of my
own, which will be feasible as soon as I can manage a sale of what remains
here. But that is impossible for the moment. I feel increasingly driven to go
to Germany for the education of the children. They are all growing up
without getting the learning they need; for I can give them so little instruc-
tion. My time is divided between too many essential chores. I had begun to
give piano lessons again; for this I got our dresses made. But upon Phyllis’s
departure I had to give that up also. Mary plays a little but has had no
instruction for months.
We have never before had a year as unfavorable as this. So far no rain has
fallen to do us any good. In spite of the drought all has greened up, for
nature cannot forget spring.
It is astonishing how my strength and energy have diminished in the last
three years. Though I don’t feel any pains, my vitality fades visibly. We have
an excellent doctor here. He gives me no medicine at all or only very

[  ]
             ’             

seldom, because he thinks it may weaken me further. On his first visit he

recognized the same problem that Dr. Henschel pronounced about me:
enlargement of the blood vessels of the heart and nervous debility. He
recommended the richest and at the same time lightest diet and perfect
repose as the only means for me to feel well; I should not eat any meat but
ample vegetables and fruit. Vegetables I have not tasted for several years,
and fruit—we scarcely know the word here. Three years ago in Galveston
Felix got me two dozen tin cans of green peas and asparagus, which came
from Bremen and were excellent. These were the last vegetables set before
for us. And how much repose can one have when one has to care for five
children! We must depend entirely on ourselves. A black woman now costs
 a month, and even if I had the means, I would not hire one under the
present circumstances.
In these hard times I have met many persons quite agreeable to me.
Among them Mrs. Ziegler is a cordially good woman of entirely unpreten-
tious manners and always ready to be obliging to others. I quite truthfully
say that without the Zieglers, I would have found it difficult to get by.58
Though his political opinions do not quite agree with ours, it has never
excited any animosity.
If you, dear Father, should decide that you can send me some things
without privation for yourselves, I will specify on a separate sheet what I
need most. Being now the caretaker, if not also not the supporter of the
family, I am obliged to go out more than has been the case in the past
fifteen years. Thus among all the other items detailed on sheets nos. one and
two, I beg you to send me some new fashionable patterns.
I have made an intimate acquaintance in a young woman,  years old,
named Mrs. Frost.59 She has had the advantage of an excellent education
and is diligent and skillful in embroidery, at which she is unsurpassed.
Though they have three black women in her family, Mrs. Frost seems not to
be idle for an hour. However, she has already had a sad experience in her
life. Though only  years old, she was forsaken a year ago by her husband,
who sides with the North and demanded that she sell her black women, go
to the North with him, and face a very uncertain and surely miserable
future. The three black women had been born and raised in Mrs. Frost’s
family and are much attached to her. She positively refused to sell them, and
then one morning he had gone, disappeared overnight, set out secretly to
Mexico. Out of the kindness of her heart she embroidered me a pair of
white trousers for the little one, George, which are wonderfully pretty. My

[  ]
       

Mary, though as tall as I, is still a complete child, and likes playing with
dolls more than anything else. Mrs. Frost is now making Mary and Julia
many nice clothes for their dolls, and for this they are devoted to her with
all their hearts.
May : A long time has elapsed before my return to writing. In the
meantime I received a letter from Felix. He is safe and sound but far away
from home. He did not report news to me but just tried to encourage me,
which he seems to feel is his duty. I only wish that God may let me live
until conditions improve enough for me to sell this house or leave it in
reliable hands. Yesterday I also received a letter from Oettling & Co., in
which they declare with great regret that they are authorized to make me
payment only in the special case of my coming there myself in order to go
to Germany.
It occurs to me to mention that if you should be willing to buy the
vegetables I begged for, you must not buy the Frankfort dried vegetables.
For I have had those Frankfort vegetables, and they are like straw. The
cooking and preserving are absolutely different. I am approaching this
winter with great apprehension. For if it does not rain, there will be no crop.
Nor have I firewood, and it is very doubtful that it will be possible for us to
get away; for at present it is positively impossible. The roads are everywhere
unsafe, and the only boats setting out are Yankee boats. Father will certainly
know best how things are in wartime in small places that are abandoned by
one’s own side and not yet taken by the enemy.
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, June , 
Dearly loved Parents,
Just a few days ago I received your letter dated January , and I am sorry
that it contained so little good news. First I must beg, beg you repeatedly,
not to try the merest approach to Kill-Mar. It is absolutely superfluous and
useless, and it is even most disagreeable to me that you showed him my
letter. For when I write letters to you, I just follow my impulses of the
moment with no thought that strangers might be reading them. As for
depriving Felix of his inheritance, Kill-Mar will certainly have his story
ready. And even though , thalers is a good sum, I would not degrade
myself by seeking his friendship for a million. One does not miss what one
has never had. The children have grown up in mediocre conditions and are

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             ’             

faring very well that way. I have never regarded having much money as good
fortune in itself, but a moderate quantity of it is necessary for happiness.
Once more I come with the urgent prayer: be reserved and proud toward
Kill-Mar to the same degree that he is, and you will not expose yourself to
any insult. Your many years’ experience of life must absolutely have shown
you that there are people who cannot understand decency and kindhearted-
ness. A man whose education only extends to the intellect, leaving heart and
soul untouched, is like a false diamond, brilliant and radiant enough but
worthless. So enough with these men!!
A few days ago I dispatched a letter to you in which I once more beg you
for many things. I have claimed your help and support so much that I do so
again really hesitatingly and driven only by necessity. My apprehension that
the want of good articles of food, especially vegetables and nourishing fare,
might bring forth cases of illness in our family has already been confirmed.
For twelve days I have had swollen feet from scurvy, and I now live entirely
on: goat’s milk in the morning; lemonade and water for beverages during
the day; and salad for my midday meal—this diet prescribed by the doctor.
Otherwise I feel well, except that the swelling is painful.
You write, dear Mother, that you ended the old year and celebrated the
new at Julius’s and emptied many a glass in toasts to our well-being, and ask
whether we too spent a merry, happy festive season. You will know the
answer if you have received any of my letters. But do not feel sad about that;
through sorrows we find joys. The war that has broken out between Den-
mark and Holstein may affect your financial circumstances so that there may
be no chance of your sending me things.60 Greet all relatives and other
friends; the children send you a thousand greetings!
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, November , 
Fondly loved Parents,
In the middle of October I received your letter from July via Felix, who was
at Brownsville, which is back in the hands of the Confederates. The letter
was handed to him there, and he read with astonishment that you had again
made the sacrifice of sending me , which I regret to say I have not
received. Mr. Oettling is in Europe, and his representative here assured me
that they had not received any word about it from you. So be so kind as to
inquire after it. Felix himself spoke to Oettling’s man at Matamoros, who

[  ]
       

was not willing to consent to the payment, even after Felix had shown him
your letter referring to it. Felix goes back to the Rio Grande again tomorrow
after six days here.
On August  I had another little daughter, who amazingly was big and
fat, weighing ½ pounds at birth! Now at two months old she weighs 
pounds. We christened her Anna Elizabeth, and she is a charming little
doll. Here in Corpus Christi everything is rather as before, except that the
Yankees have not been here for some months after initially paying us a visit
every fourteen days from last Christmas Eve. We are all healthy, thanks be
to God, and Felix has again tendered his resignation in order to do some-
thing for his family if he can, which he could not in the last year. As to Kill-
Mar and Ida, I once more beg you to ignore them totally and let not
anything move you to draw nearer to them.
In this year of , I have known how it feels to have to maintain a
family without having the means. Though I found many sympathetic
friends, who assisted me by word and deed, yet I had to sell many of my
things to get by; and even so I still got into debt, so that Felix needs to do
plenty of earning before we can consider ourselves free again. I had to sell
my fine green silk dress and the wonderfully fine table cloth you had sent
me, and likewise many other things. The green dress was as fabulous as my
wedding dress, and I struggled over parting with it. Yet what is gone is gone
and it is no use feeling sad about it. One thing gives me comfort: so far we
have all remained happy and healthy—though Felix has been in several
fights and battles on the Rio Grande, he has so far remained unwounded—
and my continuing to live here has meant that so far our house has not been
damaged. For the Yankees have demolished and destroyed every house that
has been abandoned. There were more houses than families, and conse-
quently they were not all occupied.
After the terrible drought, as a result of which thousands and thousands
of cattle died, we have had very favorable weather and superabundant crops
in Texas, and there are now shortages only in stray places where there are no
farms in the immediate vicinity. Blockaders, however, prevent the usual
importation of goods, and we also feel the lack of carriages and horses. Corn
is back to selling for  a bushel. And at the moment there is an immense
want of bread and fruit here at Corpus Christi.
My children are growing up at quite a pace. Mary is still shorter than I
am but only by an inch; Julie is of middling height. Charley and Richard
have gone to school these past three months or rather have had private

[  ]
             ’             

instruction from a widow, who teaches her son along with mine. I do not
want to send them to the public school because of the bad company. If I
have not been able to do much for my children’s education, I have nonethe-
less always been very particular as to their companionship, for which our
living at a distance from the town is extraordinarily helpful.
Our little George is a most charming and gentle boy and would certainly
become a great darling of yours. Last year my boys had tonsillitis, and I
thank God that they got over it so well. As soon as winter comes, my fear of
this terrible disease sets in.
It is incredible how the desire for pleasure overrides shortages, mortal
peril, and everything else. The town ladies and Yankee officers continually
arrange little dances, where all of them seem to entertain themselves
tremendously. Mary and Julia attended the ball at the Ziegler’s on the th.
Mr. Schübert escorted them there. Because of the little ones I cannot go
anywhere. The French have now so nearly taken possession of Mexico that
it will be a great blessing for that beautiful country if the rebels are unsuc-
cessful in stirring up another round of revolution. But law and order are not,
of course, what Mexican ruffians of that kind appreciate.
Charley begs for a little violin. I wrote to you before saying that he
wanted a musical instrument; now he has specified that it be a fiddle. Mary
is the eldest, and of course the hardest work falls to her; Julia is no less
willing but is weakly. And in appreciation of Mary’s joyless youth, it is
always very agreeable to me if I can procure any joy for her.
Felix is about to start out, and I must close. Now farewell, greet many
thousand times all brothers and sisters, relatives and friends. Once more
farewell!
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, January , 
Dearly beloved Parents,
On December  I received your letter dated September and at the same
time one from Oettling, in which he informed me that I could draw  at
his establishment, which I did within one hour after receiving of the letter.
Many, many thanks! I am really not able to survive without your help; for
Felix does very little for his family and is always on the move. He has now
resigned from the army and has accepted a very good situation in the cotton
trade, where they pay him  a month and all traveling expenses. How-

[  ]
       

ever, he has been away three months already and has not sent news for a
month. When I wrote telling you that Felix had left his house, none of us
believed that he might return so soon. For the Yankees had occupied the
town, and of course as a Confederate, he could not come here without being
taken prisoner. I remained here to save our house. Every house abandoned
by its owner was torn down by the Yankees. Now the Yankees have gone
away again, and our soldiers have taken possession again. And probably it
will remain so for some time yet. The Yankees burn and demolish whatever
human hands can destroy, and the Confederates, with few exceptions, have
nothing to lose but their lives. So of course all that is left to them is to fight
to the last.
The shortages are terrible. Paper money is no longer worth using for
anything except taxes. I cannot feed and clothe my family for less than  to
 a day. Thus you can imagine that it is not easy to survive. Along with
this, incredibly, people are happy and cheerful, holding a little dance
somewhere or having coffee and cake almost every evening, and everyone
puts up the best possible front.
What joy it caused among the children and for me as well when such a
fine Christmas gift arrived for us from all of you. I had not at all expected
that we might still receive money, as I did not and still do not wish to draw
on you too much. I must already thank you a thousandfold for your good-
will; be assured that you are the wellspring of much, much joy.
The th. During the day I am so busy and often have visitors, so that I
can write only late in the evening and at night, so you must excuse my
disorderly writing. Today I heard that Mr. Oettling’s goods had reached the
mouth of the Rio Grande— days ago—so they are by now perhaps on
their way to Corpus Christi. This morning I also got news from Felix and
. Indeed, the children can’t wait for the crate to arrive, for Christmas
turned out poorly. Mary is now as tall as I, and Julia has also shot up but is
smaller than Mary or Charles, who will also grow very tall and who is a
great help in the house when he is out of school. Richard is solid like his
Papa and always in good cheer. George and Anna are the darlings of the
whole family and both would be a very great pleasure for you. Anna is
nearly five months old and weighs twenty pounds and is without doubt the
fairest of the children. May God keep her hale and hearty.
I sent you two letters with the Yankees and you would therefore have
received them via New York or New Orleans. The provost marshal was a
Holsteiner and acquainted with Felix’s family, and he forwarded these

[  ]
             ’             

letters for me. But thank God that the route to Brownsville is open again
and the Yankees are away from here. Here in Texas they proceeded gently, by
order, because some renegades had indicated that Texas was largely sympa-
thetic to the North and would compromise with them. How they could
believe that when many thousands of men from Texas have fought in other
states is inexplicable to me. I guess I wrote to you last autumn about the
fight near Brownsville, where the Confederates overcame  Yankees, all
very well armed, with a small number of men under the command of Col.
Ford and Felix and without so much as a cannon. Fifteen Yankees fled
across the Rio Grande,  were taken prisoner, and the rest were killed, and
they captured all their horses and arms, etc.61 But the Confederates, now on
their own home turf, are fighting a strictly defensive war.
It is near midnight and I will close. Give my warmest thanks to all who
took part in the sending of this crate, and as soon as I hear anything about it
I shall write. The children send many thousand greetings and wish with all
their hearts to be able to embrace you. Farewell! Greet all those you can and
write soon to
Your—Maria

P.S. An auction of confiscated property and goods took place here, using
paper money. For your diversion I’ll cite some prices: an ordinary chest of
drawers, ,; three chairs of the meanest sort, ; a lamp with a glass
shade, ; and a very old, ordinary bedstead, ,, etc.
n
Corpus Christi, March , 
Beloved Parents,
I have written to you twice already this year and have not received any news
from you. I thought the letter describing the death of my beloved little
Anna would reach you about Christmas, and I hoped to receive an answer
by last month. Postal communication has become somewhat more regular
though not completely reliable. I am now to the point where I will sell all
our land and invest the money so that it offers me a secure income. Felix is
in Mexico and intends never to come back to Texas, and it is his wish that
we go elsewhere. Our first thought was of course to go to you. Whether that
is appropriate for the future of the boys, however, I doubt. Here they can
undertake anything and with minimal means can secure themselves an

[  ]
       

independent position. In Germany it is very different. Felix and I have

considered this carefully and have not been able to reach a conclusion about
it. All of the children have been going to school these past six weeks, and
they are farther in their studies than I expected. If I took them to Germany
now, they would have to begin afresh, which would undoubtedly entail
difficulties with the language. It really disturbs me that I cannot arrive at
definite resolution. If I went to the North, our communication would be
easy, but of course it is not as if we should see each other again, which
indeed is my most anxious wish.
In your last letter, dear Mother, you write that I too will soon have to
think of seeing my children go away. And indeed I have thought that if I
went to Germany, my children would perhaps come back to America, and
this idea has been underscored by the fact that Julia has received a proposal
of marriage. Though this seems rather ridiculous at her age (now almost ),
nevertheless I must say that Julia has every advantage and is highly attrac-
tive to many with her natural, simple, and yet sensible ways. The gentleman
who made this proposal is an officer of the Yankee troops. Through his
correspondence and his reputation in the army, he has completely convinced
me that I can trust him. He is no longer a young man exactly, at nearly
thirty, and is in very good financial standing. The troops have all left Corpus
Christi, and that has surely been the reason for his proposal. He did his
utmost to persuade me to go to St. Paul, Minnesota, where his mother lives,
and not to make my home elsewhere.62 I wrote all of this to Felix, and he is
leaving it entirely to me to choose my own place, as he does not intend to
reunite with us soon as far as I can tell. His position in Mexico with the
Imperial Army under Gen. Tomás Mejía is excellent, and he now draws a
salary of  a month in gold. But his expenses are as enormous, and very
rarely can he send me any of it. Therefore it is necessary that I try to secure
us an income, any income, which will surely be safe invested in federal
government bonds bringing  cents interest per dollar or %. It will be at
least a whole month before I can say anything definite about the sale of our
lands, as I must get all the necessary papers and titles.
I should like to know whether you resolved to send us a crate via
Galveston. Shipping to Galveston is no longer a problem, but getting
things here from there is often slow and tedious, though the distance is
small enough for a steamer to cover in a day and a half. And the Yankee
troops that were formerly here are now at Galveston; some of the officers

[  ]
             ’             

would certainly use their influence to get it forwarded as quickly as pos-

sible. For they seem to remember with pleasure the hours they spent in our
house, and since they have been stationed at Galveston, we have been
amply provided with books, illustrated newspapers, music, and fashion
magazines. Should you not yet have packed up anything to send, I beg
instantly not to forget it all.
You can certainly imagine what all I have to do now. The children are at
school the whole day, and I must do all the work alone. As long as the
Yankee troops were here, their visits took up a lot of our time. Nevertheless,
being on friendly terms with all of them meant we were spared much
unpleasantness, and our life seems very lonely now. Mr. Schübert we seldom
see these days. He has a big store and is very well-off. The truth is that
Schübert had his eye on Mary, but he discovered that she does not feel that
way about him. He is over , so that was very foolish. Mary is tops at
school and is devoted to her studies with her whole soul. I have the grave of
my little Anna quite nearby, and every day we take her fresh flowers.
Farewell! Many thousand greetings to brothers and sisters, friends and
relatives, and please send us some more photographs. The girls wish very
much to write, but they have difficulties with the German language. All the
children, however, send fond kisses.
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, April , 

Dearly loved Parents,
On March  we received the crate with your rich gifts. The Saturday before
that I got from Mr. Noessel your letter with your dear pictures enclosed.
How I long to see you face to face! I feel like rushing back to you and would
love to know whether this wish will ever be fulfilled. Sixteen years is a long
time and alters people’s appearance immensely, whatever their age.
Now to the crate! When each of us looked at our magnificent things, it
really was a feast, the likes of which we have not enjoyed for a long time,
and indeed words cannot properly convey our thanks. If only you could have
been here to witness the great joy. I am sorry to say that it was not un-
bounded, for the chest had been opened at some stage, somewhere, and six
towels, a pair of boots, a little knife, and all the sheet music had been stolen,
to my great dismay. Today I wrote to Mr. Oettling to find out who directed
the opening of the crates at Matamoros. All other items on the list are at

[  ]
       

hand. I have a suspicion and shall eventually tell you about it. I beg you,
dear Mother, to give our deepest and most sincere thanks to all who
contributed to filling the crate and adding to its contents. The children’s
wishes have been fulfilled beyond all their expectations. In particular, the
Confederate caps for the boys are marvelous, as their Papa had one just like
that. George looks most charming in his. I can scarcely say which gives me
more joy, having elegant dresses or graceful things for the house. Nothing is
more pleasing to me than a nicely set table, sufficient food on it to eat, and
delighted faces all around! And the beans from Anna were splendid; in the
sixteen years I have been here I never had a finer vegetable meal, for I think
beans here are never as juicy and tender because of the excessive heat. I
cannot mention all the things in detail and how they have delighted us.
Words cannot express our gratitude.
The sheets of tinfoil are by no means wasted on me; we are the only
people here to possess tin. Felix bought me a little box of it once before.
Think your way back two thousand years and you will get some idea of the
dreary position of the poor South at present. But hope for better times
keeps us all going; and, for God’s sake, you must not believe what the
northern newspapers print about the South. If all that were true, how could
the war have lasted four years already? But they must try to destroy sympathy
with the South to further their own interests. Perhaps the North will totally
break the South, for there will be little left to subdue. But make us submit
voluntarily—never!
The New Year’s greeting cards are more beautiful every year, and though
there is nothing similar here on New Year’s, they know a similar pleasure on
Valentine’s Day, February , when people get up to some fun. Easter will be
in a few days. For my children this is always a coveted feast. I have already
put aside more than  eggs but not flour for Easter baking, I am sorry to
say—there is nothing here but Turkish wheat (maize/corn). It would be an
eye-opener for the children to see our Easter eggs in Berlin. Yesterday Felix
sent me  and three pictures of himself with the news that in a few days
I shall receive a barrel of flour,  pounds of fat, a case of candles, 
pounds of sugar, and  pounds of coffee. Pray God that it arrives safely,
then we shall have provisions for some time. It is very difficult for a husband
to provide a large family with all that is needed, considering the actual
prices now. There is no post office between here and Brownsville, and
Captain Patrick, who will take my letters with him, starts in ½ hours, and I
must still take them to him. Therefore excuse my hasty and careless writing.

[  ]
             ’             

I should like to have a recipe for a medicine that will dissolve mucus, one
that I can give to the children when they suffer from angina. George might
have perished if Dr. Allen had not come in the right moment. I had already
given him  grams of balsam, and he had not vomited. Dr. Allen told me
that the remedy had not dealt with the mucus at all. After this he gave me a
liquid that dissolved the mucus and then provoked violent vomiting. Dr.
Allen was taken prisoner by the Yankees, and they left us without a doctor.63
To date your kindness and rich gifts have enabled me to maintain a
modicum of respectability, which is also in my character, I hope. The girls
and Charley often go to parties, and of course I prefer to see them dressed
decently and simply rather than to evoke the laughter of the whole commu-
nity, as some here do. Charley is nine years old and '" high. Richard will
be four years old in October. Good, high Wellington boots are a necessity
here. In winter and also at present the boys often have to go barefoot to
market and school because you cannot get to town from our house without
crossing deep ditches, which cannot be crossed in shoes when there is wet
weather. For the last two years the boys have not always had Wellingtons.
Some years ago Mr. Büsse went to town; when he returned an hour later in
a severe thunderstorm, the rain water was so high that it ran into his
waistcoat pocket. Mary also needs a pair of men’s boots, for she must milk
the cows out in the open in rain, wind, or shine, and must gather the calves
to feed them, and wet feet are not a good idea. She often wears Papa’s boots
when it is too wet. The high grass and weeds wet her through up to above
the knees. Mary is my dairymaid and housemaid, and Julia is a housemaid
as well. You should know that the upper room, my bedroom, stands out and
has six windows like a lantern, and the war has left me without curtains, as I
had to use them for swaddling clothes, pillowcases, and sheets. Charley has
the misfortune to wet the bed at times. Felix has tried everything; punish-
ment, cold water, going to bed without supper, etc., but it kept on happen-
ing until Dr. Allen told him he would just have to tolerate it, and it would
in due course disappear on its own. Dr. Allen said it was not uncommon
and it recurred like a disease among many in his practice. It occurs a short
time after Charley lies down, but if picked up, he cannot pass water. An
English doctor told Dr. Allen of a cure involving putting on little rubber
rings that would eventually cure the problem.
I have not forgotten your Christmas presents, little trifles though they be,
for giving yields as much pleasure as receiving, and it would fulfill my heart’s
dearest wish if I could reward you all better than by words and declarations

[  ]
       

of my deepest affection. The morsels and presents I shall send another time.
It is too late now.
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, January , 
Dear Parents,
A happy New Year to you! I duly received your dear letter of September,
and since then I have waited in vain for more news from you. Yesterday a
steamer arrived from Galveston, and I will try to send these lines aboard
her, as regular postal communication from here is not yet available. I guess
you received my last letter in which I informed you of the death of my little
darling. Mary and Julia have been ill for about three months and have spent
a great part of that time in bed. Julia got the dysentery so badly that for
three days the doctor held out no hope of her recovering. But with God’s
help and the assistance of an excellent doctor she got over it. A few days
after that Mary went down with a fever accompanying an abdominal
complaint. Now both of them have largely recovered, though Mary is still
taking medicine. This incessant fever has sorely damaged her health.
Through all this deep affliction I have received neither a single letter nor
any support from Felix, though he has an excellent position as chief engi-
neer at Matamoros with a salary of  a month in gold. For five or six
months he has not sent me a cent! I have in hand an absolute power of
attorney and authority over all our property, and if ever I can manage to do
so, I shall sell our house and as much land as I can. And then I shall come
to you when I have sufficient means.
I had to give up my little darling. With great grief I often thought that
my dear Anna might have been saved had I had a good doctor or perhaps
other medicines. But so many must give up their dear ones even where good
doctors and all the rest are present. Dr. Britton, who was with Anna, soon
followed her. He was only  years old and was married to the best and most
amiable lady. They had a little son, two months younger than Anna. Mrs.
Britton was about to visit her parents in Virginia. On the journey the little
one fell ill at the same time that her husband did here. And both of them
died on the same day, November th, and were buried at the same time; one
in Corpus Christi, the other in Virginia. The doctor had overexerted
himself during the illness of Otto Noessel, who died at the end of October,
and he got brain fever, which swiftly ended his life.

[  ]
             ’             

The Federal troops here have been ordered away, and Corpus Christi will
be rather lonely with , fewer men. The steamer by which I send this
letter is taking away the last three companies, and only two companies will
remain here. We have gotten along very well with the officers, and upon
closer acquaintance they have done all in their power to protect us from
inconveniences and the incessant thefts. We had a guard in front of the
house who was under rather strict orders. Yesterday evening there was a
great farewell party in which I was forced to take part. My refusal was
absolutely rejected. You must excuse me if my letter turns out jumbled, but
throughout the morning we have had farewell visits, and I have been
writing in between. I have begged Captain Forte to let me know whether
Kauffman and Klaener still have a business in Galveston. If you have made
preparations to send us a crate, it might best go there, though there is not
much traffic between here and Galveston. As long as the th regiment stays
there I can probably get it forwarded through one of the officers, and if you
prefer to send me a money order I cannot get it paid here in full. Whatever
you are perhaps able to procure for us, let it be of good quality and up to
date, as people always expect us to have something extra special, and
through your kindness and care I have always been able to be well dressed.
Many things that I have noted down must of course be left out, and I
principally beg you not to forget food, articles of clothing, dresses, hats,
gloves, galoshes, etc. And should it not be too much trouble for you, a
money order can easily be cashed in New York or New Orleans and now
also Galveston.
My poor children had a sad Christmas and birthdays. They did not even
get a pin’s worth, as I have not been able to buy them the smallest trifle,
though the stores are again filled with German toys and all kinds of things.
My George so begged for a little drum, but I could not fulfill his wish. The
troops are already marching aboard and I must close or my letter will not go.
A thousand greetings and kisses from the children. Give my love to all
brothers and sisters, friends and relatives. From
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, January , , at night
Dearly beloved Parents,
A steamer came in after sunset and sets out again tomorrow morning. I
didn’t want to pass up this favorable opportunity to send you an answer,

[  ]
       

even if brief, to your letter of December . Above all I wish to reassure you
about those unfounded apprehensions you had concerning the Federal
troops. Certainly the black soldiers are a disagreeable addition.64 Otherwise,
when it comes to the officers, all have treated us with great respect. And as
you will have seen from my last letter, there was even friendly intercourse.
Throughout the day today we had visits from the officers, who are as sorry
to leave us as we are to see them go. Tomorrow the steamer takes away the
last two companies, and then everything will return to its old quiet. I greatly
regret seeing Adjutant Stuart, Dr. Creagle, and Lieutenant Tiltson leave us,
having been our daily visitors. The intercourse with people not born or
educated in Texas makes clear the urgent necessity of giving my children a
better education. I have made up my mind to quit this place and go to
Germany; or, if my means are not sufficient, to the North, where the
children will have good schooling. I guess we now have enough acquaintan-
ces among the Yankees not to be without assistance. Felix has sent me
absolute authority to dispose of all our property. I think I would not be wise
to realize all the land, as it would bring but a low price at present. I there-
fore wrote to Felix some time ago and am eagerly waiting for an answer and
his opinion. Last week he sent me  but no letter. Captain Greer, the
bearer of the money, told me that Felix was occupied day and night at
Matamoros and indeed had no time for writing. You ask about how postal
communications are faring. Up to now there has been the military mail,
whereby some letters have arrived quickly. But how it will be from now on is
difficult to say, because so far no arrangements have been made for civilian
mail. Whatever you intend to send, I think it best to send it to Galveston.
We now have several good friends there who will undoubtedly be helpful in
the conveyance of the items. When we wish to leave here, considerable
preparations will be needed. And our time is so limited—as we cannot get
anyone to work for us washing, scrubbing, or sewing—that we have not yet
made any of the almost endless preparations; especially so when we have
often have had visitors, as has been the case daily in the last six months.
Given the still outrageous prices of everything, I really think it foolishness
to stay here longer, though the winter here has much to recommend it. We
spent all of today on the terrace and indeed have not yet had five or six cool
days so far this winter. Winter is all that I fear in another region. At any rate
I wish that you might be able to get warm capes for the children.
Thanks be to God the children are now back on their feet, and I hope
that they may remain so, as both the good doctors are now gone and there is

[  ]
             ’             

no good help nearby! We need many articles of new, good clothing in order
not to be too old-fashioned. In this respect people are even worse here than
in Berlin, and I can truly say we have never yet been so worse off than now.
Since my darling Anna left me, I seem to be immune to pain and fatigue. I
feel I have never been so healthy and vital. Three or four hours’ sleep is all I
need in twenty-four hours. This morning I went to bed at : o’clock, and
it is now : o’clock and I am no more tired than when I got out of bed
this morning. Greet all relatives, brothers and sisters and friends ten
thousand times for me. Fare cordially well! The children are sleeping,
otherwise they would send you many kisses.
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, July st, 
Beloved Parents,
Two letters from you have already arrived here and I have not yet been able
to write. Today, however, Sunday afternoon, I hope to remain undisturbed.
You will of course wish to hear about the crate. It has been in Galveston
since June , and we expect it any day. The barque Jason from Bremen has
arrived. But the name of her captain is Thelen, and Papa wrote telling me
his name was von Thülen; or have I misread it? The children are all wildly
impatient to receive their presents. I thank you for the effort and great
expense it causes you to manage my support and only wish you could be
present when we unpack, which would repay you to some degree for all your
trouble. I will not yet say a thing about the individual items, so that no
misfortune befalls the crate such that we might not receive it at all.
In your last letter there was a Paris newspaper; it only confirms what I
wrote to you (about the French in Mexico). Now, however, this joy has
already dissipated, as Matamoros has been taken by the Liberal Party. Only
 soldiers of the Imperial Army had remained there, and the Liberals
attacked the town and took it at once.65 Felix escaped back to Texas, where
he is now at Brownsville. He has again been elected as surveyor there. Your
opinion, dear Mother, is that I ought to be where Felix is. The thought is
very natural, considering the situation in which you live in Germany. Here,
however, it often is impossible and in many cases would be a great impedi-
ment for the husband and would cause enormous expenses under any
circumstances. In the end, the Imperial troops there received no payment,
and Felix has not sent me a cent since February , which indeed is very

[  ]
       

hard for me. We have not yet been able to sell any of our property. So
moving is precluded.
As to Julia, you absolutely misunderstood me. You mentioned that also
perhaps I too might have to think of separating myself from my children,
dear Mother, and I therefore wrote that this had been brought home to me
sooner than I expected, and spoke about Lieutenant Stuart’s proposal, but
did not say at all that it was a settled affair. On the contrary, Stuart only
wishes to correspond with me in order to remain in friendly intercourse
with us, and he plans to renew his proposal after two years. Julia is  years
old and does not think of marrying, neither Stuart nor anyone else. We
regularly get letters from him, which are as interesting in composition as
they are amicable.
You wish, dear Mother, that I should tell you more about the death of
my beloved little Anna. She fell ill of dysentery on the night of September
– []. I applied such remedies as I thought would be of use and did
not let up. But I saw no improvement and sent for the doctor, who gave her
up from the first. She had lost too much liquid, and all her strength was
spent. So she grew weaker and weaker. On the seventh day, Sunday
October st, in the evening at  o’clock, she died in cramps. On October
nd at  o’clock in the afternoon, she was buried in Mr. Büsse’s garden. I
can see her little grave from our front room, and it is well cared for by us
all. I hope you received her little lock. She was the darling in our house,
and there is nothing in it that does not remind us of her short existence and
departure. I am not very demonstrative in my feelings, but I feel the loss no
less despite that.
Julia is now playing the piano. I have had such bad luck with my piano.
The frame holding the strings has broken right in the middle and has so
distorted the sound produced by the keyboard that it is scarcely fit for
playing. It is impossible to tune it. I should like to write a good epistle to
Mr. Julius Blüthner of Leipzig if it was worth the postage. Felix bought it in
 at Galveston from Klaener, who had brought the pianos back from
Germany for sale with the assurance that they had been built for this
climate. There is nothing I miss more than my fine piano; for in its present
state, it is distasteful to me. I so regret that there is no opportunity here to
have Charley instructed in playing the violin; it seems to be his greatest
wish. Charley, and the girls too, are eager to write you a few lines, but they
cannot write German. And when they spell the words using the English
grammar, the result is quite incomprehensible, and I cannot afford the time

[  ]
             ’             

to spell each word for them. The children cannot understand the German
grammar books I have. A book similar to the Spanish one you sent me, on
English and German (how to learn German), would be good. The children
send you many, many greetings and thanks for the things we are expecting,
to which I add mine for all those who have remembered us. Give my
greetings to all brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances ten thousand
times, and write very, very soon . . . to your loving daughter
M. v. Blücher

P.S. I see a carriage coming with the crate! I must hurry to send this off so
that we do not forget it in our joy. More soon.
n
Corpus Christi, August , 
Dear Parents,
The crate and its contents arrived here in fine condition, and it had not
been opened at Galveston this time. Many, many thousand thanks for the
nice things. The girls were frantic with joy over their fine things. They had
not received any new garments since the receipt of the last crate, I don’t
think, except simple straw hats. It is impossible for me to praise every single
item sufficiently, therefore I will not mention any in particular. I’ll only tell
you that you can scarcely imagine what a sensation the drum has caused
here in the world of the young.
I can say that the things are now more welcome to me than , thalers
at another time, as Felix seems to have given us up totally. In seven months
he has not sent us a cent. There is no movement on the sale of our land, and
you can well understand what miserable times we are going through.
Schübert gives me flour, coffee, and sugar, on credit, and Büsse brings us
meat. This is all we have had for seven months! Trying to get Felix onto the
straight and narrow is useless, and all I can do is avoid leaving this house in
order to save it for the children. Half of the property he cannot sell under
any conditions. And as long as the family stays in this house, he may sell it
fifty times, but nobody can take it from us. All of this is of course a great
sorrow to me.
Now that the girls are so grown up as to be going to school, they must
continually wash, iron, etc. And the boys of course should go to school, but
I cannot raise the means. At the next session of the court I shall propose
partition of the property and then see if I can do better for the children. I

[  ]
       

expect that land prices will climb, as Corpus Christi has recently been made
a port of entry, a port serving foreign ships, and of course a customs office
will be opened here, which is a great advantage. A mail steamer, too, is now
expected daily. And if I can just persevere until I can sell a piece of land at a
good price and do what we have intended for ten years already, buy sheep,
then I think I will have secured something for them. The important wool
trade carried on from here is, I guess, the reason that the government is
doing more for the place. Schübert has built himself a fine house. He
himself attends to the businesses, and his partner lives at the sheep ranch, so
that he makes double money. Mrs. Chapman, who formerly lived here, has
grown rich by keeping sheep, going halves with somebody.66 It would be so
agreeable if we just had a pleasant house like our other friends, for now I am
constantly in need and want. The girls are great favorites with all, and so of
course we have visitors almost daily. The young ladies generally stay with us
overnight, sometimes for a whole week. Though I can entertain them only
poorly, they always seem to enjoy being with us. How grateful the children
are to have been provided with good clothes again. For here people always
dress up even when only going as far as the next house for an evening visit.
Where all regard themselves as being of equal social position, only luxury
can make a difference. To give you proof: General Davis presented his wife
with a fan of heavy segments of mother-of-pearl, richly mounted and inlaid
in gold, and ornamented with two diamonds.67 At least the children are
spared the humiliation of needing to hang back because of their garments.
Next month there will be a great exposition here of the things the ladies are
making for the benefit of the Presbyterian Church. All hands are diligent,
and I only wish we had more time to take part in it.
The old black woman who worked for us for so long wishes to come
back to me. She begged someone to tell me that she loves no one in all the
world like us. If she should come, I shall perhaps not have the means to take
her into service. This evening the young people will have a riding party and
picnic in the moonshine. Mrs. Davis is the leader, as always. There are about
six officers here, who are throwing this party for their paymaster, in celebra-
tion of his arrival yesterday bringing six months’ back pay. Mr. Büsse
yesterday received a letter from his sister, who gives a dreadful description of
the cholera in Berlin. I hope it is not too terrible and that all of you come
safely through the scare. Fear of cholera here began as early as the spring,
when no one would usually have thought it a problem that soon. I have
been waiting with great longing for a letter from you, for the issue of the

[  ]
             ’             

war in Germany seems to have the whole world holding its breath. And I
too am curious about how things will work out.
Farewell and write very soon.
Your—Maria

The children send a thousand kisses and greetings. Give my love to all those
who still remember me.
Your Maria
n
Corpus Christi, October , 
Beloved Parents,
I received your dear letter of August and wanted to answer at once. But
there is never any lack of interruptions to slow down my writing, especially
as all the children are going to school again. They go to Hidalgo Seminary,
an excellent school directed by the Catholic priest, Gannard, a Frenchman.68
They are at lessons from  in the morning to  in the evening. Their studies
are: English, Spanish, French, arithmetic, geography, history, writing,
reading, drawing, etc. They all make excellent progress and are very eager to
learn. Of course I have very little time for myself when I have to do all the
work. The school instruction is so expensive here that if one does not have a
good income, it is difficult to give a family the advantage of a good educa-
tion. Yesterday I again had to pay ½ for the coming month.
When you send another crate, Mary begs you to send her a wedding
dress! One month ago Mary became engaged to Lieutenant James Downing
of Boston.69 I should have written sooner, but we wanted to wait for Felix’s
consent first. I had sent him a letter and he was here several days ago, and
together with his consent he gave Mary the promise to do his utmost for
her. There can be no thought of money or a dowry. Nor does Mr. D. expect
that. Felix gave them a piece of land to settle on. Mr. D. intends to buy
sheep and stay with us for several years. His parents were opposed to his
staying in Texas and hoped he should come home after Nov. st. But as
Mr. D.’s parents made up their minds to undertake a journey to England,
whence they had come fifteen years before, they did not make any further
objections. It seems peculiar to me not to be able to make any preparations
for Mary. But it is out of the question, and Mr. D. will have to build and fit
out the house as best he can. He has gone to Brazos and Brownsville to be
paid off, and we expect him this week. He wanted to bring back a wedding

[  ]
       

Maria (Mary) Felicia von Blücher. Charles F.H. von Blücher Family
Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

[  ]
             ’             

James Downing, ca. s. Charles F. H. von Blücher Family Papers,

Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

dress for Mary. But as I did not wish to allow that, I had to promise him to
write to you for it, so that may be here once all the rest of the arrangements
are complete. I will send more details later on. You will find it terrible that
she wants to marry so young, but I gave my consent in the conviction that
he will care for her better than her father ever did. Mary has told him that
she still wants to go to school for some time. He agrees that even after their
marriage she shall go to the seminary as long it suits her. Mr. D. is not a
handsome man but frank, plain, and very quiet in his nature. In this they are
equal. From the moment when he first saw her at a sailing party and was too

[  ]
       

timid to say a single word to her, I guess he was resolved to win her. Since
Mrs. Davis introduced him to us, he has never been away from our house for
a single evening except when he was on duty. He is a man better educated in
religion than any young man I knew in Germany. All my children attend
Sunday school where the Bible is read and explained. On the whole there is
much more done for the religious education of the youth in America than in
Germany, though it does not always bring forth good fruit. Some weeks ago,
Mr. D. received a certificate from Washington, D.C., in recognition of his
service, conduct, and bravery during the war, and he has been promoted to
brevet lieutenant. For seven months he was one of the unhappy prisoners at
Andersonville, where , were starved to death. His stories of experi-
ences there are so dreadful that I can no longer listen to them, especially
when he is talking of the dying and the last hours of those unhappy men.
His own health has been affected and sometimes—suddenly—he gets
alarming fits. But he hopes that in time his strong constitution will over-
come that. From nearly  lbs. his weight dropped to  lbs. in the seven
months at Andersonville. He was sick for many months afterward. He
jumped from a railway car while being transported at night and thus
escaped. He now weighs  lbs. again. Mary is only half an inch shorter
than I am, and he is more than six feet tall. If they fit as well in every other
respect as in size, they have certainly been made for each other. On Dec. 
he will be  years old. As far as my experience has shown in the four or five
months of our acquaintance, he has a very good, extraordinarily calm
disposition and is not egotistical. Selfishness is far from him, and that is a
great blessing. We received a second proposition for Julia’s hand from
Lieutenant Tiltson, who is now in the North and must come to New
Orleans on business affairs this winter and will pay us a visit on that occa-
sion. He is one of the handsomest men I ever saw and is " taller than Mr.
Downing and squarely built and strong. There is no need to feel sad about
the possibility of her engagement to Mr. Stuart. If you knew Julia, you
would know that she will not consider it. She is so independent in every-
thing that nothing can influence her opinion, and she has a great fear of
poverty to boot, so that she will be rather cautious in her choice, I hope.
Mrs. Headen, a very rich and amiable young lady, has a great interest in
Mary and confessed to me that she had selected her for her own sister-in-
law and that her brother’s poor health had enjoined her to secrecy about it.70
She was ready to write to New York at once for Mary’s wedding dress and
beg her cousins to select the accessories. She will be astonished when she

[  ]
             ’             

learns it will come from as far as Berlin! Her husband has now returned
from New York and has brought her more than  worth of baby linen
and a perambulator and cradle for their first child, born on September . I
was with her for several days and nights, and we are indeed like two sisters,
though she is fifteen years younger than I. Cornelia Moore, her youngest
sister, is an intimate friend of Mary and Julia’s.71
Winter is at the door, and I do not know how I shall get warm garments
for the girls and myself, as I cannot make any time for sewing, and they
themselves have to study throughout the evening to be prepared for school
in the morning.
October th. On the same day that I intended to send off this letter, Mr.
Downing returned from New Orleans. He did not spend an idle hour on his
journey. He brought along his picture for us, two large photographs and
many small ones. It gives me pleasure to have the opportunity to introduce
him to you thus. In addition he brought each of the children a magnificent
Bible, three big books of music and Tennyson’s poems for me, and for Mary
a precious, simple ring besides the Bible.72 He is now with us in the house
and will start tomorrow morning for Santa Gertrudis with Felix.73
It was my firm intention to write you a long letter, but Mr. Downing is
already standing beside the saddled horse waiting for my letter. When I sat
down to write, he begged me to give you a good description of him so that
you might become as fond of him as we all are, and I am to tell you that “he
will endeavor never to grieve any of us.” I cannot give you the precise
translation of his words, but that is as close as I can get. It is becoming
difficult for me now to write German, and I am convinced that I express
myself very clumsily. Yet I hope that you can understand me and can sense
my close attachment to you, dear, beloved Parents.
Christmas will be upon us when you receive this, and I hope it will find
you all healthy and happy, as I wish the same for us. It would be better yet if
we could spend it together. Here, it will be a poor Christmas. Nevertheless,
the children are looking forward to it with joy. Once more many greetings
and kisses from all my children, my [new] eldest son included. And my most
heartfelt congratulations for Father’s past and your coming birthday, dearest
Mother! Farewell!
Your—Maria

[  ]
    

Reconstruction an
Redemtion: The 1870s

CORPUS CHRISTI, UNLIKE BROWNSVILLE and deep South

Texas, realized no economic prosperity from the Civil War.1 Occupied by
Federal troops in , ravaged by drought and unusually severe winters, and
isolated from all other areas of the secessionist South by the Union naval
blockade, the town lay prostrate at war’s end.2 The bleak postwar years brought
even more chaos. Mexican brigands, Union renegades, unemployed Confed-
erates, and freebooters from all over the world commenced a vicious guerrilla
war against law and order. Posses of law-abiding citizens and minute compa-
nies, whose methods rivaled those of the bandits, exacerbated the anarchy.
Highway robberies, murders, cattle raids, kidnappings, and general thievery
set the Nueces country afire in a great burst of violence. It was not until July
, following Texas Ranger Captain Leander H. McNelly’s legendary cam-
paign, and Mexican President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada’s arrest of Juan N.
Cortina, that the violence subsided.3 Maria von Blücher nonchalantly described
to her parents the brutal lawlessness: “Bloodshed is now so general here” that
having “four or five murders a week is no longer striking. One grows accus-
tomed to it all and ceases to get excited about events of this kind.”4
Yet in spite of this reign of terror, the rankle of defeat in the Civil War and
the rancor of Reconstruction were never as severe in Corpus Christi as in the
rest of Texas.5 Nearly half of the town’s citizens had been Federal sympathizers,
and a large number of Union officers had settled there after the war. Townsman

[  ]
             ’             

Edmund J. Davis, who in Federal blue had led the First Texas Union Cavalry,
served as Reconstruction governor.6 Corpus Christians generally were spared
the corruption that marred other Reconstruction governments, partly because
of the leadership of the former Union officers who became citizens. Several
married into local families, including Lieutenant James Downing, who took
Felix and Maria’s eldest daughter Mary as his bride on November , .7
And on the heels of the occupying soldiers had come scores of merchants
and tradesmen, who once again turned Corpus Christi into an economic
frontier.8
Enterprising individuals quickly rebuilt the livestock industry, particularly
in cattle, horses, sheep, and mules, and throughout the s the town enjoyed
a considerable wagon and ox cart trade in wool, hides, and skins. Prosperity
and growth were ensured for the decade in , when a channel allowing
direct access to the Morgan Lines steamship routes was successfully dredged.
And the “Car of Progress” arrived with the construction of the Corpus Christi,
San Diego and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge Railroad, which would connect
the town and port with the interior of South Texas, Laredo, and northern
Mexico upon its completion in . At last the natural geographic advantage
of Corpus Christi’s fine harbor could be exploited to garner the lucrative trade
of Saltillo and Monterrey, which had previously gone to Matamoros and
Brownsville via the Rio Grande. By  population had built up to , and
the town was finally progressing.9
Amazingly, Corpus Christi survived a series of natural disasters to achieve
its growth during the late s and s. A hurricane, droughts, and yellow
fever epidemics followed the ravages of the Civil War, taking a frightful toll
and often paralyzing the town.10 Yet despite being faced with great losses,
townspeople continued to embrace the vast land of their environs and the
mighty Gulf of Mexico before them. The land and the gulf had always had
the potential to provide opportunity, security, dignity, and pleasure. It was this
generation of Corpus Christians who would finally reap some of the fruits
that for one reason or another had remained beyond the reach of their prede-
cessors. Unfortunately, they could not conquer the old hatreds and mistrusts
between Hispanic and Anglo: race relations in Corpus Christi remained tense
throughout the s, with little or no improvement in cultural understanding.11
Maria’s letters from  to  document this pivotal period of transition
in the history of Corpus Christi. At the start of this era, she was forty years
old, healthy and able. She was sturdy. Moreover, she had achieved the status of
full partner within her marriage, groomed by the war to do her husband’s

[  ]
    

duties as well as the always full load of domestic jobs. She was cook and house-
keeper, nurse and tailor, trader and accountant. Indeed, the mantle of respon-
sibility passed to her. She and Felix settled into a pattern of obligatory affection
and indifference. His continued drinking and periodic abandonment gave her
cause to scold him and preach homilies on the evil of alcohol. She came to
conclude simply that “whiskey is the cause of all evil.”12
During the late s and throughout the s Maria carved out an ac-
ceptable social role outside of marriage. To meet the endless worries over food
and money, she took a job as a teacher, instructing students in music and
languages (French, German, and Spanish). She also began playing the piano
and organ at social functions and at the First Presbyterian Church. She be-
came the delegate of the Blücher household, stepping into society again for
the first time since prior to the war. She completed the job of raising her
children, nursing them through various illnesses, seeing to their education
and religious instruction, and guiding their development into adulthood. It is
abundantly clear that she was a devoted mother and loved all her children
equally, and they loved her.13 They had supported one another through ter-
rible times and could now look forward to the happier times that followed.
How she rejoiced when daughter Mary married in ; when daughter Julia
departed for Germany in ; and when sons Charles, Richard, and George
began successful careers. Of her new life as the senior partner of the Blücher
household she remarked: “I can really be thankful to see myself so indepen-
dent.”14
The Blüchers did partake of the general prosperity during the s. In
spite of his weakness for whiskey, Felix’s many talents found success. His busi-
ness concern, Felix A. Blücher & Co., Western Texas Land Agency, generated
hefty profits—when he was sober and worked diligently.15 He also apparently
received another portion of his long-disputed inheritance.16 Maria’s indepen-
dent income as a teacher now allowed a few modest luxuries: a new piano,
sewing machine, washing machine, clothes and books, fine furniture, and im-
provements to the homestead.17 Moreover, having invested for more than
twenty-five years in land, and Maria having sacrificed greatly to preserve their
holdings during the Civil War, the Blücher family finally saw their estate be-
ginning to achieve lasting value. The building of the railroad adjacent to their
land holdings increased their assets measurably. By the end of the decade, the
family was free from “financial embarrassment.”18 Maria could finally look
forward to a life without fear of losing “her children’s property.” She merely
noted: “We lead quite an agreeable life.”19

[  ]
             ’             

Redemption came for Maria in the summer of . Early in June she
boarded the steamship Thuringia, bound for Hamburg, Germany.20 After
twenty-five years, she was returning home to visit at last and to embrace once
more her beloved parents, her daughter Julia, her brothers and sisters, relatives
and friends. One can only imagine the emotions she must have felt, what she
simply called the “excess of joy.”21 For ten months she was reunited with her
loved ones—months of visiting and entertainment. What feelings must have
been shared, what tales must have been told! The Old World still had a pow-
erful hold on her, and she would later often contemplate returning for her last
years. But her life, a life that she had built with Felix and her children, and
mainly on her own, was no longer of course in Berlin. It was in the New
World, in America, at Corpus Christi, Texas. Thus it was that in May, ,
she once again bade her family farewell to return to the “thrill of a new
country.”22

Corpus Christi, January , 

Cordially loved Parents,
A happy New Year to you from all of us! Felix has now been at home again,
and it seems he is earnestly endeavoring to compensate for his former
negligence. But of course things progress only slowly. We live from hand to
mouth. Nevertheless there are prospects that he will soon do better. The
inhabitants of Corpus Christi have entreated him to accept the old office
again. Mr. Büsse has not been able to fulfill his obligations in it. And if Felix
succeeds in selling off his land, that would also help us a little.
I hope you received my last letter with Mr. Downing’s picture. Mr. D. has
remained at our house. Felix cautioned him against buying sheep in the fall,
and in order not to waste his time, he undertook building houses. His father
is a master mason in Boston, and he has learned the business. He carried
out his work so well that he received some more commissions and will
perhaps stick to this completely. He made  clear gain for each day of
work. He sees of course how badly off we are. Mary has only three dresses
besides the white ones. And as I have quite definitely declined his every
offer of help, he insists very earnestly upon marrying in a few months so
that he may care better for Mary. I don’t think that they will stay long in
Corpus Christi. Boston is too much on his mind, and every week he
receives letters with invitations, etc., so that Mary also is by no means averse
to going, though I tell her that she is not equipped to appear there. For I

[  ]
    

Maria Augusta Imme von Blücher, ca. s. Charles F.H. von Blücher
Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

give piano lessons to help clothe the children, and I cannot save anything
for me, much less for her to procure her something. I promised her that I
would beg you to send her a wedding dress and if possible another respect-
able dress, so that she does not leave our house in too miserable a state.
Downing wished that the wedding be in May. But I told him that it would
be impossible to get the dress here by then. If it is in the least troublesome
to face such expenses on your income, please let me know as soon as
possible so that I can see what other arrangement I can make for her.
We had a strange winter; no cold or disagreeable weather at all until the
first of January, and then all of a sudden a strong north wind came, and
within a few hours we had ½ a foot of snow on the ground. This weather

[  ]
             ’             

fortunately lasted only two days, and now it is warm enough again to have
all the windows and doors open to let the warm air into the house. Many
birds were frozen to death in the fierce weather, as were some men who were
traveling a route where there is often no house for miles and miles. And the
sheep and goats suffered greatly.
Lieutenant Wheeler and Lieutenant Downing prepared the Christmas
tree for the children this year and gave them many nice gifts.23 Mrs. Davis
and Miss Peterson were with us on Christmas Eve, and the festival passed
pleasantly but without further contributions from our side. How ardently I
wish that I had a thousand thalers left; I should send Mary, Downing, and
Julia to you for a short visit. Lieutenant D. often speaks of it having been
his greatest wish for many years to visit Germany. But of course traveling
costs money. Mr. Noessel and family are in Corpus Christi again. I hardly
go out at all now as the days are very short and I give piano lessons in the
afternoon.
We had a great fair—an exposition—that lasted three days, ending with a
ball. It was to raise money to build a church. Then we had two concerts, the
one to support enclosure of the churchyard and the other for a larger
schoolhouse. They pressed me into service on these occasions, and I could
not very well refuse. I have had to withdraw Mary and Julia from school
again, but as soon as it is possible I will send them back there. Charley
makes very good progress at school. Richard is not as zealous about learning
and of course is much farther back. Julia practices diligently on the piano
and is leaning toward teaching it. Therefore, at present I mainly want her to
learn to play exercises. The eternal obstacle is that I cannot get them the
sheet music they need so much in order to advance fast.
Mr. Downing has charged me with many cordial greetings for you,
regretting that he cannot understand or write German so as to be able to
send you some lines himself. After having begun this letter, I had to put it
aside in order to give three piano lessons. Now in the evening, Felix, Mary,
and Lieutenants Downing and Wheeler are playing whist, and I will try to
finish it. The children are all well and send many, many greetings, as does
Felix. Now fare very well! The last letter from you was dated August . You
may imagine how many times I have sent to the post office in vain, and
therefore do not make me so long again wait for an answer. Once more
farewell!
Your—Maria

[  ]
    

Monday th. I beg you earnestly to see to the money affair for me. Mr.
Wheeler again paid a bill for us this morning, because Felix drank away the
last money yesterday. You must know that he never brings money into the
house. He keeps it in his office in town, buying things for us when he is in
the mood, which is very rarely the case. Mr. Wheeler is a good, good friend;
for I have no right to impose on him, as on Downing. Even so he is always
willing to help us. He buys more garments for the children than does Felix. I
am always a burden to you with money and things, but I have no other way.
Farewell! With love
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, February , 

Cordially loved Parents,
We are all safe and sound and busy from morning to night, no longer going
out at all. Mr. Downing bought a very nice place a short distance from our
house, and they are hard at work there fencing it, etc. Felix got his old office
back and is trying his best to get back on his feet. But it is more difficult
than one might think, and we go on living poorly. I give some piano lessons,
but these contribute little to meeting our expenses. Nevertheless I hope that
we shall in due course regain our former circumstances, if Felix does not
spend too much. I fear you were unpleasantly surprised by the contents of
my last letter and the new demands made on you. But I have no prospect at
all of procuring anything for Mary, and I do not know how we shall manage
to pull together the wedding to good effect, as all of Felix’s earnings have
been used up by the family. Yet I will not lose heart. God’s hand has led us
through hard times and will also help us forward now, we hope.
With the exception of the snowfall, which lasted three days, we have had
extraordinarily mild weather, and we are afraid that winter is perhaps yet to
come. Here in the town very good photographs are taken now, and I should
so much have liked to have the children photographed for you but cannot
save the money. He demands  for ½ a dozen and  for one dozen pic-
tures. If I can somehow arrange it, I shall have them taken, you may depend
on it. This morning Felix began a survey for the canal that is to be dug so as
to be able to bring big ships here. It is astonishing how the town is expand-
ing. Everywhere there are new houses, and business is extraordinarily
vigorous. Three steamers now run regularly between here and New Orleans.
Hides, horn, wool, cotton, cattle for slaughter, and mules are exported from

[  ]
             ’             

here. The last steamer took  mules and  oxen to New Orleans. I
mainly wanted to let you know that Corpus Christi now is a port of entry,
so a crate can come here without being opened anywhere, which is a great
advantage for us, especially as Felix is on friendly terms with the customs
house officer, so that at least the duties would not be more than is right and
proper.
Mr. Downing says I should send each of you a hearty kiss. He has just
come back from a long ride. In a few hours he traveled  English miles.
Mr. Downing’s health is not very good, and I fear it will never again be
completely sound. Mr. D. says you should come and see how happy he is
with Mary: “like two crayfishes at high water” (as he puts it). I say you may
see from this how foolish he is.
Tell brother Julius he might send Mary a wedding cake. Wouldn’t
everyone be thrilled to be served a wonderful tiered cake? Such a thing is
viewed here as totally fantastic. And send me some baked pears in the crate.
Now farewell! Greet all brothers and sisters, friends and relatives cordially.
Many thousand kisses from all the children and me. Write very soon to your
. . . loving daughter
—Maria v. B.

I do not have time to reread the letter. Excuse mistakes or words left out.
n

Corpus Christi, May , 

Beloved Parents,
When Mary’s wedding will take place we cannot yet say at all, as Felix has
so little to do for the present military command that we scarcely have
enough to eat, so for the moment I cannot think of getting even the least
thing for Mary. Mr. Downing has put his capital into his business with Mr.
Wheeler, and both of them suffered significant losses from a sudden storm.
They have a brick yard and kiln on their land and had ordered from Michi-
gan a machine that produces , bricks an hour, operated by four men
and two horses. They had an immense kiln full and ready after two days of
firing, when during the night before last a terrible thunderstorm burst.
Their roof was partly destroyed, whereby they lost many thousands of
bricks. And a mule that had cost them  ran away. The thunderstorm
struck Schübert’s house but only did some exterior damage. Then it tore the
cross from the Catholic church. A ship was also struck by lightning, and one

[  ]
    

more house, Mr. Cahill’s, was struck. Last night a house was burned down
in town. A young Yankee officer, retired, had been publishing a newspaper
here for a short while, the Union Record, and of course he had many oppo-
nents; because of this they suspect that the house was set on fire. I should
not wonder if it were so.
To come back to Mary’s circumstances, they intend to build here close to
us on our land, if they should remain here. On the plot of land they bought
there is a good house, but it is very small and a good distance from the
town. Downing must now make the trip four times a day. But as he has a
good horse, he does not feel it unduly. Felix had promised Mary a plot of
land because D. first intended to buy sheep. But Felix has dissuaded him
from it, and so the land has no great value for them for now.
Dear Mother, I always read with great regret of your sufferings with your
feet. That is a great affliction, and I fear that dealing with the crate dis-
rupted your accustomed peace. And I certainly should not have made a
demand of that kind unless I knew that it would be impossible for us to get
Mary a reasonably respectable dress.
Accept all our united thanks for all your kindness and believe me that we
should deem ourselves happy if ever we might return every favor. Downing
and I often discuss the possibility that if we cannot come to Germany
sooner, we shall come for your golden wedding anniversary. Three weeks
ago there was examination at the Hidalgo Seminary, and Charley spoke very
nicely, for the first time. He is very zealous and diligent at school. I received
a letter from Lieutenant Stuart from Montana. He has had extraordinarily
good earnings and is still secretary of the expedition. I hope you will not
face war. A wealthy merchant in New York has bet , that in case of
war the French would have Berlin by July . I hope he will lose his thou-
sands.
Address my letters: Mrs. Maria A. v. Blücher, Corpus Christi, Texas. If
you write Mrs. Felix A. B., the postmaster always sends them to Felix’s
office, which I do not like.
Farewell now! Many greetings to all friends and relatives and many kisses
for yourselves. The children send a thousand greetings, Downing included.
Your loving—Maria
n

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, October 

Beloved Parents,
Though I wrote to you not long ago, I think it my duty to answer your last
letter dated September  at once, as rumors of yellow fever have probably
reached you, and however bad they may be they cannot be much exagger-
ated, as it has indeed ravaged the place terribly and is still producing
desolation.24 It has been indescribable. Our children returned at last two
weeks ago, as we thought it had totally left this place—but found that this
was not the case. Mr. Downing caught the fever last Tuesday, but we hope
he is now out of all danger. The girls have grown during their stay at Mr.
Gamble’s. Mary is nearly one inch taller than I, and I fear her dress will
almost be too short.
I accept your kind offer to send me , with many thousand thanks,
my dear Father, if it does not prove too great a burden for you. For I would
not want my comfort to cause you too great a sacrifice. By this means I
should be able to send the children back to school, having had to withdraw
them for lack of funds as well as of suitable clothing. They are delighted at
the prospect of returning to school. Felix does not know anything about
this. Some time ago Mr. Büsse told me that the United States had made an
agreement with Prussia to issue payment on postal money orders, which is
consoling, as the postmaster here would certainly have to pay out, and I
believe one might receive compensation even if a letter were lost. I am so ill
informed on financial matters that I cannot give you better advice on how to
send it. Mr. Downing says that one way is as safe as the other, except that he
does not recommended “Adam’s Express,” as he had trouble getting his
money from Indianola through them, there being no A.E. agent here in
Corpus Christi. During the yellow fever, when all postal communication in
the South was disrupted, Downing failed to receive a letter containing ,
and these funds are undoubtedly lost to him.
There are still two months until Christmas. If it is possible to send
anything to me by then, I shall be able to enroll the children in school at
New Year and have some garments and shoes ready for them. I cannot
describe to you how much happiness we have all have been feeling since
the arrival of your letter. The attorney I had engaged died of yellow fever,
and I must now take any further steps myself. Had I come home years ago,
things would have been much easier for me. But the whole family would
have been burdensome to you. For Felix would not have done anything for
them, and in addition all our property would have slipped out of our

[  ]
    

hands; I thought my duty to prevent that. Felix pays taxes on property

worth ,. Though its value fluctuates, whatever it is worth will be
something for them.
I would give my eye teeth to have had a picture made of my little Anna.
When I have some money, I shall have a little cross installed for her. At
present there is just the lawn. She lies buried in Mr. Büsse’s garden close to
our house. Mary has not yet been married, and I think this will perhaps take
place at Christmas if possible. Mr. Downing is going to put a fence around
our estate and build a cistern. Everything is in terrible decay.
Mr. Büsse had yellow fever, and I did what I could for him; since that
time he has been much devoted again. I never see Mr. Schübert but know
he is doing fine. There is still much space on my paper, but I must close
nevertheless. Mary has been exclusively occupied with nursing Mr. Down-
ing, and Julia and I have to see to everything else. When there is a sick
person in the house there is always much to do. I shall let you know when I
receive the money, how I employed it, and what advantages it brings us.
Live and fare cordially well. Many kisses and fond greetings from all, and
again accept my sincerest thanks. Greet all, brothers and sisters, friends and
relatives, fondly from
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, October , 

Beloved Parents,
A few days ago I wrote to you, but since then I have ascertained that postal
receipts from foreign countries do not yet operate here; the postmaster does
not know anything about it, at any rate. Mr. Schübert has a rather substan-
tial business here, and he has suggested to me that if a draft is forwarded to
Cramer in New Orleans, he will make me payment here, which will be
completely safe for me and will simultaneously save time. For as soon as you
let me know that the money has been paid out, I can receive it from him.
He would also help me invest part of it safely without Felix suspecting
anything. I must mention that whether it is payable in hard or paper
currency must be specified. The latter is not advisable, as in Corpus Christi
paper is worth less than in the North. Mr. Schübert proposed ordering me a
washing machine, which almost every family in the North and South is now
using, so that we shall be spared the worst work of washing. Mr. Ziegler
praises the machine immensely. I examined it today and the linen washed in

[  ]
             ’             

it; it really does not leave anything still needing to be washed. Such a
machine presently costs about  in hard currency.
Today Mr. Downing has gone out for the first time, and I hope he will
not have a relapse, which is always dangerous.
I write in haste in order to catch the mail. So fare cordially well, and for
you, my dear Mother, we all send many, many congratulations for your
birthday. May kind Heaven long spare you!
Your loving—Maria

P.S. Did you hear of the terrible hurricane in Galveston and on the Rio
Grande?25 Yellow fever is everywhere in the country. Right now someone
who died a few hours ago is being buried here. Cholera has broken out in
the eastern part of Texas.
n
Corpus Christi, December ,  (Sunday)
Cordially loved Parents,
Mary was married on November , and in consequence we have had many
visitors, and we have likewise been out more than would otherwise have
been the case. I should have liked to inform you of it beforehand, as you
wished, dear Mother, so that you could have thought of us on that day. But
a few days before, Felix declared his wish that Mary might marry on his
birthday, the th. As that was a Friday, it was delayed until the th. We did
not invite anybody. Mr. Büsse came as a witness. He and Lieutenant
Wheeler, who is living with us again, were the only others present. You
should know that here they have the dreadful custom, as I guess I have
already written to tell you, that the boys from the town gather on such an
occasion banging old kettles, etc., and for that expect a good treat of  each.
We kept it all secret to avoid such shenanigans, and amazingly, we suc-
ceeded. The girls both looked very nice in their white dresses and once
again send their thanks for your gifts. The flowers, too, looked lovely. It was
difficult to make out which of the two girls looked better. Mr. Downing and
Mary will soon write you some lines. They live in our old house, and thus
we remain one family, as before. I can tell you little more about the wed-
ding. The local judge was fetched after our supper. He spoke half a dozen
words, and it was all over. As for Felix, things remain as before. Most of the
time we are in need and want, and Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Downing are all
the help I have. They have now built me a nice wash house with a kettle,

[  ]
    

baker’s oven, and stove for heating the irons, which is a great relief for us in
getting the work done and as protection against heat and cold. Were it not
for the awful poverty that the children and I suffer, we should be quite
content, as Felix generally goes to bed early after coming home drunk in the
evening. His room is such that he does not come into contact with anyone.
I look forward to your help at year’s end. I beg you to announce Mary’s
marriage to all brothers and sisters, friends and relatives. If by your kindness
I should receive the money before New Year, I intend to send the children
to school, which will certainly do them good. Mary and the rest are all well
and remember you in the greatest love. December th is near, and we all
send our united congratulations for your future health and well-being,
which we hope you may enjoy for many years yet. Fare cordially well and
remember with love
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, January , 
Cordially loved Parents,
Happy New Year above all! May you enjoy many, many more in good
health. We all began it happy and content. Felix gave his word of honor that
from the beginning of the new year he will no longer drink, and so far he
has kept his word. If he can maintain his resolve not to get drunk, he will be
able to help us emerge from the calamity into which we have plunged
during his phase of drunkenness.
About five days before Christmas I received your letter with the needles.
Many thanks for these; I had not a single one that size left. I intended to
reply at once, but Christmas was near, and of course I had neither prepared
anything nor had the prospect even of getting shoes for the children until
your letter arrived. Mr. Schübert thereupon lent me enough money to buy
the boys decent suits. What difference there is between the prices here and
in Germany! I had to pay  for each suit, trousers and jacket. And they are
made of simple, thin, woolen cloth. It was all I could get, just one suit for
each of them. In addition I had three warm coats made so that they are
better provided for than I had dared to hope they would ever be again,
thanks be to God. On January , Julia’s birthday, I received the bill from
Hoffmann at New York on a house in New Orleans and at once cashed it
here: . was the amount. I cannot describe my thanks; for one must be
in a situation like mine to understand fully how much the arrival of the

[  ]
             ’             

money relieved my sorrow. I bought warm covers, and the children are
going to school. This is the best way to use the money. Together we all
thank you with all our hearts. Of course in Germany I should have been
able to buy everything much more cheaply. But the need was so great that it
was better to lose no time. You wonder at the high taxes. Yet I know that
here I would not have been able to buy the things that were in the last crate
for what they cost you. Indeed I should not even have been able to get such
things here at all.
Last week we had two concerts and living pageants (plays) to complete
the church, the one we began construction on when we held the fair last
year. I must always play the piano for all the singers, and the rehearsals,
which take place at the homes of the ladies on the committee, are a great
pleasure for the young people. There are no more rehearsals at our place as I
no longer have a piano. More to the point, I had to renounce that honor
because champagne, choice edibles, and often more delicacies are very
lavishly spread before one.26 What I really wanted to tell you was that Mary
and Julia appeared in their new dresses. Mary represented “America” and
looked better than I ever saw her. Among her other roles, Julia was the
“Daughter of the Republic,” for which she drew resounding applause. I
suppose that with my next letter I shall be able to send you the picture of
my second (future) son-in-law. Julia has refused a very good match—in
every respect—with an officer in the standing army who has an excellent
salary and is moreover one of the best-looking men I have ever seen, and
amiable besides. But his proposal came from thousands of miles away, and
Lieutenant Wheeler, the favorite one, is here.27 At least it is certain that no
fault of importance can be found in him. He is not a nice-looking man, but
one soon forgets that in closer intercourse with him. Mr. Downing and
Lieutenant Wheeler will go away again as registrars the day after tomorrow,
and that will probably finish their work as such. As required by their orders,
in February they must go to New Orleans to make their report personally to
General Hancock.28 What they will undertake after that is still uncertain.
Perhaps Mary will go along to New Orleans, where she can get a good
picture of herself taken.
During the time Felix was at Matamoros, Mr. Büsse made outlays for
me, and I am anxious to repay him as soon as possible. For Felix has not
paid a cent of what others, such as Ziegler and Schübert, gave me in the
time of need as regards provisions, cloth, indeed the urgent necessities of
life. Of course this will consume much of what I have now received. But it is

[  ]
    

nevertheless worth it to put such liabilities behind me, especially when the
persons concerned never press, yet would like to get their money.
How eagerly the children wish that we might all be united. Downing
would love to go to Europe. But it would be difficult for him to undertake
anything as he does not have full command of the German language.
Wheeler’s uncle is the mayor of New Orleans, the highest civil office in the
city.29 He wishes and continually urges Wheeler to come to New Orleans so
that he can give him a good position. When he goes there now to make his
report, they will perhaps persuade him to stay.
At Christmas the girls made five pairs of shoes, and our patterns have
been used over and over. Therefore I would beg you, dear Mother, if you
have the chance, to get a nice shoe pattern from an old fashion journal and
keep it for us; also a picture of the “Daughter of the Republic.” For there
will probably soon be another performance. Mrs. Davis wishes to arrange
one, and then Julia will certainly undertake that role but, if possible, in a
different dress. Such papers may be sent like a newspaper. You need not
prepay it, for Wheeler and Downing always have postage stamps.
Once more I repeat my fondest thanks for the money.
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, March , 
Beloved Parents,
Nothing particular has happened here except that Mr. Wheeler and Mr.
Downing went to New Orleans and returned from there last Tuesday.
Downing brought back for his wife a fine outfit of linen, which is always
welcome. Felix is at present away from home busy with a survey. So far he
has restrained himself and has not fallen back to his old evil. He seems to be
very earnest about it, and perhaps he will succeed in completely changing
for the better.
Julia and the three boys now go to school, and I will keep them there as
long as I can pay. Julia and Mary also have piano lessons there. I have to pay
 a month, though I pay only ½ of the fixed price, as Mr. Carpenter, the
headmaster, knows our circumstances very well.30 I am well satisfied with
the progress they are making. Every two weeks there is an exhibition, for
you cannot call it an examination. The pupils give performance of music,
songs, and plays. The amount raised is for charitable purposes or to procure
books and maps for the school reading room.

[  ]
             ’             

I have also had a washing machine for six weeks, and you cannot imagine
anything more excellent. The washing undoubtedly takes less of a hammer-
ing than when done by hand, as it is only tumbled and squeezed. The
washerwoman does nothing but turn a handle to and fro, which gets the
washing done. Then there is a wringer consisting of two gutta-percha
mangles, which leave the washing so well wrung out as to be almost too dry
for ironing. The washerwoman can do all this in her best dress and not soil
it. I can’t tell you what a help that washing machine is. Washing would now
almost be a pleasure were it not for the ironing.31
In my last missive I did not even thank Papa for his picture. It has given
me much, much joy, and I wish you might always include a picture. General
Hancock’s aide-de-camp, Colonel Wilson, was here last week; he passed the
two evenings he spent in Corpus Christi at our house and went directly
from here to the steamer, as he appeared satisfied with what he saw of
Corpus Christi.32 Many rumors of mismanagement and illicit dealings have
reached the ears of General Hancock, the commander of the district of
Texas, and Colonel Wilson’s presence was a visit that may be of great
advantage to the people of Texas. For there are now worse goings-on than
during the war.33
Sunday nd. It was not possible for me to finish my letter last Sunday.
Felix has not yet returned. Charley has been very sick. He has always been
sickly, and I have the greatest apprehension that if I cannot nurse him
better, he will become consumptive. He has scarcely been able to attend
school in the last week. One day he tried to attend the lessons, but the
teacher soon sent him home, thinking he would faint. It is a great sorrow for
me that I cannot give him the careful nursing he must have. He cannot go
up twenty steps without having to lie down afterward. Downing intends to
go to Boston in two months’ time and wants to take Charley along there.
But I should never let him from me as long as I shall be able to have him
with me. He regrets incessantly that his studies are being thus interrupted.
He has always had his heart and soul in them. The other day in school,
speaking from memory before all the classes for thirty-three minutes, Julia
gave a lecture about the American Revolution. She made no mistakes,
neither hesitating nor pausing. Mr. Carpenter told me himself, as he told
many others in the town, that it had astonished him.
Downing’s brothers give him no peace. It is constantly: come, come! If
Mary can just stand the climate, I think she will be better off in Boston than
here. Downing knows only one care, that being to procure joy and com-

[  ]
    

Richard Paul and Carl (Charles) Friedrich Harvey von Blücher, ca. late
s. Charles F.H. von Blücher Family Papers, Special Collections and
Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M
University–Corpus Christi.

modities for Mary. Wheeler is the same or more so. Downing brought Mary
two pairs of high boots and Wheeler brought Julia three pairs and one pair
for me, at least nine to ten inches from the heel. One of Julia’s pairs cost ,
and the girls will again begin to wear short dresses. Downing and Wheeler
will probably be reappointed registrars for two to three more months. But as

[  ]
             ’             

the commanders continually change over and General Hancock will

probably not stay in office longer than his predecessors, we can predict
nothing definite.
I hope you received my last letter in which I wrote of receiving the
money. It has put me miles ahead. I used it for decent garments, shirting,
linen, woolen covers, and many other useful items and paid many a little
debt that was troubling me, such as  to Schübert,  to Mr. Wheeler,
and  to Mr. Downing, which they had lent me in cash when I was in
need.
Julia has been engaged to Mr. Wheeler since January, and I was no less
astonished than you probably are, though he told me sooner than Julia that
this was his intention. But he had disguised it so carefully that none of us
had any idea. Wheeler is much satisfied in Corpus Christi. He has only a
sister, who is in the North. His father remarried and he and his wife moved
to be with her family, so that he regards us entirely as his family. Mr. Heath,
mayor of New Orleans, his wife and Wheeler’s cousins welcomed Downing
and Wheeler very kindly and wished Wheeler to stay with them. But of
course he preferred to return.
Greet all friends and relatives cordially. Greetings and kisses for you from
your
Maria and  grandchildren!
n

Corpus Christi, May , 

Beloved Parents,
I fear that my long silence has already alarmed you. But Mary left for
Boston last Tuesday, May , and for the last four weeks I really have not
had a moment to spare, as I wanted to avoid having Mary to help me in the
house so that she would have time to make the necessary arrangements for
Downing and herself. In addition to that Felix went away on the th for
some weeks or months, and I had my hands full getting him ready. Today,
Mary is already at New Orleans, and I hope the change of scene will divert
her a little and make her forget her sadness. From morning until late in the
evening Mr. Wheeler works in Chapman’s store, where he and Downing
worked together before.34 Mr. Wheeler bought all Mr. D.’s property in order
to see if he can sell it at greater profit in due course. D. wanted absolutely to
take Julia along. But I did not wish to disturb Wheeler that way; otherwise I
should have let her go too if it would have given her pleasure.

[  ]
    

At the end of April I received the rest of the money: ., and once
again my fondest thanks for it. I used it on many a trifle for Mary, which was
a great consolation for me. Your wish that I should invest the money and that
the interest should be enough to relieve me was quite right, dear Father. But
when the needs in a family have grown to such a degree that everything,
everything is lacking, even the most essential things, it seems best first to
procure the necessary and to cover little debts and tear me and mine out of
such stifling circumstances. For however great our need has been, I have never
allowed Downing and Wheeler to maintain or clothe us. They have lived
among us and given their share for it. It has always felt as if we were one
family and it has never felt oppressive for either them or us. I have kept an
exact account of what they have given us in garments for the children and in
cash and have repaid them upon receipt of your money, as follows: Schübert,
; Büsse, ; Wheeler, ; Downing, ; and Mrs. Ziegler, . For Felix
has given us almost nothing at all for + years; he has drunk and wasted it all.
Downing left me materials here to fence ½ our place, and Wheeler will
give me the other ½. In addition, D. has left thousands of bricks neatly
stacked here; if I sell them, he told me, I can keep the money. Of course,
after D. and Mary had been married, I accepted much assistance from him.
Wheeler is now working in Chapman’s store and only gets  a month. But
he prefers to be content with this limited amount than go to New Orleans.
He is always at home in the evening, does not smoke often, never drinks,
and is an active, steady man. Strange to say, he is Felix’s pet, though he is
absolutely the opposite of Felix.
I am sending you pictures of the children and our family. I would entreat
you to send some to Mr. Kill-Mar by local post, without writing to him
further. What you wrote about Hermann Blücher surprised me very much,
dear Mother, as I definitely thought you would abide by my request not to
show my letters to anyone in that family, and you had also given me your
promise. You know they would do all they could to disadvantage us. Now I
only beg you to grant my request and send the pictures of Lieutenants
Wheeler and Downing, Mrs. Mary D., Julia v. B., Ch. F. v. B., R. v. B, and
George v. B. to Mr. Kill-Mar (without writing)!
I enclose the following card: “Julia A. v. Blücher & Lt. Harvey Wheeler
Engaged.” Please send it to all family, friends, and acquaintances, etc. Mr.
Downing took along your pictures and those of the whole family, and I beg
you very much to send me more of everyone. I shall perhaps also include my
own picture in the next letter. Mr. Downing so regrets that he has not yet

[  ]
             ’             

received the pipes from Germany. He is a passionate smoker. I comforted

him with the assurance that, if it is not too expensive, you will send them to
him at: East Boston, Massachusetts, Saratoga Street, No. , addressed to
Lt. James Downing.
Write and tell me all about relatives, friends, and acquaintances, and be
assured that news is always read with the greatest interest. Many thousand
greetings to Julius, Anna, the other brothers and sisters, and all relatives.
Once more a thousand greetings from the children and
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, December , 

Cordially loved Parents,
Soon another year will have passed and still we are denied being reunited.
On the same day I last wrote to you, Felix nearly lost his life. He had drunk
too much and had not come home for several nights. But as I had already
become accustomed to that, I was not surprised or expecting anything out
of the ordinary until I heard a loud crash. He had fallen out of a first-floor
window during the night! He just managed to get to his feet and struggle as
far as his office, where he was prostrate for two weeks, utterly broken down.
However, he now seems to be fully restored, and I believe it to have had a
very wholesome effect on his behavior, as he is also less brutish and rude
than he has been in years. He now usually spends the evenings at home.
I receive letters from Mary and Downing every week, and they are doing
fine. Mr. Wheeler, who came back a month ago after a seven-week absence,
had a pleasant time with them and gives us delightful descriptions of their
life in Boston and how amiable Downing’s old parents are. He thinks it will
be impossible for Downing ever to get away from there during the lifetime
of his parents. However, with each letter I receive, Downing seems to me
more determined to return to Texas soon. Mary writes that she feels the
cold in Boston and that she hopes also to be in Texas again by next winter.
As regards Julia’s marriage, dear Mother, you will scarcely be surprised
soon. Julia told Wheeler early on that she will not marry before she is 
years old. And what she says, she means, and he has been content with it.
He has his house nicely in order and has rented it out. It gives me great
satisfaction that you do not hear anything at all about Felix’s family.
Christmas is near at hand, and the children are joyful only from old

[  ]
    

habit, for they know that I cannot make any preparations at all. Felix brings
in what we need to subsist but nothing more. Mr. Wheeler will probably
give them some presents, and they must be content with that. Mary has also
sent some things as Christmas gifts. Mr. D.’s mother sent us a case of the
choicest apples, but in spite of all care, they spoiled.
Charley’s health has now improved somewhat. I hope that when he
grows up he will become strong and healthy. He is now nearly as tall as
Julia, who is three years older. So far he has often been frail and self-
absorbed. Indeed, I have much sorrow and worry about the boys, as they so
often suffer from tonsillitis. About a month ago George had it so badly that
Charley had to run for a doctor during the night, though I am always
prepared for such cases. With each cold the attacks intensified until whoop-
ing cough set in. Now Richard, Julia, and George have all gone down with
whooping cough. The first two have gotten over the worst, but Julia came
down with it only last week.
Mr. Büsse is happy and content, I think. I see him seldom now as he
works in town all day and only sleeps up here. For several days Felix has
been complaining of very alarming fits of dizziness and giddiness, along
with blood rushing to his head. The other day when writing he fell off his
chair and lay senseless for a while. If only he would look after his health he
might avoid further bad turns, I hope. It is so dark that I can no longer see
what I am writing. The children, Mr. Wheeler included, send many sincere
greetings and wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Farewell,
and write soon to your
Maria
n

Corpus Christi, January st, 

Cordially loved Parents,
Yesterday I received your dear letter dated December th and I hasten to
answer it, though it really is difficult for me to write German and express
myself in the right and proper ways. If I heard another person who grew up
in Germany say as much, I should certainly find it ridiculous. Nevertheless,
for me it is the sad truth. I always speak German with Julia and Charley
when we are alone. But of course our conversation only deals with certain
things. If I want to explain something to them more precisely and give full
particulars, I do so in English, as they then understand it better.

[  ]
             ’             

It gladdens my heart that you are all in good health and enjoying your
life in peace. May God preserve you thus for many more years yet. As for us,
I have not much cause for complaint now. The children have all had
whooping cough and also gave it to Felix, who had it very badly. Strangely
enough, I did not catch it. Charley’s health is pretty good, but his nerves are
very weak. There was a Professor Hardy here, a ventriloquist and magician,
who gave a really excellent performance. He ran a knife through his wrist so
that half of the big knife could be seen at one side and the handle at the
other side. Charley was quite captivated by all that he saw until that part,
whereupon he fainted. But I hope he will get over it, as he is of a cheerful
and merry disposition at all times. Felix really seems to have left off his great
evil habit, drinking, and is now always at home in the evening and finds
pleasure in caring for us well. He showed me in his account book that he
has over , which monies are quite safe, from the last half year when he
worked diligently.
The only inconvenience is that he cannot keep from continually repri-
manding Julia and Charley with word and deed—as he says himself, he
cannot bear either of them, which causes me much sadness. So often I point
out to him that he should consider how other fathers treat grown daughters,
but that only makes it worse. How little it takes to irritate him! I will
mention to you, for instance, that at the table, in the presence of Downing
and Wheeler, he said to Julia, “God damn your soul to hell,” because she
had forgotten to fill the mustard box. I am now convinced that Julia ac-
cepted Wheeler’s proposal to secure herself a protector against such coarse-
ness. For I am convinced that she does not feel any more for Wheeler than
that she likes him because he is a respectable, neat young man. I for my part
have repeatedly told Wheeler this. Yet he is content with how it is and is
devoted to her with body and soul. So far she calls him “Mr. Wheeler” or
“Lieutenant W.” Downing most eagerly wishes Julia to come to them in
Boston this spring. He shares my opinion concerning her feelings and
thinks if she had an opportunity to see more of the world, she would be
better able to decide for herself. But there is no hope for this at all. Felix at
first promised to procure for her the necessary money, but he now thinks he
has better uses for it. For I think he would not show much sympathy if she
later proved to have regrets!
As for the Downings, Mary is very content and happy in Boston.
Nevertheless, Downing must leave the North before next winter. His health
has been in a very serious state since the latter part of autumn, and he

[  ]
    

himself thinks that it will develop into consumption if he does not choose a
warmer climate for his domicile. So at the end of this summer, all else being
equal, we expect them back. Mary has at least seen a bit of the world, has
been to and visited important towns, even if for only a short time; cities
such as New Orleans, Washington, New York, and Boston, which is here
called the center of the world because of its numerous inventions and riches
and much traffic. It is still Downing’s heart’s desire to possess a real German,
middle-sized pipe. He asks in every letter. I have told him it is not in my
power to do more than beg you in each missive to send him such a one.
I sent Mary a little package with a gray poplin dress for her birthday.
Felix had presented me , which of course I used for the children, as he
almost never gives the girls anything or buys them any clothes. Since they
received the last things from you, they have had nothing good. However,
Wheeler has always brought good things for Julia at Christmas and on
birthdays or when he has taken a journey. In the beginning that was most
disagreeable for me. But once he gave me his reason for it, I put up with it.
How often I wish that Julia might come to you for half a year. She is still
very modest and would not be very burdensome to you. There, among
relatives and acquaintances, Julia would find suitable friends. Here, she does
not visit anyone except Cornelia Moore, but even that is seldom, as she lives
on the other side of town.
I read with great joy and emotion of Father’s jubilee, and it must have been
a great satisfaction for him to see his many pains and works thus acknowl-
edged. I did not even have an idea of all of that. You must have collected a
rich assortment of memorabilia at those festivities. What kind of image of
you, dear Father, is rendered in bronze? I wish indeed that I might yet see you
and all of that; what a pleasure would that be!
You write of the warm winter you have had. It was just like that here. We
have had nothing but rain and warm weather. It has been so favorable even
through December and early January we had common white cabbage and
cauliflower, fresh salads, etc., all grown in the open air. For of course
hothouses are not yet known in Corpus Christi. Commerce in Corpus
Christi is now flourishing, and a Hamburg firm, Edly and Kirsten, a
mercantile house, made , clear profit in six months in wool, hides,
horns, etc., being shipped from here. At the same time banking businesses
and three new stores have opened (two in the country, one here), where one
can buy from the finest goods, from velvet to pins, foods, and hardware, all
in different departments (as all the big stores arrange things here), and more

[  ]
             ’             

elegant than I anything I ever saw in Germany. A man recently fenced off

, acres or  leagues of land, all using the kind of cypress posts we in
Germany would use for a good garden enclosure.35 Then there are now four
slaughterhouses in operation here. Every day  oxen and cattle are killed
there; one operates only for the hides and fat, with all the meat thrown
away! In due course Corpus Christi will become an important commercial
center.
Mr. Büsse chugs on, his endless laziness getting him nowhere is particu-
lar. Mr. Schübert has left town for the country, where he has a wonderful
store and is doing very well. I guess I have reported all the news from
Corpus Christi. Greet all from Julia and me. Let me know any news
concerning our acquaintances and friends. Do you ever hear from or of
Bertha Müller? She was my first and best friend from childhood, and I
remember her with great love. Many greetings to all brothers and sisters,
friends and acquaintances. The children send greetings and kisses for you.
Fare cordially well and remember me with love.
Your loving daughter, Maria A. v. Blücher
n
Corpus Christi, March , 
Beloved Parents,
I did not wish to let today pass without writing you some lines. Today it is
twenty years since I gave up your name and left my former happy circum-
stances. Unfortunately, the day finds me ill if up and about; Julia in bed;
Charley convalescent once more; and Richard very unwell. We all have
caught violent colds with the sudden change of weather, as is so usual here. I
hope we shall all soon be restored again. Yesterday Charley had to make our
breakfast, which we take at :—beefsteak, coffee, tea, and toast—and
then, after the custom here, nothing until noon. Charley handled it all
excellently.
I have to let you know the sad news that Mr. Downing, Sr., suddenly
died on February rd. His death made a deep impression on Mary. He lay
fully conscious in his final agony for twelve hours, Mary’s hands in his. In
the last hours he spoke only to Jim, giving his thanks to God that he was
with him at such a time, and he left to Jim—though not the eldest—the
regulation of his business affairs. Downing is deeply affected. He was greatly
attached to his father. Felix wrote to Downing to come back as soon as he
can finish the administrative matters. He misses Mary very much.

[  ]
    

Mr. Schübert will pay his relatives in Berlin a visit in June. He is a

rich man, leaves his business in secure hands, and plans to get married in
Germany. Büsse asked him whether he would not take Julia along with him,
as I had so often expressed the wish to send one of the children to you for a
visit. He instantly agreed and offered to pay all expenses. For Felix would
never give his hard-earned money for a journey for Julia or Charley, neither
of whom he can bear. Julia was beside herself at the prospect of coming to
you and becoming acquainted with all the relatives. I am writing to you
about this in detail so that when Schübert comes, you will not suppose that
I had not thought you might perhaps like to know one of my children. But I
do not have the means to do it. For this could be the only impediment.
Schübert would do everything in his power to make the journey agreeable. I
can just imagine what an eye opener it would be for her to walk Unter den
Linden and see the Tiergarten, your nice garden, etc., all new and an
unknown delight for her.36 She is very timid and would perhaps feel uneasy
at first, but that would soon cease. Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Headen, and Mrs.
Britton here all say that you would be well pleased and privileged to have
her a while and consider me to be in the wrong if she does not come to you,
as they really can never imagine that many people do not have money
enough to be able to fulfill their dearest wishes.
My letter must go to the post! Fare cordially well and greet all brothers
and sisters, relatives and acquaintances a thousand times from your loving
daughter
—M. A. v. Blücher
n
Corpus Christi, April , 
Dearly beloved Parents,
In the last letter we discussed the possibility of Julia coming to you in June.
We must not tell the likes of Kill-Mar of this at all. Felix feels such a hatred
against the whole band, as he calls them, that he generally slips into a
stream of curses just thinking about them. I beg you, never attempt an
approach, whatever may happen. If I were to come to Berlin, I should not
take the least notice of them.
Downing has a great deal to do in Boston, and Mary is very happy and
delighted there. I also think she would much prefer to stay there. But since
his father’s death, Downing is still more determined to come back, to which
feeling his changed business circumstances probably also contribute. Jim

[  ]
             ’             

had been in business in association with his father. The father always
invested his portion of the profits in real estate, and Jim put his money in
deposits in the bank. Now that both parties’ debts must be cleared, and
according to the father’s last will all real estate goes to the mother, Downing
has had to take his money out of the bank to cover all the obligations. And
the mother has control over considerable holdings in grand buildings,
houses, and land, which she can distribute at her discretion and which she
will probably in large measure pass to the youngest son, who is the apple of
her eye. He is closely attached to Jim and Mary, which, however, does not
change anything in the matter. Jim was the father’s right hand and darling,
and he feels the wrong done to him in the settlement of the estate all the
more.
Many thousand greetings from all the children here and your loving
—Maria

P.S. Dear Mother, don’t you know a means for curing Charles’s troubles?
His whooping cough increases rather than decreasing. But he continually
ails from coughing.
n
Corpus Christi, May , 
Cordially loved Parents,
Some days ago we received your dear letter dated April , which at once
decided the question of Julia’s journey. As Papa writes that it would be
possible for him to procure the money required, as I have quite frankly told
you I am not able to do so, I understand, dear Father, that you are thus
inclined to make it happen. Julia is mad with joy and works restlessly from
morning until deep into the night to make the linen needed for such a long
journey. Felix gave her some money for that purpose. As regards the time
and length of her stay, it probably will not be possible to fix that in advance.
Mr. Schübert will leave Berlin at the end of October because he fears winter
might not agree with him. Mary, on the contrary, has survived the winter
excellently in Boston, and I think we also need to consider how Julia will
bear the autumn in Germany, which is probably worse with its rain and
wind than is winter with ice and snow. If she could once spend a Christmas
with you, that would be a great joy. On the other hand it would carry
further costs, as she is not prepared or provided with the warm clothes
needed in Germany. All of this can be sorted out much better when she gets

[  ]
    

there. I shall certainly let her have such trifles and money as I can. But if
Felix continues drinking, as he has been in the last two months, there is
little hope that it will amount to much. Because of Felix’s drinking I am
pleased that Julia is coming to you, for she is very sensitive, and his behav-
ior affects her greatly. If she stays in Berlin for a while, I will somehow at
least make it possible for her to have piano, singing, and drawing instruc-
tion. She has significant artistic talent. She also has a good voice, and that
would be a source of pleasure for her as long as she lives. And here in
Corpus Christi the expenses for such instruction would be and are beyond
my means.
In recent years we have spoken so little German at home that Julia is
afraid of appearing ridiculous with her incorrect speech. She speaks English
so much better. Concerning Felix’s family, let me say that it is my thorough-
going wish that she have as little to do with Kill-Mar, Ida, etc., as possible;
if you are not good enough to be treated politely, your granddaughter can be
still less so. Therefore, we will ignore them totally. My children have
nothing to thank Kill-Mar for, so do not have any dealings with him!
Mr. Schübert is expected back here in town next week, when the time of
departure and all further details will be arranged. I will then at once inform
you. I hope my young nieces and cousins may kindly take charge of Julia.
It has been fortunate that Mary went to Boston. For some time she has
not been in good health. The doctor who treated her said she had an inner
defect, etc. I advised consulting another doctor, who after investigation
declared that she had an inner tumor that had been growing for years and
that would take her life if it went on growing. He promised to perform an
operation from which recovery would take fourteen days but after which she
could be completely restored. Mary had been recovering from the operation
for eight days when last she wrote to me. I am looking forward to her next
letter with great impatience. She was in very good humor and by no means
depressed. As she wrote, she had excellent nursing and care, which it would
never have been possible to give her locally, and who knows how long she
would have suffered here without any resolution. How many people con-
tinually have bad luck that keeps them from getting ahead, so that despite
all their work and diligence, they grow no richer or healthier. Mary’s illness
cost Downing three dollars () for each visit by the doctor and use of the
surgical instruments. Then about three weeks ago his tool house, where all
his workers’ tools are stored, was set on fire. His property was mostly
insured; nevertheless, he lost much.

[  ]
             ’             

Wheeler now talks to Julia as little as possible. I wish she would look
inside herself to decide whether she can truly bear him sufficiently to marry
him. It is my opinion that only by his earlier and incessant begging and
pleading did he get her to agree to the engagement. He has now been in
New York on business for four weeks.
I shall close now in order to help Julia as much as possible. I shall soon
write to you again. Remember me with love
Your loving—Maria v. B.
n
Corpus Christi, June , 
Dear Parents,
Mr. Schübert and Julia started from here on June nd and expect to reach
you by July . In summer the direct run from here is interrupted, and they
are obliged first to go to New York. I hope you are not disappointed in your
expectations about Julia. She is a little timid and reserved in the beginning
but affectionate when she feels herself at home. Nor should you be aston-
ished when she is peculiar about eating. She never was very good in that
respect. So you must not see harm in it if she does not eat all that is set
before her. She has her favored dishes, and I will tell you what they are:
above all, tea; boiled rice; cabbage; bread and butter; roast ham; and poached
eggs. I do not mention it so that you might play along; on the contrary, it is
my wish that she may learn to eat all that is served. But I thought it was
better if you knew her peculiarities. If you wish to give her something extra,
there is nothing she likes more than raisins, almonds, biscuits, Spanish wine,
and grape jelly. These are her delicacies. Here at home she never got to see
much of them, but most of our acquaintances live extraordinarily well. One
more thing I should like to mention: here we have things washed every
week. Julia is perhaps more extravagant with linen and clothes than may be
the case at your place. And I most eagerly wish to bring as little trouble and
change as possible into your calm household. Therefore I propose to have
her things washed elsewhere, and I have provided her with a bit of money to
bear expenses of that sort without becoming a burden to you. Julia has all
the documents she needs.
I should like it best if she took no notice at all of Kill-Mar, but Felix
would like her to pay a visit there. And if Ida von Blücher should invite her,
she is not to accept even to stay there for just a few days. Julia is accustomed
to the best society here. Life is downright royal at Colonel Moore’s, where

[  ]
    

she is like a member of the family, and at General Davis’s, so I know that
Ida cannot impress Julia with great finery; but I have an express aversion to
her company. Mr. Müller here intends to visit Germany next spring and
wishes to take Charley and Richard along. It will not cost us a cent. Müller
has money enough and no family; therefore, I should accept it from him
without hesitation. I should still like to mention that if you are willing to
give Julia a great treat, please take her to the circus. There was a company
here that gave extraordinary performances. Julia was there every evening,
five times, with the boys, and they have been in such raptures that they can
scarcely eat or sleep. Since then our boys have put up all conceivable
contrivances, and they are already getting quite good at the gymnastics
involved. Just now six boys were riding in their homemade circus on bits of
cane hung with red rags in place of horses bedecked in flags, and they are
thrilled to be reenacting what they saw. I think Julia will feel more at home
at Treptow than in Berlin, especially if she has an opportunity for taking the
baths. Just tell her to make me drawings of the nicest places in the neigh-
borhood of your house. Mr. Schübert promised her he would take her to
Dresden. Of course if he issues such an invitation, he means it at his
expense, and you need not hesitate to allow her to accept it. He is a rich
man, and his income continues here.
I now close. I hope and wish that you may grow fond of Julia and her
presence may give you pleasure. She has been a general darling here and a
source of pleasure for all. Greet brothers and sisters and relatives fondly
from me and tell them they must all most kindly accept Julia. Now farewell
and write soon to your loving daughter,
Maria A. v. Blücher
n

Corpus Christi, July , 

Cordially loved Parents,
Julia will probably have arrived and be feeling at home there before this
reaches your hands. Since the th I have imagined every minute of how
your first meeting would be. Yesterday I received a letter from Mary, in
which she describes her meeting with Julia. It was a great joy for me to hear
that they had seen each other. Here the inquiries about Julia are endless,
especially at Colonel Moore’s and Mrs. Headen’s, where I had to repeat
about ten times what she had written to me from New York. Even old
General Ruggles inquired most intimately about her, assuring me that she

[  ]
             ’             

had made such a deep and lasting impression upon him that after his
journey through Mexico, he still had the full pleasant memory of it.37 I
wish she may acquire with you as many good and sincere friends as she left
back here.
I have reflected on Julia’s visit to Kill-Mar and consider myself justified in
saying I think it absolutely unnecessary that she pay a visit there. Why
should she expose herself to disagreeableness if she can avoid them, espe-
cially when Mr. Kill-Mar has the insolence to speak of me with disregard; I
who have every right to reproach him for his falsehood and fraud. Therefore
do not let them even exist for you. For from the moment Julia enters their
house, inconveniences would also begin for her. Mr. Büsse knows Kill-Mar
quite closely and told me much of his respectability, or lack of it.
I am looking forward with great impatience to the first letters from you
and to what Julia will have to say. I promised to send her a bit of money so
that she will not be a burden to you. But up to now I have not been able to
do this. Felix has been away these two months and we have neither seen nor
heard anything of him, which really puts me in a bind. But as I am already
so accustomed to this, I do not regard it as unusual.
On June  we had an extraordinary rain here, as a result of which whole
areas of Texas are under twelve to twenty feet of water and many lives were
lost. Above Corpus Christi the Nueces River cut itself a new channel, which
formed a stream  feet wide and of significant depth, and in which
yesterday they shot an alligator that was pursuing a horse. The slaughter-
houses have been cut off on the other side of the water, and the meat must
be ferried over to market in boats.
Mr. Wheeler gave me such a description of Mr. Schübert’s great care and
kindness toward Julia that I send him through you my fondest thanks. I
never doubted that she would be well cared for under his protection,
otherwise I would never have entrusted him with taking her along. Mr.
Wheeler writes that as long as he shall live, he will entertain the warmest
wishes for Schübert’s happiness and well-being. And Mary writes that
Schübert persuaded Mr. Wheeler to take Julia to Central Park in New York,
which was a very pleasant diversion for her.
I very much enjoy hearing about all my old acquaintances. I never lost
my interest in them. I often remember all my old acquaintances and should
like to hear from and of them. In my memory they all have remained the
same, and I cannot think of them differently. I read a description of the
grand aquarium that is being built in Berlin, and it is difficult for me to

[  ]
    

conceptualize such a thing.38 I hope Julia will get to see and admire it. Mr.
Schübert will surely not abandon Julia right away but will take her around a
little; for he does not mind spending money. Mr. Müller wishes to take both
Charley and Richard to Berlin next spring. I wish he might make this come
true while Julia is still there.
I still have to write four long letters today, so I now say farewell to you! I
know that Julia is in better hands with you than here, so I make further
mention of that. Once more farewell and let me soon hear from you.
Your loving daughter—M. A. v. Blücher
n

Corpus Christi, August , 

Beloved Parents,
With greatest joy I opened your dear letters yesterday and found that Julia
had arrived safely, to your mutual pleasure. I have no doubt that even if Julia
brings many an inconvenience into your quiet household, you will find some
reward in her loving return of your kind feeling toward her. Whatever she has
seen there up to now has been a pleasure and happy surprise for her, and I
only hope she will not become homesick when the charm of novelty recedes.
Mary will probably return to me next month when Mr. Wheeler returns
to Corpus Christi. Nevertheless, nothing has yet been fixed about the time
of his departure. Downing cannot come before his father’s affairs have all
been settled, which will still take him some time and money. He has already
paid out , in cash, and the mother is holding onto all the property.
Downing has left her house, and they have been living elsewhere. Mary
seems not at all in a hurry to come back. She is very comfortable there, but
Downing thinks it will be too solitary for her in winter. There is not much
news to be reported, as I told Julia. I forgot to tell Julia that if she has an
opportunity to watch sewing machines working—hemming and felling,
especially the latter, which I do not understand—she can inform herself
about what causes the needles to break when bobbin and rotating hook (she
understands it better) are completely aligned. I have a great love for my
machine, but I have never seen such fine work done here as the shirts you
sent for the boys some years ago.
I am sending this short note so as not to have to hold off until Saturday.
The mail to the north goes only twice a week. I have told Julia, if she has a
not unreasonable desire, not to hesitate to pronounce it; as, e.g., she likes to
eat vegetables mostly with vinegar, i.e., to add it cold herself. Here it is the

[  ]
             ’             

custom to have casters on the table at every meal in every house, and I know
she would never ask for that even if she liked it ever so much.
Many cordial greetings to all brothers and sisters and relatives, and many
kisses from the children and your loving daughter
Maria

P.S. Mr. Downing always sends the sincerest greetings and messages for
you. Why did you never answer his letter?
n
Corpus Christi, October , , Sunday evening
Cordially loved Parents,
I have not written to you for quite a while, knowing that you are surely
hearing enough from me through Julia. She is happy and content and eager
to stay as long as you are willing to have this responsibility. It seems to me
clear that you may sometimes long for quiet togetherness without my little
harum-scarum there. How is she really getting on with the German lan-
guage? She does not write anything about that. I hope she will not forget, in
all her pleasure, to studying English.
I received a letter from Mr. Schübert in which he announces his depar-
ture at the beginning of October. I had not thought that he would pay such
a short visit, and he had half promised me that he wanted to stay until next
year. He writes that he will use all of his influence to persuade Julia to
remain in Berlin. But if he had read Julia’s letters, he would know that this
requires no persuasion, that she is completely happy. I had hoped that
Schübert would stay, and as soon as you are in Berlin, Julia should take
piano and singing lessons if possible. I wanted to pay for that through
Schübert as soon as I have the chance. The idea is that when I sell oxen, I
will let her have the money, which would probably be sufficient to pay for a
good while even if it did not appear at just the required moment. Can
American paper money (currency) be sold without great loss and trouble?
Julia had an infinite desire to learn to play violin. If she still wants to do so,
she may learn that instead of playing the piano. That will probably appear
strange to you, but for me it is no surprise. With immense trouble, she
taught herself to play some little pieces. I am all the more eager that she
learn some music because I believe that I have my piano playing to thank
more than anything else for my and the children’s position. When we came
here, there were no pianos. My knowledge was far overestimated, but to

[  ]
    

save myself from being submerged in the slavery of household work, I

boldly seized the day and made an effort to get on. The first rungs on a
ladder like that are shaky. But when once a foundation is laid, one moves
along. Fortunately assorted calamities did not dissipate my energy but
strengthened it. If I had my piano in order and wished to devote myself to
giving lessons, I might make out quite well.
I have the joyous prospect that with God’s help Mary will soon be with
me again. I expect her in a few days. Downing will still stay in Boston for
about two months, and Mary is coming with Mr. Wheeler so that I will not
be so alone. Mary is now completely restored and fit and sturdy, according
to Downing’s description, and has enjoyed her life in Boston. She will
perhaps no longer like Corpus Christi so well.
Julia wrote to tell me that you were well and kindly received at the
Blüchers. If only one might know whether what they manifest is sincere.
She gives glowing reports of the birthday party, of everything. How much
should I like to write, but when evening comes, I am generally so tired that
I cannot muster clever thoughts, and you must mostly be content with my
cordial greetings. Felix has again been away for a survey. He will have had a
hard time, as flooding has been widespread.
I will close now as my eyelids are drooping. Many cordial greetings to all
relatives, brothers and sisters, and friends, and a thousand thanks to you and
all who bestow so much good upon my Julia. Many greetings from the boys,
and if they could, they would all be with you. Once more cordial thanks
from your loving daughter
M. A. v. Blücher
n

Corpus Christi, November , 

Cordially loved Parents,
I have not received a letter from you in ages, though I waited with great
longing. Julia seems to be so engaged that she completely forgets us. If
writing is too bothersome for you, have Julia do it. First I had to wait seven
weeks, and this time six weeks for a letter. She has not written at all to her
sister Mary, who is attached to Julia with fondest love and weeps and feels
bitterly grieved about this neglect. You are so kind and amiable to Julia that
she does not miss us at all, and she can never be thankful enough to you for
that. I beg you with all my heart to remind her to write, at least once every
two weeks.

[  ]
             ’             

We received two of her pictures and are highly delighted with them, as
they turned out so extraordinarily well. Everyone here admires them, adding
that Julia has filled out so well. Accept my fondest thanks for the fine gifts
you were kind enough to send back with Mr. Schübert. Mary sends many
thousand thanks for the pipe and ring. She thinks Downing will now come
even sooner, because he has so longed for the pipe, and she is very proud of
her ring. Mary is so amiable and affectionate, feeling childlike joy about
every gift.
Today Felix turns  years old, and tomorrow is Mary’s wedding anni-
versary. Yesterday I got the three boys baptized in the Presbyterian Church
after their having studied with the preacher for one month.39 Julia ought to
get herself baptized, but I do not know how she is getting along in the
German language, whether she is able to understand, etc. Julia wrote to me
about the visit to Kill-Mar’s. I wonder whether he will continue to appear
friendly. Mr. Schübert fortunately arrived here at the end of last month,
and the two seem very happy together. At this stage they are still undecided
as to whether they will remain in town or go to the rancho. She is an
excellent piano player. I hope Julia will endeavor to get on a little at it
(piano playing). It is an infinite advantage in every respect in this country
to know some music.
I am as interested in all that happens in the family as if I were in Ger-
many myself. Mary begs you to send more pictures; she has a very fine, big
album and wishes to have as many pictures as she can of the whole family.
What do all the relatives say about Julia? I have already given you the little
news I have to report from here. Once more many thanks for your great
kindness toward Julia and your kind gifts. Many, many greetings from Mary,
Downing, Felix, Wheeler, the boys, and your loving daughter
Maria
n
Corpus Christi, January , 
Cordially loved Parents,
It was a great joy for me to hear from you once again. Above all I wish you
with all my heart a happy New Year, and may kind Heaven let you live to
see many more. It seems strange to me to hear that you are feeling decrepit
with age, dear Father. I cannot imagine you other than hale and hearty, as I
have always known you, and I hope spring renews you with fresh courage to
tackle life.

[  ]
    

Regarding what you write about Julia’s travel expenses, I can only regret
that they so outstripped what you expected. I know that the costs of such a
journey are considerable. For we often calculated the expenses when Mr.
Downing wished to take Julia to Boston, which is only seven hours by
railway from New York, and  was the lowest option without undue
inconvenience. Mr. Schübert stayed at a very shabby hotel in New York,
and I know that all amusements, theater, etc., were at Mr. Wheeler’s and
Mr. Schübert’s expense. Had there been time, I would have written to you
in advance with details of the expenses of such a journey. It is too late to
repent, and I beg you only not to let Julia know that this visit has far
overrun the expenses expected. For she writes that she is so happy, enjoy-
ing charming rest and peace the like of which she never knew before. Felix
always treated her brutally, and now he praises her to the skies, has her
picture hanging above his bureau, etc. True to my design, I tried to save
some money for Julia’s music lessons, but in Felix’s absence I have not been
able to lay by anything. And now his right hand is so injured from a blow
against the iron on the buggy that he has no receipts at all. He has not
been able to do anything; we are in a big hole financially. I will lay by
something of what Mr. Wheeler pays me per month, at least. Mary is now
taking lessons and making extraordinary progress, though she has no
piano here in the house and must go to town to practice. We think that
Mr. Downing left Boston today and will be here by the th, Mary’s
birthday.
The Schüberts now live in Concepción, about  English miles from
here.40 All that I hear of her is that she likes it and is quite content. I like
Mrs. Schübert very well and regret that our acquaintance was such a brief
one. For she will probably not come to Corpus Christi often, as the
journey is very fatiguing and tedious. I am glad that Mr. Kill-Mar liked
Julia, and that she is welcomed by our friends and relatives. I am suffering
with my foot again, unsure whether it is rheumatism or something else. I
cannot rest it and am obliged to stay at home all the time, because I cannot
put on a shoe.
Fare cordially well, kiss my Julia for me, and greet all friends and relatives
from your loving daughter
—Maria v. B.
n

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, March , 

Beloved Parents,
Today, the th, when I am with you in spirit every moment, I will answer
your last letter of February . Receiving letters from you means great joy
for me. After reading Julia’s letters, I always feel I would like to hear ten
times more. Three quarters of a year have now passed since she left us, and
it feels as if I miss her more every day, though I know that it is her good
fortune to be away. For the circumstances here were very oppressive for her.
She is as happy now as one can expect to be. The cold does not seem to
matter to her at all. But rainy weather is what she fears. The masquerade
and skating are prominent in the catalog of her pleasures. Schübert had
promised that he would take her to Saxon and Switzerland.41 But his own
affairs engaged him so that he did not manage this. Mr. Schübert was with
us last Sunday before his departure on Wednesday. He is radiant with
happiness with his Auguste. In the whole of America he would not have
been able to find such a wife. She is so content on the rancho that she did
not want to come to Corpus Christi with him.
Everything is much the same with us. Felix has been at Rio Grande City
on business for a month and will probably be back in a few days. Mr.
Downing has a very good post as a bookkeeper in a big business here but
daily expects an appointment from Governor Davis. They have always been
friends, and Davis promised him a good post. Mary is diligent and mostly
occupied at home with needlework for me. She misses Julia very much.
Charley is now in a very good school, and the only question is how long he
can stand it. From  o’clock in the morning until after  o’clock in the
evening without coming home is too much. Richard and George will also
begin school in a few days. Mr. Wheeler has now a government appoint-
ment at  a month.
Since  o’clock this morning I have spent every moment with you. The
time difference between Berlin and Corpus Christi is something more than
seven hours, and I wondered yesterday whether I would be awake when
Julia’s baptism took place. Downing had been out and came home at 
o’clock. Just after that a violent thunderstorm hit, so that without effort on
my part I remained awake, thinking of my little Julia. May kind Heaven
bless and protect her.
That my dear Papa is now growing old makes me long more than ever to
see him again, and let us hope that I will be given an opportunity to do this.
It is a great joy for me that Julia fits in so well with her cousins. She writes

[  ]
    

of all of them equally cordially, as if she feels herself among old friends. It is
also a great joy for me to learn that Julia is making excellent progress
playing the piano; this makes me infinitely glad. Mary takes lessons and is
progressing very quickly, though we do not have a piano in the house on
which she might practice, which rather impedes her learning.
Mr. and Mrs. Doddridge, friends of ours, will travel to Europe next
month.42 They are very, very rich and lost their only child, a boy of six or
seven years, to yellow fever, and since that time they always travel in
summer. At any rate they will come to see Julia, and I need not beg you to
receive them as kindly as possible, as I am already sure you will. I do not
know how long they will stay in Berlin. Every Thursday they have a party at
their house, where old and young amuse themselves brilliantly and feast on
the best fare. Julia will scarcely recognize Rachel Doddridge, as she has
grown so fat.
Mary is ironing. She sends you the most cordial greetings, as also to
everyone else in the house. Greet all brothers and sisters, nieces, cousins and
aunts a thousand times from me and take my fondest thanks for the kind-
ness you bestow upon Julia. Fare very well; write again soon to your
Maria
n
Corpus Christi, June , 
Beloved Parents,
For two months I have been waiting in vain for news from you or Julia, and
this uncertainty about whether anything has happened at your end is
becoming almost unbearable for me. The last letter I received from Julia was
written only a few days after her confirmation, and since then I have not
heard any more from her, though I write to her every Sunday. It is so wrong
that she does not write to me every week or two. Today a year ago was the
last Sunday she spent in Corpus Christi, and I have been preoccupied with
thinking about her, and as a result I have felt more sharply disappointed
over not hearing anything from her. A year has already slipped away, and we
are giving up hope of seeing her again in Corpus Christi. However, nobody
who knows this place and has ever been in Berlin can take it amiss. The
difference is too considerable, especially for young people like Julia, who can
find little here to amuse themselves. Mary feels forsaken without her and is
not closely involved with anybody, though she has acquaintances enough
and is very much a general favorite. Most of the young ladies here are very

[  ]
             ’             

frank and ill-considered in their speech and manners, and Mary is very
reserved and modest.
I have taken over the music class at the school here, meaning that Mary
now has to do all the household work. Felix has had no income at all in
several months. Then I received this offer. I already have  students and
earn  a month. It was to be , but school fees and my midday meals are
deducted. Tuition for each child is  per month for three ½-hour lessons a
week. I teach from  o’clock in the morning until  o’clock in the evening
every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Assuming nothing gets in my way, I
can be really grateful to see myself so independent.
As I am now away from home three whole days a week, Mary has much to
do in the household, of course. If I only could get a maid, all would be well.
But as it is now, the work is almost too much for Mary. However, it is the
same here for many people—they cannot get help. There are so few maids in
America. When new ones come, it is not long until they get married and
begin their own households. Julia will tell you the circumstances of my
getting a piano. It is my greatest pleasure to have music in the house again.
Mr. Downing’s mother died on May st and left all the property to the
other two sons because Downing came back to Texas. He has got along for
so long without her help that he will surely do the same in the future. We are
having awfully dry times here again, and everything is already suffering. I am
getting on very well with my piano school, and I only wish I also could give
singing lessons, in which case I should do much better yet. Mr. Wheeler still
lives with us, though he has given up hope of ever seeing Julia again. He has
a good salary and has built himself a nice little house and will probably
recover soon enough from losing her. I do not see or hear anything from the
Schüberts. They live as happily as the first couple in Paradise and seem not
to be concerned with the rest of the world. When Schübert comes to town,
he comes to visit us only rarely.
On the st of July Mr. Downing will also enter a government office, as
collector of customs, with a salary of  a month. Mary could never have
hoped for a husband more attentive to her wishes. They suit each other
excellently well. I intended to leave Felix and move to town, but I could not
find a suitable house for now and shall have to wait some months. Mr.
Noessel died here fourteen days ago, and Mr. Littig eight days ago, both of
them old friends of ours. Whiskey is the cause of all evil.
Every day I think how nice it must now be at Treptow, while here
everything is parched. For several months we have not had any rain, though

[  ]
    

in the last two days little showers have fallen. The boys are at school and
will remain there until the st of July, at which point they start two months
of vacation. I shall not take a break at my piano school but will go on
instructing, all things being equal. Charley and Mary take piano lessons, the
latter already playing quite well.
All the soldiers have left here again and the place is rather deserted. All
indications are that war against Mexico is expected, and it almost seems that
way, as all the troops have been ordered to the frontier.43
A month from today your wedding anniversary comes around again, and
we all send fond congratulations, hoping you may enjoy many more to-
gether. On Wednesday it will be a year since Julia went away, and I am sure
I shall not get through the day without sadness. Julia will perhaps scarcely
remember it. I still have three more letters to write, and it is late. Therefore,
adieu! Many thousand greetings to brothers and sisters, relatives and
friends! The Downings and the boys send their greetings. Do not forget
your loving daughter
Maria
n
Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., Tex., August st, 
Cordially loved parents,
Whether this letter will ever reach your hands is very uncertain, as according
to the news here postal communication with Prussia has been interrupted.
I was not astonished to hear from you of the impending war between
France and Prussia; here people think and speak of nothing but war.44
Everybody asks me whether Julia will come home before serious fighting
breaks out. Of course I cannot answer other than to say that you will know
best what needs to be done. Of course I should most like her to be here
with me at such a time, as one can never foresee the outcome of a war, and
it is not impossible that all communication with us will be cut off for a
time; it would be very hard for me if I were in the dark for a long time
about your and Julia’s well-being. I know that it is cruel even to think of
wanting to take Julia from all comfort, and I am sure that she herself does
not think of coming back, and the longer she stays there, the less she will
long for us.
And yet necessity has more than once wrung from me the wish that I
might have her help. Mary has a kidney disease, and the doctor ordered her
strictly not to do any hard work at all. Of course that throws everything

[  ]
             ’             

upon me, though I am instructing so many students. Seventeen is the

number I teach now. I have not succeeded in finding a maid, though there
are enough black women available here. How many German girls vainly
seeking work in Berlin might find steady work here! Mr. Downing received
his appointment on the Rio Grande with a yearly salary of ,. So Mary
will probably also leave me again soon. Charley and Richard now do most
of the work. Charley gets up at half-past three every morning, gets coffee
ready, sets the table, serves the breakfast, and milks the cows all before we
get up.
Aunt Rieben’s death I regret with all my heart, as she seemed to be
attached to Felix with great love. I know she did not think much good of
Felix’s mother and father; she told me so. As for her having promised us an
inheritance but then apparently left nothing, I do not miss what I never
possessed and feel no regret—although if she could have seen who most
needed it, she would perhaps have made other arrangements.
Has Julia ever mentioned Mr. Wheeler to you? I guess he still hopes she
will change her mind. I believe that he still feels attached to her. Do not tell
her anything of him, so that she does not think we wish to persuade her in
his favor. Let her do what she thinks best for her. For we can never predict
who can make her happiest. Her cousin’s wedding certainly made a great
impression on her, and I hope she will not commit herself to someone in
Berlin just so as to enjoy similar festivities herself.
Felix has returned from Austin, and we now have a music room and his
office under one roof. I am writing to you in his office, and as it is evening
already, I will close. I have just learned from the newspapers that all Ameri-
can travelers in Europe are now being advised to return home. So the war
must indeed be thought imminent. The Downings and children send many
greetings. Give my greetings to all brothers and sisters, relatives and friends.
Give Papa my heart’s fondest wishes for his birthday. Kiss my dear little
Julia and remind her to write often, as under the present conditions of war, I
may not receive all the letters. Fare cordially well, and write soon to your
loving
Maria
n

[  ]
    

Corpus Christi, Texas, August , 

Beloved Parents,
Just when I have got everything well arranged for my piano school, Mary
must go away to Rio Grande City, where Mr. Downing has a good appoint-
ment as inspector of customs with a , salary, as I told you in my last
letter. A colonel who used to be here in Corpus Christi has come from there
and will take Mary back on Thursday. She was willing to wait two or three
more months yet, if I would make Julia come back, so that she might
supervise the house while I am away instructing, and she offered to pay a
maid  a month so that Julia would not have to work so hard. I should
never have resolved to write to you about it but for our friends thinking it to
be unjust to Mary and myself for me to be intent only on Julia’s comfort. I
therefore beg you to ask Julia’s opinion, and if she feels in the least awkward
about it, thinking she can no longer be happy here, let her stay safely where
she is, and I will see how I can get along without her.
When we first talked about this, I could not conceive of asking Julia to
come back at all. I knew the change would all be too great. But listening to
all the others and seeing that they are happy and content here helped me
make up my mind to write. The chief thing is, if you have become so
accustomed to her that you would miss her, do not say a word to her about
it but keep her as long as it suits you to be together, for my going away left
you lonely enough.
This does not seem to be the best time to speak of journeying in Europe,
while war is raging there. On the other hand, should you decide to part with
her, she may more readily find company now, as many Americans are
returning. In that case she would do best to come to Galveston, which costs
less and is a landing point not too far from here, and I should prepare
somebody there for her arrival. I will try to get a draft for  on a Hamburg
house to help her pay for the return journey. I guess the price to Galveston
is  or , and from there I would pay her passage to Corpus Christi. I
cannot well imagine that Julia will be inclined to come. Yet have I often
heard that people have a soft spot for their birthplace. And if this is the
case, after the initial shock she may perhaps resolve to give up her friends
and pleasures there, if you are willing. Everybody asks me whether Julia will
return when Mary goes away, and it was only thus that I arrived at the idea.
If this letter causes sad moments, as I can imagine it may, I am sorry to
have written it. I am well aware that it touches upon Julia’s whole future,
and that is why it was so hard for me to write. Nevertheless, I am brought to

[  ]
             ’             

this by circumstances. I have been much more content since acquiring my

independent income, being able now to send the children to school and to
dress them well. My social position is the same and perhaps still better,
because I go out more. I now play the organ for the Presbyterian Church,
and if Julia should come back, I should be very glad if she could sing a
little at church. Mary takes singing lessons with me and piano lessons, and
I should make Julia continue too. I hope you will not think the worse of
me for speaking of Julia’s return and am sure you will soon resolve whether
it will be very hard for her to leave you, in which case I shall be able to get
along without her. Mr. Downing will perhaps have the appointment at Rio
Grande City for several years, and of course I cannot demand that Mary
give up Downing so long because of me, especially as she is attached to
him with all her soul and it was only to help me that she did not go with
him at once.
The war in Europe occupies all minds here, and everyone is anxious to
settle the issue, as if our own lives depended on it. Of course we are much
interested in the affair, eagerly reading all the news we can lay hands on. It
arrives in the North from Europe in a few hours by telegraph and gets to
Indianola from there in a few more hours by the same means. Do write and
tell me which of our friends and relatives have seen active service.
Fare cordially well, and many, many greetings to the family. Many kisses
for my Julia! The children all send greetings, Mary especially. Write very
soon to your
Maria
n
Corpus Christi, Texas, November , 
Dearly beloved Mother,
I received your dear letter dated October  on Nov. , and you can well
believe I sincerely enjoyed hearing from you again. Since the middle of
September we have had no communication with the outside world because
of the quarantine; I could not even write to you.45 As for Julia’s return home,
I am sure you will have received one of my letters assuring you that I do not
insist on her return but, on the contrary, wish she may stay with you as long
as you are willing to keep her. I am convinced that she has many more
comforts with you, though you say yours is a simple life. Mary is still here
and will probably stay over the winter. Do not burden your heart about
Julia’s return, but enjoy life as much as you can.

[  ]
    

We have received sad news about the war conditions. The last news
telegraphed was that they will bombard Hamburg.46 This would really be
sad, and you would wind up seeing more of the war than you might wish,
and I am really alarmed about that. Everybody here takes the greatest
interest in the progress of the war and is anxious about the issue, though
with different views and leanings about it.
Mr. Downing is still in Rio Grande City, and he is very well off finan-
cially in his present position. He thinks of remaining at it for some time and
will then build a little house here and take up a different position that has
been offered to him and will remain reserved for him—not, however, as well
paid. Yesterday Mary paid  for bedroom furniture he is having sent from
New York, and he is gradually getting everything shipped, and I see from
this that he is earnest about remaining here. So far Felix has not gone away,
and he will perhaps not get the work he was expecting, in which case he will
be staying. I have  girls for piano instruction. Then I teach the Spanish
class at school for ½ an hour each morning. You can well see from this that
I have no time to myself. I never go out after coming home in the evening,
so I live a very isolated and regular life. The boys are learning well at school,
and I am rather satisfied with their progress. What does their Papa do
during the long winter evenings? He does not go out; he must find reading
for hours just too fatiguing.
Many thousand greetings to Papa, brothers and sisters, nieces, aunts, and
all friends who remember me. Farewell and write soon to your loving
Maria

P.S. Charley’s health and whooping cough are much better, thanks be to
God, since he has been taking a medicine the doctor prepares for him.
n
Corpus Christi, Texas, February , 
Fondly loved Parents,
Today at last, on Sunday, I have time to answer the letter I received last
week. I am deeply dismayed to hear that Papa’s eyes are now so weak that I
scarcely can expect a letter from him. His firm, steady handwriting has
always been a delightful sight for me. I hope spring will fill him with fresh
strength and vitality again and that many a note from him will reach me yet.
Our winter has been extraordinarily mild up to now. Today we are
astonished to find it has grown cold and rainy all of a sudden, so that all of

[  ]
             ’             

us crowd around the fire. I have not heard anything from Julia these past seven
weeks, and I have no idea what can be causing such a long silence. We had
hoped she would send us a description of how she spent Christmas. Felix has
now been away from home for more than two months, and of course nobody
hears from him, and I have again had to provide for all our needs. The three
boys now have the demands of grown-ups but are not yet able to see to things
themselves. Charley was  years old the day before yesterday and is taller than
I. He is the best or surely one of the best pupils in the school, I guess. You can
certainly imagine that I have my hands full. Every day I teach from  o’clock
in the morning until : in the evening, with only a ½ hour for the midday
meal. In that time I have dinner with the children, which I cook on a coal-oil
stove. I have  music students three times a week; a ½ hour of Spanish and a
½ hour of French each day; and German spelling and reading twice a week.
From April st, , to January st I earned more than . But as I have to
bear all the expenses alone, I did not use more than  or  for myself. Felix of
course likes the arrangement very well; he travels about and amuses himself
ever so well. Mary has remained with me and cannot make up her mind to
leave me. But Downing will probably come driving along and take her away
with him, for he is unhappy alone. He is more than willing to care for me, but
what would become of the boys? As long as I can work for myself and the
children, I shall do so. I am convinced that I am happier earning my keep than
living on charity. Mr. Wheeler still lives at our place and will probably con-
tinue to do so as long as Mary is here. After she leaves, I shall have to shut up
my house and he must find lodging somewhere else in town.
I cordially thank you for your New Year’s wishes. Mr. Schübert was here
last week. He grows fatter and fatter, being now nearly as broad as he is tall.
He lives very happily with his wife and is as comfortable as one can be in
Texas. She would like me to visit their rancho, but I cannot leave my school.
I should very much like to write you a long letter, but it is so cold in the
room and so late that I must close. Greet Papa ten thousand times from me.
Many greetings to all my dear brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,
aunts and all cousins, and especially Julia. Fare cordially well and write as
soon as it is possible to your loving daughter
M. A. v. Blücher

P.S. Be so kind as to inquire how much a good Spanish-German or

Spanish-English dictionary costs.
n
[  ]
    

Corpus Christi, April , 

Fondly loved Parents,
I have had your dear letter in my hands for some weeks, and I cannot
describe the pleasure it gives me to receive such lovely long letters. Oh,
what I wouldn’t give if Papa could still write to me as before. I hope with
all my heart that in spring his eyes may grow better again and his depres-
sion may lift. Perhaps the return of the troops and peace may breathe new
life into him.
I often think what a comfort it would be if Julia or one of our cousins
were here with me; for after my day’s work I have no chance of taking a rest
but must keep plugging on from morning to night. On the other hand,
however, I also know that Julia would scarcely be able to be happy here
again after having been in Berlin, and I will bear my yoke indefatigably as
you do, dear Mother. Mary of course has quickly set up her household with
Mr. Downing. She has an extremely agreeable life there and no affliction of
whatever kind, though Rio Grande City is miserable.
Wheeler told me he would be writing to Julia once more. I thought of
advising him not to do it, but it will be better for him to hear directly from
her what she has to say. She never mentions him in her letters. He on the
other hand will not give up hope. My only wish is that she not leave his
question unanswered. It would be unforgivable, for he awaits her answer in
anxious suspense. He wishes only that she might be his. I have no advice to
give her and will support her whatever she decides. I wish I might now
know her opinion and could spare him the uncertainty. He seems entirely
unable to accept that they will be separated forever. In any event, do not
bring this up with Julia unless she speaks to you of it herself.
As for me, I have  students. When one leaves, I already have others
waiting to start. Charley and George are very diligent at school, and I hope
that one of them will get a prize. George is small and very, very thin. I still
have much to say, but it is night and I must be on the move early in the day.
So a cordial farewell, and greet and kiss Papa daily for me. Greet Julia and
the brothers and sisters, relatives and friends from your loving
Maria
n

[  ]
             ’             

Letterhead of Felix A. Blücher & Co., . Charles F.H. von Blücher Family
Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

[  ]
    

Corpus Christi, June , 

Cordially loved Mother,
Receiving your dear letter some days ago was a long-awaited joy. It damp-
ened my happiness, though, to hear that our dear Father has been ailing,
and I so hope that the summer at Treptow will restore him. What would I
not willingly give to be able to be with him, joining the rest of you in trying
to cheer his days, and nothing could prevent me from coming but the
impossibility of leaving three boys in good hands during my absence.
I think you are wrong concerning Julia, dear Mother. I do not believe
that she entertains the slightest desire to return. Charley says if all she needs
is an escort, he will fetch her. And as for marrying, I think she does not
entertain the least wish in that direction. Mr. Wheeler’s letter has not been
answered as yet, and of course he takes this as an unfavorable sign and will
therefore leave us today or tomorrow. He offered to sell Felix his nice little
house, which stands on our land, for a very low price. Felix has had our
house renovated, and it looks very good again. As for the money I sent to
Julia, she will certainly have told you by now that Felix contributed the
greater sum. He gave it to me to send to her. And of course I am glad to
save you some expenses. But above all she must fulfill my wish to take
singing lessons. I will always pay for this. How well she would now be able
to sing if she had taken lessons these past two years. Every girl sings here.
Knowing that she has a very good voice, I wish Julia to try.
You regret my position as a working person. It is true that it is rather
hard not to have a moment to spare. Yet I am paid well, and it seems to
have had a good influence on Felix. It is possible that I shall soon cease
teaching. Felix’s new land agency has already earned much money.47 It’s just
that everything is so expensive here that even so, one does not save much.
Yesterday was the school examination, and my hope that Charley would get
a prize was dashed because of his bad eye, which caused him demerits for
absences. It depends on the number of good marks. Though he was absent
for a week, she who won the prize scored only one point higher: Dora
Lawrence scored ; Charles . George, however, earned his prize. I am
sorry for Charley.
My time is so fully committed that I must close now. Mary is still at Rio
Grande City, wishing herself back here. Many thousand greetings to all
family members and friends, chiefly many kisses to Papa and Julia from your
loving daughter and the boys
—Maria

[  ]
             ’             

P.S. You write of Julia’s delicacy of feeling in not declaring her wishes. She
learned that early and deals with it with rare resignation.
n
Corpus Christi, September , 
Cordially loved Parents,
I received your dear letter two weeks ago, and I can scarcely describe my joy
at seeing the well-known and long-missed characters of Papa’s hand again. I
was so constantly anxious because of Papa’s eyes that only this visible proof
of his improvement could give me comfort. Day after day I have tried to
find time to reply, but as yet I have found it impossible, as the days are
shorter and I have lost Charley’s help. He drove to Rio Grande City in our
carriage to fetch Mary and I am now expecting her at any moment, but she
left Charley with Mr. Downing, so that I am not much better off, as he can
do much for me that Mary cannot do. Mr. Wheeler and the coachman will
come along with her. Though Mr. W. no longer lives with us or has any
further intercourse with us, his friendship with Downing seems to have
remained unchanged. People in Germany would not be able to imagine
what traveling is like here. Mary will spend perhaps four or five days and
nights on her way from Rio Grande City, putting up only once at Santa
Gertrudis and staying the rest of the time out in the open air, in rain or
shine. Felix continues his old ways; working a little, then drinking again
until the money is at an end, then he recovers for a day or two, and then he
goes away again. I have a good number of girls as students, and I thank God
I am able to help myself and my children. I now earn  per month, and
from October st it will be . You must not be angry if I let Julia have part
of it, dear Father. For many months last year I earned  a month. During
the greatest heat of the summer some of the girls went away. I earned more
than , last year in all, not without effort, of course, but also not entirely
without pleasure. I bought a good piano for , and likewise a good
cistern and many other things that were useful and agreeable to me. And
the main thing is that I sent the children to school, except Richard, who
had to undertake managing the house after Mary went away. Mary intends
to help me all through the winter, provided nothing happens to call her
away. After all that I have written here, you will probably find it under-
standable that I am pressing so hard for Julia to develop her talents in music
and singing, as it might yet be that even against her wishes, circumstances
might oblige her to come back here. And it is an infinite advantage in a

[  ]
    

place like this one to be a little gifted or to possess a cultivated talent.

Where the young people continually push aside the older ones, as in
Germany, singing and playing are soon over for those who are married. So
far things are otherwise here; both old and young can achieve prominence
this way. I have little hope that Julia will return. She has already been with
you too long, and it would surely be strange if she should resolve to take
such a step. Nor does she speak of it any longer, and she probably thinks of
it still less.
We now have a telegraph office at Corpus Christi, and news from here
might reach you in a few minutes via an Atlantic transmission.
I hope you will forgive me for writing such a short letter, as it is already
going on  o’clock in the evening. Fare cordially well! Thanks for the
letters, and do try to write again soon. Many kisses from the children and
greetings for all from your loving daughter
Maria v. B.
P.S. Mary has arrived and sends her greetings.
n

Corpus Christi, March , 

Fondly loved Parents,
I received your dear letters with the greatest joy. Julia’s state of health has
greatly alarmed me, as her illness must cause you uneasiness and many an
inconvenience. I hope with all my heart that spring has brought recovery to
her and relief to you. If it really is a nervous disease, there is little hope that
she will be fully restored. I inquired of the doctors here, and a change of
surroundings was recommended as the best and most secure approach. So I
expect every good when you move back to Treptow.
Julia was so charmed with her rich Christmas gifts and birthday presents
that she described them all to me, which I enjoyed. Mary is impatient to
have Julia with her again. Nevertheless she knows that even if you could do
everything in the world for her, you would not be able to replace her present
home. Downing has a good position. They live in a genteel way and con-
tinually have in their home the best company to be had in Texas. The
Downings are both very popular, as is apparent not only from people’s
remarks but from the thousand attentions bestowed upon them. The
children and Felix are well. Charley now works hard with his father, and
Felix expects he will make an excellent surveyor. The only problem is that
he never had an opportunity to learn drafting and will scarcely make such

[  ]
             ’             

excellent maps as Felix, who sometimes receives  or  for one map.
We have now refenced part of our property, which is very agreeable to me.
As before, I give lessons, which is a great help. We have a new light carriage
and good horses, so that going home in the evening, I am spared the trouble
of tedious traveling. Richard has saved some money and bought a nice little
donkey for , giving him and George great pleasure.
As a result of the tremendous drought we had an awful cattle plague
here. Half of all the cattle in Texas died. Felix told me that on the Nueces
River, at every prominence where one can overlook the river, one might
count more than , dead cattle. The river has now been settled up for 
to  miles by acquaintances of ours. And this pile-up of corpses stretches
all along the inhabited sections. How much farther it extends I cannot tell.
How many millions cannot be counted. It sounds incredible, but it’s true
nevertheless. A man gets ½ a day for stripping hides off dead cattle.
Everyone can take what he can get. Each hide brings . The owners of the
animals cannot get enough workers to skin their animals.48
I must restrict myself to this small page; but between my lessons I have
already written three letters. Many greetings from Felix and the children to
you, Julia, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends. Many kisses from your
—M. v. B.
n

Corpus Christi, June , 

Fondly loved Parents,
All day long I have tried to make time to write you. For today it is three
years since Julia left us, and each year I have been very aware of that date.
The drought that ruled here for months came to an end some weeks ago
with a terrible thunderstorm. Nobody here had ever experienced such
lightning or strokes of thunder before; six of them were indescribable, and
each of them struck. For a long time the storm remained just above our
house and the nearest surroundings, where it did considerable damage. One
bolt of lightning hit the house in front of ours, Chapman’s house, destroying
part of the roof and singeing all the shrubs in their fine garden. To the right
of us, at some distance, a stable was hit twice, killing a horse that had cost
Dr. Karney . And inside his home the strike was such the doctor was
benumbed for a while. He left the house at once, before breakfast the next
morning. The fence separating Mr. Büsse’s place from ours was thrown
down, and lightning also hit our pond. Charley and I sat up the whole night

[  ]
    

through. It began at  o’clock in the evening and lasted until  or  o’clock

in the morning. All the violent strikes came at  o’clock or a little before.
Yesterday at noon we had another thunderstorm, although short, and the
lightning killed a man and horse. He was a traveling merchant and had
come  miles with six laden wagons, and just as he reached the first
houses of Corpus Christi he was killed. Thunderstorms have always seemed
to me sinister, and now seem yet more so.
What you write, dear Mother, concerning the sale of Mr. Kill-Mar’s
house must be mistaken or a handwriting error. For , thalers, the
sum you give, is more than half a million dollars, and that cannot be.49 I
never reckon on inheritances and in that respect cannot be disappointed. I
have wished we had more wealth because of the children. Once the time
when an inheritance might improve their education is behind us, I could
not care less.
Included you will find a  note. Give Julia the benefit of it; she will
certainly find use for it. Felix has done very well in business. Our house has
been significantly improved, and he has himself gone to a wedding with me.
Perhaps I shall go with him to Santa Gertrudis for some weeks and let
Charley and Richard take charge of the house.
I was interrupted and must close. Kisses for Julia, Papa, and all the rest; a
thousand for you from all and your
Maria v. B.
n
Corpus Christi, October , 
Fondly loved Parents,
My sincerest thanks for your congratulations on my birthday. May kind
Heaven long let you enjoy all good things and remove every affliction and
woe from your path. I offer Papa my greetings and best wishes for the
celebration of his eightieth! What joy it gave me that Julia had such a
magnificent excursion; she wrote downright enraptured. Until then she had
always believed Treptow to be the nicest place she might see, and it has
done her health more good than any medicine. I hope with all my heart
that the winter will not dent your health, for this year the summer had
much to make up for. How I should like to be with you and try to give you
comfort.
The hope of Charley going to Germany next spring has come to naught
with Mr. Müller’s unexpected death. He was shot for , bequeathing his

[  ]
             ’             

Caroline Cottage, home of George Kill-Mar, Felix A. von Blücher’s stepfather, in the
Tiergarten district of Berlin, ca. s. Charles F.H. von Blücher Family Papers,
Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

black housekeeper ,! The last time he was here, he spoke of what he
would give our children because we took him in when he fell out with his
wife. He was giving Mary a town lot worth about . He intended to take
Charles to Europe and send him to school there for two years at his own
expense. Death has cut off all of it. He met his end at the very place that
had belonged to Felix when Müller first began to lay the foundations of his
property and wealth.50 Murder and bloodshed are now so general here that
we do not venture to go out even for a picnic, not ½ miles from Corpus
Christi. All the scum from Mexico knocks about on this side of the Rio
Grande. Mary will probably return to Corpus Christi. Downing expects to
be selected as a representative to the legislature. Then he would go to
Austin during the session, and Mary would come to me and occupy her
elegantly furnished little house on our land. Downing bought her a new
sewing machine with ten additional features, costing . He paid us a visit
some weeks ago. I did not recognize him as he has become so fat. He
weighs more than  lbs. Charley weighs  and Mary , and I weigh
only . They have all outgrown me.

[  ]
    

Dear Mother, write to me soon and greet all dear relatives and friends
cordially from me. A thousand kisses for you and Julia from us all and
especially from your loving
Maria
n

Corpus Christi, December , 

Fondly loved Mother,
This is the only bit of paper in the house, so for this time I must restrict
myself to it. Christmas has happily passed and the New Year draws near. I
wish we might begin it together and live near each other in peace. You
astonished me with the change of prices in Germany. Did Carl not make
arrangements to compensate you at all for the immensely increased value of
the house? It must indeed have doubled in value, and if all expenses have
risen in proportion, the income should likewise do so. I am really indifferent
concerning Kill-Mar’s riches. I am not young enough to hope for better
times or think of justice. By now all such promises from him have ended for
us as empty words.
Julia’s letter is still quite filled with her journey to Teplitz.51 I believe that
she intends to remain unmarried. All her friends have been married, while
she rejected the best proposals. So she must indeed intend to devote herself
to her books alone.52
Felix has had the interior of our house refinished, and that makes it more
comfortable for us. Charley is back in school, as are Richard and George.
The Downings did not come for Christmas as I had hoped.
Every day I remember our dear Papa. How grievous it must be for him to
have his sight gradually fading. Distress is everywhere! Greet him a thou-
sand times from me and tell him that I feel this affliction with him, wishing
I might be with him. Greetings and kisses for all of you as well from your
loving
Maria
n

Corpus Christi, March , 

Beloved Parents,
I made up my mind today, on my wedding anniversary, to address a few
lines to you. Two weeks ago, after a long wait, I received a letter from Julia.
She gave me a description of her Christmas and birthday presents. I had

[  ]
             ’             

hoped to see Mary here for the holidays. I had to give up this hope as
Downing resolved to stay in Rio Grande City. Before this reaches your
hands, it will be spring and you will have the prospect of seeing your pretty
Treptow soon. As long as you have gotten through the winter, then I do not
fear for your health as much. Throughout the winter we had bad weather—
stormy, misty, cold, and for a change, rain. Now everything is magnificent
and green. In spite of this, the cattle are sick and are dying by the thou-
sands. We, thanks be to God, are hale and hearty. My friends put on such a
festive time for me today that I should like to celebrate my silver wedding
anniversary next year in your home and together with you. I wish so myself
with all my heart. If I am to see Julia again, I shall indeed have to come to
her, as she does not think of returning to Corpus Christi. I do not blame her
for that.
I have so little time left for writing. I am always occupied from morning
until deep into the night. For Felix’s vice is constantly increasing, as is
always the case with drinkers. We now have free schools like in the North,
which means savings. I should like to get some silver teaspoons, as these
things are much more expensive here than in Germany, at least I think so.
Mrs. Doddridge had a nice silver cake cutter sent from Philadelphia and
paid  for it. This seems to me too much. And a set of oil and vinegar
casters for ; a single tablespoon for . These are very high prices. I still
have only one or two silver teaspoons to my name.
Farewell, kiss my Julia for me, and remember your loving
Maria

P.S. Please tell Julia that I sent her a book, Shakespeare’s Works, and a piece of
schottische dance music.
n
Corpus Christi, April , 
Fondly loved Parents,
Having just a few moments to myself, I know I cannot make better use of
them than to write to you. I duly received your long, dear letters, beloved
Mother, and I see from them with great regret that your feet now cause you
greater trouble than before when we all hoped that Teplitz might have cured
you, at least for a time. I hope Treptow will bring you and Papa good health.
We all feel a little ill: colds. Unusually late in the season, we had very cold
north winds, which probably are the cause. Mary is impatient for me to

[  ]
    

come and visit them. If I can somehow arrange it, I will pay her a visit this
summer. The Downings are happy and content—living “in high style” is
more like it. General Sheridan and his staff and the minister of war have
been in Rio Grande City, where they had big festivities.53 Mary has grown
very stout, so everyone tells me. When I go to visit them, Mary intends to
come back with me, which of course would be very agreeable to me.
Charley has now made up his mind to study medicine. If Felix fulfills his
promise and can give him , during the three-year period of study, he
will have learned a decent profession. Concerning my former proposal to
send Charley to brother Julius, I probably judged the matter from the local
standpoint. Willing as the Americans may be to impose upon each other, on
the other hand one finds them so helpful, especially in families. It seemed
natural to me that Julius would be prepared to regard Charley as a son, as
his only child is well provided for and cannot render helpful assistance in his
business. I expected this all the more as I have always understood that Julius
is very rich, and several years ago he assured me that he would do some-
thing to offer me lasting advantage. For my part, I need little, but for the
children I will of course secure as many advantages as possible. I hope that
Charley may prove worthy at his profession and thus secure his own future.
I have caught such a cold that I can scarcely recognize the letters. Fare
fondly well, kiss my Julia, and many greetings for all the other family
members and friends. Greetings from all here! Write soon to your loving
daughter
M. A. v. Blücher
P.S. Greetings to Hermann Blücher’s family. Last night I dreamed Julia had
returned!
n

Corpus Christi, September , 

Cordially loved Parents,
You have surely wondered about my long silence. For two months I have
been firmly resolved to write every Sunday, but each time I was prevented
from it. Sunday afternoon is the only time I have free. My acquaintances
know that, and so they generally choose that time for their visits, all the
more so as Mary was here. For four weeks I did not feel at all well and was
obliged to give up teaching. My neck and lungs were affected too much.
Now, thanks be to God, I am much better again, and I played again at
church today for the first time.

[  ]
             ’             

On Monday, September st, Mary left me alone once more after having
hoped in vain to see a letter from Julia while here. She gave up expecting to
receive even one herself a long time ago, though she and Downing always
still write. I cannot grasp what has changed her like this. In a few years she
will surely no longer write a word to us and will scarcely remember us.
When I consider how closely united the girls were before and how affec-
tionate and devoted Mary is in every respect—no week passes without my
receiving a letter from her—I cannot begin to imagine how Julia changed so
quickly. I sent her books and bought more for her here but do not know
whether they arrived or not.
We are all greatly alarmed about the cholera said to be raging so badly in
Berlin. Of course we are all the more anxious to know whether you are all in
good health. Under such circumstances it is a great comfort to receive
letters. Thanks be to God we have not had any disease in Corpus Christi,
and our family is in good health.
I have not heard anything at all here about the Vienna Exposition.54
Many of our acquaintances have traveled there, but no one has yet returned.
Did any of them pay you their respects? Several asked permission, but
whether they will make use of it is doubtful. You will certainly have heard
from the girls about my excursion to Santa Gertrudis. I amused myself
extraordinarily well.55
Like Julia, I have had diversions. Just now I received a note with an
invitation to drive to the “Grand Tournament.” Fine prizes will be given to
the best gentleman and lady riders who wish to try their luck. This is some-
thing new here. We have had bullfights, menageries, the circus, ventriloquists,
etc., and all kinds of amusements that we formerly knew only by name.
A thousand kisses for you from us all and for Julia! Greetings for brothers
and sisters and all nieces and nephews and all friends who remember us. I
no longer hear anything from brother Julius at all!
Your loving daughter—M. A. v. Blücher
n

Corpus Christi, November , 

Cordially loved Parents,
Your last letter, written on my birthday, I received a short time afterward,
and I was glad that you beloved ones were all safe and sound. What would
you say to celebrating my next birthday together? I am firmly resolved to

[  ]
    

pay you a visit next year. Mary and George will come along with me. We
want to leave here at the end of April and stay until fall, if nothing happens
to destroy our plan. Mr. Downing thinks I should go and will do all he can
so that Mary can accompany me. I think  will cover the round trip for
George and me. Charley and Richard must see how to get along with Felix.
Charley would give much to come, but that will not be possible.
I fear Julia will not be pleased by the news, because she may well think
that we would like to take her back with us. But that has not entered my
mind. If you are content to keep her and she herself is happy, she is better
off with you. Mrs. Noessel wishes most anxiously to go along with us in
order to visit Sophie, so that we are four () already. As for George, I
could not see leaving him at home. For a fortnight I have been doubtful
about whether to write of this or not, as something could so easily come
up to prevent it, in which case we alone would have to bear the disap-
pointment. This is the reason I did not answer your dear letter at once.
Nevertheless, I have resolved to let you know of my plan. I thought it
would be something for Papa to chat about and reflect on in the winter. If
you fear that the change and trouble will perhaps bother him more than
delighting him in his old age, dear Mother, then you had better not speak
of it. Of course we wish to disturb your quiet household as little as
possible while still being close by.
I can well imagine that Julius’ attacks of illness fill you with great alarm.
Doesn’t it perhaps come from his heart? You know you had similar fits,
chest complaints, and fainting episodes afterward. If it becomes difficult for
you to write, dear Mother, let Julia do it for you. Julia seems quite taken
with the idea of having talent as an author and with the opportunity that
such a profession offers for pleasant travels. I advised her to translate books
and other literary works. Perhaps she can satisfy her love for writing that
way. She writes very nice German letters to me.
Our railway works will begin this week. Felix has been appointed
engineer. Tomorrow they will set out from here in order to survey the route
and pinpoint destinations. Charley will go with them as he knows how to
handle the surveying instruments as well as Felix.56
I must tell you the sad news that the Wheelers lost their little son to
croup. He is altogether depressed. The baby was just thirteen months old
when he died. My heart bleeds for them. He was a cheerful, nice little baby.
The Wheelers lived completely for their child. He built a nice house a mile

[  ]
             ’             

Felix A. von Blücher Surveying Party with Soldiers Present, South Texas,
ca. early s. Felix von Blücher standing in front of tent. Charles F.H. von Blücher
Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

from the shore, as the sea breeze was too strong for the baby. He drives
home from his office at  o’clock and then nobody sees or disturbs them
until the next morning.57
I must close now with a thousand fond greetings to Papa, Julia, all the
cousins, brothers and sisters, and all friends from former times. Mary and
the boys send their greetings. Many congratulations for your imminent
birthday. I hope this comes in time to offer them to you from
Your loving daughter—M. A. v. B.
n

[  ]
    

Maria Augusta Imme von Blücher, ca. –. Charles F.H. von Blücher
Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell
Library, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, February , 

Dear beloved Mother,
I address my letter to you not because it contains some special secret but
because you alone write to me. Nevertheless my letters are meant for Papa
as well as for you. I received your last dear letter, of January , at the end of
the same month, but am sorry not to have heard a word from Julia this year.
At other times she always wrote to me instantly after her birthday and told
me about the Christmas festivities and the presents she received. This year I
did not hear about any of that.
The railway work is in progress and when Felix, Charley, and Richard
return, I shall set out on my journey. Probably Charley will come instead of
George, as I should like to see whether he can study there. For Charley has
Felix’s talent and memory but has not had the chance to develop these.
Now it is my wish above all other things to cause as few inconveniences
and changes in your accustomed situation as possible. Therefore I thought,
if it would be more agreeable, I should rent a little apartment of two or
three rooms for a while. How long I can stay cannot well be fixed in ad-
vance, as it depends entirely on how they will get on at home here during
my absence. In summer of course I shall go and stay in Treptow; only do not
displace your dear tenants, with whom you have enjoyed such friendly
relations; it would spoil much of my joy. Mrs. Savage, the wife of the chief
engineer on the railway, will leave Corpus Christi the day after tomorrow to
receive her inheritance in Berlin and to take her daughter, Aliza, to school.
This daughter is from her first marriage and is indeed an amiable, vivid and
charming little woman. Mrs. Savage has been married again for just a year
to one of the most excellent men, four or five years younger than she is. And
she thinks it better to send Aliza under severe control, as Papa would totally
pamper and coddle her. Mrs. Savage intends to pay you a visit. It is her wish
to know you. She will start out at the same time as this letter. At first sight,
she is an intimidating woman of distinguished appearance. You will find her
very cordial and amicable. I chiefly wish Julia to be on friendly terms with
her.58 I have been to her house in the evening several times a week, but I
have never hosted her at our house. My time is so occupied that I really
could not undertake it, and I should not like her to believe it to be a family
fault to offer so little hospitality. I should very much have liked to come with
her, but Felix wished me to wait until they come back from the survey. I
expect to start from here at the beginning of May or at the end of April.
Mrs. Savage also intends to rent some furnished rooms in order to spend

[  ]
    

some time agreeably in Berlin. Her father was Mr. Scheibler; he must have
been a very rich man. She brings a little gift for Julia, which will probably be
agreeable to her. She is very clever and you will all probably like her a lot. I
hope Julia will become good friends with her.
It is still not yet fixed whether Mary can come with me or not. I wish
Felix would just give her the necessary money for it, but he is not thinking
of that. He promised me , if I go with Charley. For George I would
have to pay the passage of a grown-up, and therefore we thought it better to
give Charley the opportunity.
Friends have already urgently invited me to their homes, begged me to
visit acquaintances in Galveston, and given me addresses in New Orleans to
arrange comforts for the passage. I have no idea when the Schüberts will go
to Germany, but I guess very soon. It is late, and I will close my letter. I
hope you will have a pleasant time with Mrs. Savage. I shall give her some
lines for Julia; she begged me for them.
Now all fare cordially well until we meet again. Many greetings for
brothers and sisters and friends. Kisses from the children for Grandpapa
and Grandmama and Julia, from your loving daughter
M. A. von Blücher

P.S. It occurs to me that you wanted to hear about Wheeler. I wrote at that
time how two years ago he married one Miss McCambell, a nice little
goose!
n
Corpus Christi, April , 
Fondly loved Mother,
Right on March  I received your dear letter and cordial congratulations
from Papa, and I regret only that Julia did not remember us. A letter for
George and a postcard came at the same time, but no word of congratula-
tion for my silver wedding anniversary. I had no celebration at all; everyone
was away from home except George, and so the day passed quietly. Mrs.
Doddridge had sent to Philadelphia for a mustard spoon, a sugar spoon, and
some salt spoons, all richly worked and richly engraved with monograms;
and Philip Fullerton presented me with a silver thimble. George made me a
present of two thalers and was very sad that I did not accept them. Late in
the evening I received the silver wreath with congratulations that you, dear
Mother, placed in it. Cordial thanks for it. Felix is not yet back with Charley

[  ]
             ’             

and Richard and will perhaps still stay away three more weeks. Due to their
absence, I cannot yet say with certainty when I shall leave. The weather has
been so bad that they are not advancing too fast with the railway survey.
Mrs. Savage will probably have reached you now, when I am writing this,
and I only hope that you will like her as well as I do. I wrote about this to
Julia. Her husband is an excellent and also influential man, who worships
this woman.59 In this regard I hope Carl is not like Edward with his “family
only” idea. There are many nice people outside the family.
I now expect the Downings daily. He has given up his position in Rio
Grande City and has got a similar one here, which is more agreeable to me
but I think less so for the Downings. At Rio Grande City they were so
popular and the center of society, and here we lead a more retiring life,
though we should not lack society if we sought it more.
I wrote to you some time ago that Mr. Wheeler has already been married
for two years. He lost his first son, and now they have a little daughter. I see
them very seldom, as they keep to themselves and do not take part in any
amusements. She is such a strange creature; no man can bear her. She is
young and looks quite nice, but her mood changes from day to day.
Today is Easter Sunday. I dyed three dozen eggs and hid them for
George and our Mexican boy. That was the extent of our celebration. I
heard that the Schüberts went to Germany but could not find out when. He
has sold out and quit his rancho, and that is all I know. I never see Mr.
Büsse; he sticks to common, low company where he seems clever and is
regarded as an oracle. I guess he lives from hand to mouth as always,
without ambition.
Tell Julia that her revered Lieutenant Tilston is a rich man and happily
married. I received a long letter from him in which he described his whole
wedding and grand tour. He remembers Julia with great warmth and
friendship.60
We are having magnificent weather here; all is green and in blossom. I
think we have never had a year when vegetables were as splendid as this
year. One wagon after another comes driving up in the morning.
Now farewell until we meet again and kiss Papa fondly from me, but pull
Julia’s ears and remember
Your—M. v. B.

P.S.  enclosed for Julia!

n
[  ]
    

Steamship Thuringia
Sunday morning, June , 
Beloved Parents,
Just now we saw the first land, and according to all calculation we may
arrive at Hamburg on Tuesday night or early Wednesday. I hope to meet
Julius or surely Julia there and soon after that embrace you, whereupon you
may hear everything about my journey. I write this only to inform you about
our happy passage so far. With love
Your—Maria
n

Berlin, February , 

My dear Felix,
The letters you have sent me probably all being lost, I find myself obliged to
write even without hearing from you, though a husband’s actions certainly
ought to determine how a wife behaves. The children always write to me
diligently. You may certainly imagine that the news of Mary’s cough and the
smallpox epidemic made me very sad. Yet I can do nothing but hope and
wish that they all get over it well.
In my last letter I told you that Hermann had been transferred to
Koblenz.61 We were at the station for his departure and they made us
promise to visit them there, which would be very pleasant if it did not
entail expenses. They long for Berlin, though it is so beautiful there.
Hermann is too vigorous to be pensioned and has the prospect of becom-
ing a packing yard inspector in Berlin—i.e., to be here again at the end of
the year.
Papa Kill-Mar, Baron of K., I met at your aunt’s. His amiable conversa-
tion would make everyone believe him to be the most excellent man. Over a
convivial glass of red wine he told me about the disagreeable affair (see the
enclosed newspaper clipping!) and explained it thoroughly. He also told me
at once that it did not surprise him that I did not visit. Of course I shall
now also go there one of these days. He spoke much of the sale of Birken-
wäldchen, the fabulous price it brought, etc., etc. Old Mr. Bernhard, whom
you probably remember, told me intimate details of Kill-Mar’s financial
affairs. The grandparents, Hermann and his wife, and even Kill-Mar wish to
write to you—begged me for your address. Julius, Anna, and Julia send a
thousand greetings. Julia is my close companion, giving me much pleasure.
Edward is said to have earned , thalers. I wish I had just  of them

[  ]
             ’             

so as to be able to bring along something for everyone at home. So, until I

see you again!
Your—Maria
n
New Orleans, May , 
Dear Parents,
Yesterday evening at  o’clock we arrived here after a long but very agree-
able passage. From Le Havre we had very high waves and headwinds for
five days, but no storm. We stayed one day in Havana, from where I had
promised to write you. But by all accounts the letter would have arrived
later than one sent via New York. That is why I did not do it. Because of
low water, a ship was stuck in the pass at the mouth of the Mississippi
River, where we lay for five and a half days before we could get through. But
as we had fellow travelers who were good company, and an excellent
violinist, we spent our time very well. Extraordinary food. We had beef,
mutton, pork, ham, geese, pigeons, etc., in abundance; the finest vegetables,
even the Teschen turnips; and magnificent fresh and preserved fruits.
Out at the pass I received a telegraphic message from home. The hotel
servant and carriage had been ordered for me and stood ready upon the
arrival of the steamer. Early the day after tomorrow, at  o’clock, I shall go
on to Corpus Christi. Here everything is already in fullest splendor and
bloom, the orange trees laden with fruit. Living in the finest place can be as
fine as traveling. But my journey is now coming to an end. This morning I
amused myself by examining my things. A lady at customs searched us
ladies quite thoroughly, including the hems of petticoats, loose outer
garments, etc. Yet she was not able to find the three watches. My trunks
were only unlocked and closed again; it was probably too hot for the old,
very nice gentleman to do more in the New Orleans sun on the wharf,
where the crates and trunks all are examined in the open air.
From Le Havre to Havana we had a family with five servants on board.
The gentleman is possessed of ,,. Strangely, however, they are
less favored by nature. The father has consumption; the mother has an
incurable disease and is anyway half crazy. The eldest daughter looked just
as if she were Chinese and had only one eye. The only son is stupid; the
second daughter is very beautiful but stammers; and the youngest is utterly
ape-faced.62

[  ]
    

Felix A. von Blücher, ca. . Charles F.H. von Blücher Family
Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell
Library, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

I am safe and sound, thanks be to God, and hoping that you, too, are well
and that our Papa also has recovered fully. I am very tired, as last night I did
not sleep much. Greet all brothers and sisters a thousand times and also all
my dear lady and gentleman friends! More from Corpus Christi! With love
Your M. v. B

P.S. Julia will hear tomorrow.

n

[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, June st, 

Beloved Parents,
You have surely been astonished not yet to have received any word about my
arrival here. But you can probably well imagine that in the first days I had
no peace at all for writing. First, I had visits from morning until evening. I
had not yet been home for an hour when they began. Thus it went on day
after day, so that it was hardly possible for me to get my things unpacked.
The children were radiant with happiness about the things brought along
and send a thousand cordial thanks for the items you sent. They all feel they
received just what they wanted. Everything has arrived in good condition,
nothing damaged. I am missing only some trifles that must have been left
behind during repacking. Had I known that the trunks would be so little
examined at New Orleans, I should have brought along still much more,
chiefly in garments. I did some buying at New Orleans, for enormous prices
of course. From New Orleans I reported to you that we had had a long
passage— days—but at the same time a very agreeable voyage. I have
gained so much weight that nobody recognized me. Upon my arrival at
Corpus Christi I was met by Felix, who arrived right on the day when the
steamer was expected. Mary has not yet recovered fully, and I fear she will
never become quite healthy, as the doctor told me that she had had very
serious hemorrhages from the lungs with her chest infection. She must pay
much attention and will take a little journey to recover.
They did up the house very nicely for my arrival: made two rooms out of
one large one, painted everything with white oil paint, and procured fine
furniture for my bedroom and parlor; they fitted up a new dining room and
kitchen, so that now I have my house furnished very agreeably. Eight nice
rooms and a kitchen.
The railway works are proceeding vigorously; the station is or will be
close to the edge of our land. A bridge has already been built beside our
house, which suits us well.
Monday, June th. A long pause in my letter—visitors still come daily
and claim my free time. Above all I must try to express to all my thanks for
the objects brought along. I cannot begin to tell you how much joy these
have caused. We were invited to two weddings, but attended only one,
where Mary introduced her blue dress and I my black one.
Mary has a nice garden, and so has Charley. On my arrival my room had
fine rose bouquets that were renewed every day. They even have the beauti-
ful yellow rose, and green and black roses—at least sixteen different kinds—

[  ]
    

which they ordered from Philadelphia: six bushes for , delivered. I should
like to have the instructions for “painting the floors.” I thought I had it but
only find noted down “painting for polishing.”
George is thrilled with his gun but fears the percussion caps will run
short. So if the opportunity arises, I beg you to add some more.
Mr. Büsse intends to come to Berlin. I have seen him only once and
found him much changed. From people who know him I hear that he is a
little crazy and rather weak in the head. I should not wonder, for he has
always been distinctly odd.
Felix intends to go to Germany next year. Had I stayed longer, he
would probably have come to meet me. I found my parrots and canaries
safe and sound, and I forgot to bring back the little bathing tubs. I could
not find porcelain bowls for parrots in Berlin, which I regret. I also forgot
to get bone china bowls and fish plates and miss them daily. Some of my
things got lost or were ruined during Mary’s illness, which, however, was
unavoidable.
Felix departed again the day before yesterday and will probably not
return home soon. He has much to do on the Rio Grande. Charley and
Richard have found employment with the railway at  and  per month,
and food, of course. Charley wishes to begin a sheep rancho, a good busi-
ness if one has capital. Today we again sold a piece of land with payment on
account.63 In August it will be fully paid off. The buyer, who already has
more of our land, brought me some wool from his sheep. I include here a
little sample of Texas wool for you. I am not an expert but think it to be of
good quality.
I think of you about a hundred times a day and wonder how you will
endure Berlin in the heat, having sold the summer house at Treptow. We
have fine clean air that allows us scarcely to feel the heat. The other day I
weighed myself and I weigh  lbs . So you surely can conclude from this
that I have not been melting away since returning from Germany. The fox
skin is a great embellishment for my room. I do not have it lying on the
floor but over a nice rocking chair, with the head hanging down the back,
which looks very nice. I took a snakeskin to Berlin, left it with the furrier on
Jerusalem Street, and forgot to go and fetch it. They wanted to make a
collar out of it.
I thought Julia would write to me, as I wrote to her from Le Havre. I
hope to have time to write her a few lines tomorrow. I also sent her some-
thing from France, which she will receive in due course. I have not yet

[  ]
             ’             

written to anyone else in Germany, as I first have to pay all the return visits
here before I can take a pause and get around to that. Richard is now as tall
as Charley; he has grown much in the last year. So has George, but that is
not as evident.
Now fare right well. Do send me a lock of your hair in the next letter.
Many thousand greetings to all friends, too many to name! Also, many
thousand thanks and greetings from Felix and the children! From your
loving daughter
M. v. B
n

Corpus Christi, August , 

Beloved Parents,
Today I have at last succeeded in finding a spare moment to address a few
lines to you, chiefly to offer you my congratulations together with the united
felicitations of the children, dear Father, for your th birthday. We all wish
you good health and good spirits and the fulfillment of your every wish. I
hope you have rallied this summer so that you can face the winter calmly
and without fear.
I received Mother’s dear letter some days ago, and I see that you are in
Berlin in spite of the sun’s scorching heat. That would almost be too hard
even for me to stand. Julia wrote to say that you had paid a visit to Königsee
and that it is as beautiful as paradise there.64 It has always been my wish for
you to have such a little retreat, and I have not yet given up the idea of
achieving my aim if Felix can sell his land. I should have written to my
friends in Germany long ago, but I cannot find the time. Incredible as this
may seem, it is so. At : o’clock in the morning Richard must be in his
office, and of course he must have his breakfast, warm rolls, beefsteak, and
coffee, before  o’clock. At  o’clock lunch for him and at half past two for
the rest of them. These different meals require much time. But it cannot be
helped, and as I do not permit Mary to do anything in the kitchen, I thus
have my hands full. From  o’clock in the evening we generally have visitors.
Downing began this practice, and we have kept it up. At the same time I
have to do my sewing.
Texas and Mexico are now in a more deadly feud than ever, and we
expect war or murder and bloodshed. Companies of volunteers have already
been formed here, and the government has provided arms. An encounter
has already taken place.65

[  ]
    

Mary’s state of health remains unchanged. She must keep part of her
back exposed to ease the ache in her lungs. She coughs less and looks well
and strong. The doctors only fear fall and winter. They are of the opinion
that she has an inherited disposition for consumption and was born with it.
But I don’t know from whom this dreadful inheritance might come. Their
home is finished now, and it really is a charming little place. Their bathroom
is near the bedroom, and a pipe leads from a cistern into the bath, and
similarly a pipe has been installed to drain the water away. It is provided
with a shower bath and various other gadgets.
The greatest inconvenience here is that there is now only one school, the
Catholic one, largely frequented by Mexican children. Most people send
their children to the North for instruction, which, however, is rather
expensive. I propose to lease out our house in the near future; using that
income I will come to Germany with George and send him to school there.
In a smaller German town it will not be as expensive as in Berlin. Felix now
has his office hundreds of miles from here and comes home once every
twelve months for eight days. Charley and Richard are both grown up and
must seek their living as well as they can. Of course if I go to Germany I
shall miss Mary very much. Nevertheless, something must be done. George
is thirteen years old and is intellectually gifted, and it is a sin and a shame to
let him grow up here. He is radiant with happiness with the rifle you sent
him. He shoots daily at a target and is always the best shot in his crowd.
Yesterday, he shot eight jackrabbits in short order.
Last night, thanks be to God, we had the first rain after more months of
drought. My paper is at an end. With many thousand thanks and greetings
to brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends, and chiefly to you,
from us all. I kiss you cordially. Greetings for Julia!
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, October , 
Cordially loved Mother,
Corpus Christi has changed so much for the worse after the storm last year
that I no longer feel comfortable here, and the acquaintances of recent years
are not like the friends of our youth. We lead quite an agreeable life but are
always surrounded by dangers, which in the end is not agreeable.66 Mary’s
state of health seems to be improving to some degree. She has gained eight
pounds in the last three months, which is probably a good sign. Nevertheless,

[  ]
             ’             

she is never free from the pain in her lungs. The boys are safe and sound. I
expect Felix; he should arrive today. But the day and evening have passed
and so he will probably turn up tomorrow.
You will probably have heard and read of the terrible storms here on the
Gulf Coast. Indianola and Matagorda have been totally destroyed.67 Corpus
Christi got off rather lightly. A stronger storm has been predicted for the th–
th, with the worst to come in November. Construction of the railroad is
proceeding. Locomotives and railcars are already here in the machine house.
The station is being built on a part of our land, and as soon as it becomes
operational, I intend to lease out our house and live in Germany, as the hot
climate here is not much to my liking. I felt fine in the cold in Germany.
I received a letter from Julia from England; she seems indeed to have
found her journey diverting, and I hope that it may have a favorable influ-
ence on her health. We also celebrated the day of your golden wedding
anniversary here; please tell Julia to send me a detailed description, to gather
her thoughts and recall the events of the day in detail. I have not yet written
directly to all those who contributed so much to making my stay in Berlin
pleasant for me. I can scarcely find the time to answer the letters I receive
and read with pleasure. How awfully long the summer must have been for
you alone in the city. How often I imagined what Papa must have endured
there. I regret with all my heart that you two are not in good health, hoping
fervently to receive better news soon. Kiss Papa heartily in my name; greet
Julia and tell her I miss her very much and that every day we talk a dozen
times of her. A thousand greetings to brothers and sisters, relatives and
friends, and as many from us all to you. Remember with love your
Maria
n

Corpus Christi, Texas, November , 

Beloved Mother,
December  is approaching and I must hasten to offer our congratulations.
I wish you health and well-being with all my heart. May all affliction keep
its distance and may you spend many a year yet in peace and quiet. I shall be
with you in spirit every moment of the day. The memory of your last
birthday will be the guide for my thoughts.
Felix was at home four weeks and has now gone again away to Mexico.
Charley has been away for a week already and will not come home before
Christmas. He is accompanying Major Hollub as an engineer and surveyor.68

[  ]
    

This arrangement is advantageous for both of them. Charley does most of

the surveying and sends in the calculations. Major H. makes out the maps
and the necessary documents. He manages their affairs here in Corpus
Christi. Richard is still at the newspaper; George will probably follow
Charley as an engineer.
You will see from this letter how difficult it has become for me to express
myself correctly in German. But I cannot help myself; it is now the most
difficult task for me to write a letter in German. This is the reason I do not
get on with it, as I cannot express myself as I should like; hence I delay
writing and replying. I regret this with all my heart, as it is the greatest
pleasure for me to hear from everyone. How is our good old Papa doing? I
hope his eye ailment has been alleviated, so that it is at least endurable. Julia
certainly had a nice journey. You can imagine that I rejoiced much at it. I
know how agreeable it is to take an excursion. And it seems she too was
wonderfully amused. Charley made her a fine Christmas present, which I
hope has reached her in good order. I am sorry not to be able to send her
anything else, as I did not save much to send. I still have to pay a debt to
brother Carl, which I hope to do in a few weeks. Felix has assigned money
from a land sale to me. The man has paid  on his account but has not
been in Corpus Christi since then to pay off his debt. The sale of the wool
has begun, and I hope soon to salute him and his wool here!
Now, dear Mother, fare cordially well! Many thousand greetings and
kisses from the children for you. Kiss Papa from me, and greet all dear
friends and relatives and also Julia a thousand times from
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, January , 

Cordially loved Parents,
At last I have a little more peace in the house and some time to send you
some lines. It really is a blessing that Papa has found relief from his terrible
pains in the eyes. I hope he is feeling fit and well. If you had weather at
Christmas as nice as we had here, Father would not feel the winter at all.
Just consider—Mary sent me the finest rose bouquets at Christmas, and
now the yuccas are also in bloom. We have yet to have a cold day and only
once this winter have we had a fire in the fireplace. Mary also has fine
violets blooming in her garden. Perhaps I missed an opportunity, but I am
sure I did not see roses in Berlin as fine as they are here.

[  ]
             ’             

Last evening the registered letters from Julia arrived, and we say a
thousand cordial thanks. All is wonderful and gives us double joy in that it
comes from home. I am glad that Kill-Mar remembered Julia. He certainly
would have done that sooner if she had made an approach; better late than
never!
Yesterday I had my house so full of people that I scarcely had time to sit
down. Then I had to make preparations for Richard and George, who both
went on a surveying trip with Major Hollub and will be away a month.
George has now also been roped into the work. Charley is now a nineteen-
year-old man, although he looks starved and older. He and Major Hollub
did very good business last year and the prospects are good. They have won
the contract for the county roads as far as  miles from Corpus Christi,
and Major Hollub has the contract as architect for a new county court-
house; on this, too, he is giving Charley a share. Hollub’s health is not very
good, and he cannot manage a long survey as well as Charley can. Therefore
the latter does most of the work that involves being away, and Hollub
superintends the town work, documentation, and drawings.
Now dear Parents, fare cordially well, give my greetings to my brothers
and sisters many times and also to the nieces and everyone. (Many greetings
from the children! Major Hollub dried the enclosed rose for Julia.) Remem-
ber with love
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, April , 
Beloved Mother,
I fear you must have doubted whether you would ever receive a reply from
me to your dear letter. In recent months I have relived each day of the
previous year over and over, just wishing still to be with you. I do not like it
here at all any longer. I felt more at home among my old friends in Ger-
many. There is constant coming and going here, and one does not like such
a restless life as one grows older.
Felix has been in Zapata, and he likes it better there than at home. A
great wonder has happened, however: he wrote to Kill-Mar. I was so
astonished that I really did not know what to say. And Kill-Mar and Ida
will certainly feel likewise.
Some days ago Mary received a letter from Julia, which she enjoyed very
much and will answer very soon. As we had such a mild winter, Mary’s

[  ]
    

health has been very much better, and I hope she will soon be able to forget
all illness. I consider Dr. Spohn the best doctor in the world.69 He still has
her under his care.
I can report little news to you from here. Having four or five murders a
week is no longer striking. For the past three nights,  men have been
patrolling on foot, as  very suspicious characters are roaming about here.
Also, there is now a dancing teacher here. The young men in town take
their six-shooters and pistols to the dances. Julia will certainly read about it
in the newspapers. One grows accustomed to it all and ceases to get excited
about events of this kind.
Charley was away for six weeks and returned just a few days ago. In the
entire time he spent only two nights under a roof. The rest of the time he
was in the open air, in storm and wind. Richard and Jim will start out on
Saturday, and thus it goes continually. I have grown very tired of it.
I am not writing much as Julia has been keeping me informed of events
in the family. Fare very cordially well, and kiss Papa from me. The children
greet and kiss you a thousand times. Write and remember
Your—Maria
n
Summer 
Beloved Parents,
I fear not being in time this year with my congratulations for September .
Nevertheless, the many congratulations from here are no less cordial and
tender. We all wish you good health and many more happy years. As always,
we shall remember the day here, thus being together in spirit.
This year it has really been impossibly hot. In New York up to  to 
people a day were dying of heatstroke; it is said to be awful there. Here it is
somewhat endurable as the fresh sea breezes keep the air cooler. We go
bathing in the sea at  or  o’clock in the morning, refreshing ourselves for
the entire day.
We are all fit and well here, thanks be to God, except Mary, who has
never quite recovered and been well. Sunbathing does her good. Where is
Julia? I have not heard anything from her for some time. I do not know
what is the matter with me; I have lost all inclination for writing. Indeed,
there are so few points of contact here, so little news, to enliven a letter. Not
much happens here, and the little that does is not of interest.
On July , we had grand festivities here, a supper for about , persons,

[  ]
             ’             

and everything present in abundance.70 At  noon  shots were to be

fired from three cannons. At the th shot a young man, Jim’s most intimate
friend, had his arm shot off! Of course they did not continue. Ten minutes
after the accident he already lay bandaged up after the amputation, quiet in
his bed. At  o’clock he wrote with his left hand that he did not want to
interrupt the celebration. When the processions passed his house, he
shouted a cordial hurrah! He was ill only about two weeks; after that, he
resumed his work at the inland revenue office.
I close with this. Charley is going to town and will take this letter along.
A thousand greetings from all! With love
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, November , 
My dear Mother,
I wish with all my heart that this may yet reach you by December  and
finds you healthy and happy. We all send you many thousand congratula-
tions and wish you many, many returns of the day. Yesterday I received a
letter from Julia, and today I sent her a few lines. I really have so little time
left for writing, otherwise I never should make you wait so long. How is
Papa doing? How is his eye trouble? We are all well, thanks be to God.
Charley and Richard have been away for six weeks surveying land, and
they returned only a few days ago. It is a hard existence. But if you have no
capital in hand here, you must go to work. Charley expects to make 
profit from this trip as soon as he gets paid. Of course there is never much
left of the clothing they take along on these excursions. As I make their
clothes myself, I have my hands full. Having three boys and no woman’s
hands for help is rather difficult. Mary has recovered well and weighs 
pounds again. I think she will get over her weakness of the lungs fully, if she
just takes care of herself.
We have had an extended drought here in Corpus Christi and vicinity.
Since last winter we have not had a decent rain that lasted longer than a few
hours. Again the drought has been terrible; there has never been one here to
equal it. All the ponds and wells have dried up, and the fields and pastures
are totally scorched. The cattle die by the thousands at the empty pools, and
deer  to  come into town before sunrise searching for water. New wells
are incessantly being dug, but thousands and thousands of cows and horses,

[  ]
    

whose masters live God knows where, roam the neighborhood daily,
desperately thirsty. For three days I hardly opened my door at all in order
not to see the misery. We turned our horses loose to search for better food,
which they find outside our pasture, and  have disappeared. Felix and
Charley will round them up after four weeks’ absence. Because of the bad
weather, our crops and everything else at the rancho have not turned out as
well as last year.
About the inheritance affair, I can only inform you that Felix sent Kill-
Mar the required papers as long ago as last March or early April, but so far
neither answer nor money nor anything has arrived. Felix does not seem to
be troubled by that, so I am still less so.
Now, dear Mother, I must close. Charley sends a thousand greetings and
kisses for your birthday and hopes soon to be able to give you something
better. With cordial greetings for Father, Julia, brothers and sisters, and
friends, I remain
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, December , 

Cordially loved Mother,
On December  I received the sad news of the death of our beloved Father.
Though it was not quite unexpected, after Julia’s last letter to Mary, it still
hit me hard. How thankful am I to have been able to see him after our long
separation. You had devoted yourself to him so completely that you must
certainly miss him every moment. You did not tell me the date of his death;
I can only gather that he died about the beginning of November. I had
hoped with all my heart that he might live long enough for us to render his
life a little easier, as he probably did not get all the appreciation he deserved.
Richard and Jim Downing are on a journey to Laredo and will not be
with us this Christmas. We shall not have a Christmas tree, for the first
time, I guess. I have not congratulated Julia on her birthday and beg you to
do it belatedly on my behalf. Today is Julius’s birthday. All day I thought of
it, wondering whether you two were together or not. How I wish I might be
with you.
The projected railway is now in operation, and each day the railcars go a
little farther, which makes our property much more valuable, and perhaps I
can sell part of it to advantage.

[  ]
             ’             

Now farewell, very well, dear Mother. Do not let the bitter blow that has
hit us all break your spirit. Mary, Charley, and George send many greetings.
And greet all, chiefly Julia, a thousand times from
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, Summer 

Cordially loved Mother,
I duly received your last dear letter, containing the chain, and I thank you
cordially for both. I will wear the chain in memory of our dear good Father,
and I will not be parted from it as long as I live. You can scarcely reproach
me more than I do myself over my sparse letter writing. I do not know how
it happens, but it has never been so difficult for me to find time for it as
now; for I am always occupied from  o’clock in the morning until the
night. And my eyes are so bad that even with good spectacles I can barely
read and write by lamplight. We are all healthy, going on in our quiet way as
ever. Murder and homicide are a daily occurrence here, and one at least
ceases to be astonished about it. As for Julia, she has not written anything at
all to me of the journey you mentioned to Normandy, and I find it very
natural that she did not wish to be separated from you for so long. I am
sorry if it causes you disquiet. In matters concerning Julia, I never try to
influence her but let her decide as she goes along.
I guess my garden is also to blame for my writing much less now, as I like
to spend every free moment I can spare on improving it where I can. It is
such a nuisance that the rain is erratic and insufficient. The vegetation
approaches being wonderful. But lack of rain renders it impossible to grow
many fine plants. Nearly two months ago we began enjoying our grape crop,
the finest blue grapes, as sweet as sugar. And my sour cucumbers and pickles
are also not to be sneezed at. My castor-oil trees are over  feet high and
their foliage so widespreading and dense that it covers  feet of fence. And
some branches hang over the fence, covering it on the other side. The leaves
are about four feet across, some even more.
Do not take it amiss that my scribbling is so untidy, but I have had nearly
twenty interruptions, and then I wind up writing in a hurry. How often I
think that if only I had a skilled German girl as a maid, what a great help
that would be to me. The Mexicans are too uncivilized to do much good.
Dear Mother, can you possibly procure for me a little package of pepper-

[  ]
    

George Anton von Blücher, ca. . Charles F.H. von Blücher Family Papers,
Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

mint seeds? I so much like to have it with tea, and here we cannot get good
peppermint. Elderberry and chamomile I have in my garden, but not the
right kind of peppermint.
I wish you might make an agreement for Carl to rent you a different
place to live, without a third floor and nearer to our relatives and friends. It
would really be so much more agreeable in the summer. Now, dear Mother,
I must close with many greetings for Julia, relatives, and friends. Mary and
the boys send a thousand greetings. Once again, farewell! Your loving
daughter
Maria
n
[  ]
             ’             

Corpus Christi, November , 

Dearly beloved Mother,
Yesterday, on the anniversary of our beloved Father’s death, I wanted to
write you, but it was not possible for me. As we have no servants for the
moment, every instant of mine is taken up. I was with you in spirit, how-
ever. As happens so often, because I am alone a lot and I enjoy being quiet
and alone, my thoughts always wander back to you.
Charley and Richard have become young men and are at their jobs all
day long.71 Charley has now established himself independently, and I hope
he may get on well. We have therefore tightened our belts a little so that he
discharge his obligations honorably. Felix is scarcely accountable for his
actions, as he uses up what he earns. Don’t mention this to Julia. She takes
things of that kind to heart more than is necessary. For one grows accus-
tomed to such circumstances and scarcely gives them a further thought.
From afar, it looks worse than it is.
It always gives me great pleasure to receive letters from home. But as I
am now so careless about answering, I of course rarely hear anything. But
God knows, I cannot sit down and write as before; at times it is quite
impossible for me, and I certainly have sometimes been guilty of neglect,
which did not used to be the case.
Now, dear Mother, farewell, and greet Julia and all relatives and friends
who remember me. Take a thousand greetings from us all
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, March , 
Beloved Mother,
In the middle of February I received your dear letter. On Charley’s behalf I
thank you cordially for the good wishes; I passed them on to him. He has
been at Laredo with Felix on a survey. I seldom write about Felix as there is
nothing special to tell. You know how careless he is about writing. Thus I
rarely hear from him except when it is essential for him to write. You wrote
last year asking me to have legal authority drawn up for Julia. According to
your wish I had such a document drawn up by an attorney and then sent it
to Felix for his personal signature, which is necessary in such a case. The
document lay at a post office for months, and only now has it come back to
my hands. I must still have my signature notarized; then I shall send you the
papers.

[  ]
    

This year we did not have a winter at all with the exception of four or
five days before Christmas, when it was disagreeable and rainy, but not cold
enough to have a fire in the house. Mary always has a warm, cozy room
where we sit in the evening. We have had the finest weather you can
imagine for the garden: rain—enough for a change—and enough sunshine
and warmth to make everything grow, all year round. Mary’s roses might
gain honors at any exposition. Six weeks ago we planted callas, and now
Mary’s are already in fine bloom. My sumac and wisteria are shooting forth
wonderfully, and I hope both will flourish for my joy and satisfaction. If you
could have even a little garden, it would surely give you much pleasure. My
garden is the reason that I write so seldom now. I spend much time on it
when I ought perhaps to be doing other things. But I feel much better after
my work there, and therefore I will not give it up.
Felix sent me some money again, and I enclose  for you. You have
surely done as much for me, and I have always wanted to be able to send
you an occasional trifle. Do not spend it on Julia; I shall also send her
something.
Fare cordially well, and greet all dears from me fondly! And stay dear
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, July , 
Beloved Mother,
I hope you and Julia have returned to Berlin from your journey fresh and
sound. If you had as much rain and heat as we have had here, you cannot
have been out of doors much. But, on the other hand, it is great compensa-
tion that everything is so magnificently green and fresh. This season has
been the wettest and dreariest in many, many years. Only in the first years of
my stay here was it like this. You can see everything growing. My erigeron
trees are indeed wonderfully beautiful, and I often think what pleasure it
would have given Father if only he could have seen them.
Charley arrived from Laredo some days ago quite unexpectedly. Only
three weeks ago he had returned there, and as the journey is very arduous, it
is not undertaken lightly. Felix had been rather ill some time ago; he had a
hemorrhage. It fortunately happened at Laredo, where he had an excellent
doctor and Charles to help him. He is now fully recovered and is living at
Santa Gertrudis. Julia knows the family. He will stay there six months. The
rest of us are all well, thanks be to God. George is running the machinery at

[  ]
             ’             

the ice works.72 His entire mind is directed toward the machinery. He has
immensely difficult work, especially when he is on night shifts for weeks at a
time and has only five hours out of twenty-four for sleeping! But he makes
no complaints as he wants to learn this branch of trade. It is marvelous to
get fresh ice every day. Butter, milk, etc., keep so much better. Since the
building of the railroad, there have been many improvements that contrib-
ute greatly to residents’ convenience here. Although the railroad is not yet
connected to a major line, there is already enormous traffic in goods and
freight, as it is already useful for people not to have to take oxen and mules
to town but to be able to bring in their goods on the railroad.
Dear Mother, enclosed are  and a little sample of silk. Mrs. Noessel
begs Julia to procure for her more of this type of silk. I should like to beg
you to send me a little package of forget-me-not seeds as soon as possible.
I must close now. Greet all friends and relatives a thousand times. With
fond love
Your—Maria
n

Corpus Christi, November , 

Beloved Mother,
Your cordial, fine present arrived here right on my birthday, and that was a
great surprise. I thank you a thousand times for the congratulations and the
fine gift. You must not take it amiss that I did not write at once, but a few
days after my birthday I went out into the country, where I stayed for several
weeks of relaxation and diversion. Mrs. Meuly and her daughter Mary had
invited me to travel with them to their rancho, which is situated in one of
the nicest places around here. Mary is the young girl Charley has selected for
his future partner in life. You know it is not the custom here to have a public
engagement or to make an announcement when such a connection is tacitly
recognized in the family. His prospects are not so scintillating now as to
suggest a speedy marriage. The terrible yellow fever, which has ravaged the
South as never before, has of course affected all business. Otherwise Charley
would probably have remained at Laredo, where his business relations were
very favorable in the beginning. Now he has again been employed here at the
post office. Mary is a pretty girl; I have known her from her earliest child-
hood. The mother is very well-to-do; the father is dead. Julia knows the
sisters well, the eldest of whom was married some months ago.73

[  ]
    

I had hoped to be able to include a birthday present for you, but because
of the quarantine a bill of exchange that was due on October  has not yet
been paid to me. I wish and hope most anxiously that it will be possible for
me to make good on it at Christmas. Quarantine is still urgently necessary.
More than one hundred people are still taken ill daily at New Orleans, and
more than four thousand have already died there. It is awful to read the
reports. Whole towns have nearly died out. Few have been spared, and
hundreds who hurried to New Orleans for assistance have lost their lives.74
Any time I have a little time, and in the evenings, Mary reads to me. I
cannot see well in the evening for writing or reading, in spite of spectacles
and good light; in the daytime it gets better. Do not forget to write me.
How has the winter been? I am always anxious about Julia’s health. From
her letters, she has apparently found the winter easy. Nevertheless I do not
believe it. It is so sad for young people to be sick and in ill health. I still
want to try to write a few lines to Julia, so I close.
A thousand congratulations for December .
Your—Maria
n
Corpus Christi, February , 
Dear Mother,
I have just received your dear lines from Charley, and I would be glad you
all are safe and sound were it not for the fact that the sad news of Felix’s
sudden death—by apoplexy of the lungs—arrived at the same time. It was
so unexpected that it makes me feel quite strange. I am so het up that I feel
like running several miles. A Mr. McClane, who has been Felix’s companion
these past five years, was with him.75 He died on February  in the evening,
and this morning he was laid to rest until Jim and Charley can transport his
body here. They will start on Monday, and they will arrive in a week,
whereupon the burial will take place.
Charley has just got over a serious illness, diphtheria. This is a terribly
ravaging illness in the North. Whole families are carried off, and sulfur with
glycerin, stirred to a thickish consistency, is an unfailing means. All the news-
papers in America and England are full of it. I write this as you will perhaps
be able to save a life with it: take a teaspoonful three or four times a day,
according to age; use it to paint the throat with a brush, but do not put the
brush in the flask; and dab the nostrils with a sponge. It is a harmless remedy.

[  ]
             ’             

Julia Augusta von Blücher, ca. . Charles F.H. von Blücher Family
Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

[  ]
    

Dear Mother, I will not write more now. Fare cordially well and tell
Julius and brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends the sad news for me!
Yours with love
M. A. v. Blücher

[  ]
             ’             

Eioue

It was such a new world, reaching to the far horizon

without break of tree or chimney stack; just sky and grass and grass
and sky. The hush was so loud. The heavens seemed nearer than ever
before and awe and beauty and mystery over all.
—Lydia Murphy Toothaker, 

ON FEBRUARY , , Maria learned of her husband Felix’s death two

days earlier at Henry E. Woodhouse’s ranch, Tresquillas, in Cameron County.
Since returning from Germany in , she had rarely seen Felix, who worked
and lived during those years in Laredo and Zapata and with Captain King at
Santa Gertrudis. Indeed, she had seen her husband only once, for eight days,
in the previous year. His death, she wrote, “was so unexpected that it makes
me feel quite strange. I am so het up that I feel like running several miles.”1
Now a widow at fifty-one, Maria again faced uncertainty. Fortunately, she
was healthy and able, and she had long since established a life for herself and
children independent of her husband’s vicissitudes. This proved fortuitous,
for without Felix’s professional income, his estate was insolvent. Beginning
with his arrival in , Felix had long speculated in land, buying, selling,
bartering, and trading thousands of acres all across South Texas as well as

[  ]
 

Funeral Notice of Felix A. von Blücher, . Charles F.H. von Blücher Family
Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

town lots in Corpus Christi, Nuecestown, San Patricio, San Diego, and
Beeville.2 At one point he owned thirty thousand acres and several ranches.
Yet he never achieved financial independence or commercial success in the
livestock industry, which he continually bemoaned, and he blamed this on his
lack of capital; in fairness, he had indeed been cheated out of a sizable inher-
itance by his mother and stepfather.3 Although he achieved a measure of pros-
perity for Maria and his children in the s through a number of land sales,
he was nevertheless dependent on the income from his professional services.4
Maria of course had a different perspective: Felix was “too disorganized to
draw profit from his property, and at the same time too indifferent about cul-
tivating closeness with his family and making them happy.”5

[  ]
             ’             

Maria served as executor of the estate—Felix had died intestate—and she

learned the painful details of their financial situation. Assets included ,
acres of ranch lands in Bee and Live Oak counties and the eight-acre home-
stead in Corpus Christi, together valued at ,. Liabilities, however, tripled
that amount, as much of the land (, acres on Medio Creek in Bee County)
was encumbered by back taxes and litigation. After six years of attempting
and failing to meet her obligations, Maria was discharged as executor, and the
probate court ruled the estate insolvent in . As a widow with minor chil-
dren, she was allowed to keep her Corpus Christi homestead and the Live
Oak County ranch of , acres on the west bank of the Nueces River, which
she leased out annually for .6 This, along with her income from teaching
music and the love and support of her children, allowed Maria to live com-
fortably in her final years.
On top of Felix’s death in , Maria suffered another great loss that year
when her beloved mother passed away in Berlin at the age of . Now her
parents, on whom she had depended and to whom she had been truly de-
voted, were gone. Her grief was tempered, however, when daughter Julia re-
turned home to Corpus Christi from Berlin the following year, bringing with
her all of Maria’s letters to her parents. Maria undoubtedly found solace re-
viewing thirty years of correspondence, what she termed “written conversa-
tions,” with parents she had loved deeply.
Surrounded by her now grown children, Maria lived out the last of her
years in tranquility and calm at her beloved homestead, known locally as
“Blücherville,” on the bluff in Corpus Christi. She continued to teach music,
enjoyed her garden and pets, and delighted as she always had in the beauty
and bounty of the bay and chaparral. On September , , after a month of
illness, she died at her home on a sunny afternoon. Her obituary in the Corpus
Christi Caller reported:

It is with genuine sorrow that we are called on this morning to note the
death of Mrs. Maria Augusta von Blücher, which occurred at her home in
this city yesterday afternoon at : o’clock. About a month ago Mrs. Blücher
was taken ill and since then she has gradually grown weaker until at last
death came to her relief and freed her spirit from its bond of clay. Her death
was as peaceful as the setting of a summer’s sun and she seemed only to have
dropped into a gentle slumber, so quiet was the end.
Mrs. Blücher was  years and  days old at the time of her death and
was a native of Berlin, Prussia. She came to Corpus Christi as a bride in

[  ]
 

, her husband, Felix A. von Blücher, being many years afterward sur-
veyor of Nueces County. Mrs. Blücher was a lady of rare musical talent and
taught music up to the time she was taken ill. It was claimed for her just
before she died that she had educated more pupils in music than any other
music teacher in the state.
Mrs. Blücher was a widow at the time of her death, her husband having
preceded her to the grave several years ago. Five children survive her: Mr.
Chas. Blücher, our present county surveyor; Mr. Richard Blücher, who re-
sides in a western county; and Mr. Geo. Blücher, Mrs. Jas. Downing and
Miss Julia Blücher of this city. Mrs. Blücher was a woman of many noble
traits and character and was always a friend to the distressed and needy. A
residence of  years in Corpus Christi had made her one of our oldest
pioneers, and by her death another link in the chain which bound the Cor-
pus of the far past to the Corpus of the present is broken.7

The history of the American frontier reveals a pattern of ongoing transfor-

mations. Across South Texas, the coastal plain was plowed into fertile fields,
the tough brush was hewn into family jacales and cabins, and the endless
stretches of prairie grass were fenced into rich pastures. In the course of chang-
ing the land, the people of the frontier themselves changed and grew. They
became the architects not only of jacales and cabins but of towns and new
societies. In a span of just fifty years, Corpus Christi grew from a remote
smugglers’ outpost and army camp into a vibrant agricultural center and port,
connected to the world by railroad, telegraph line, and steamship.8
Felix and Maria von Blücher’s lives as revealed in this remarkable body of
correspondence stand as a testament to this frontier experience. The land titles,
surveys, plats, and maps Felix created in his thirty-four-year career as sur-
veyor, land agent, and lawyer are a tangible legacy vital not only to the histori-
cal record but to any current transaction involving land in South Texas. Maria’s
life, representative of the experience of all immigrant and pioneer women,
provides us with a less tangible but equally important legacy. She gave her
youth, health, courage, and the very best of her life to the development of a
large and strong family with roots deep in both the New and Old worlds. It
was the New World, however, that Maria chose for her life’s work, rejecting
the offers and pleas of her parents to return to Germany where she would
have fared much more comfortably. Instead, she came to embrace the Ameri-
can identification of life with progress, growth, and freedom. She left be-
hind crowded, preempted Germany—where control by government and the

[  ]
             ’             

Funeral Notice of Maria Augusta von Blücher, . Charles F.H. von Blücher Family
Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library,
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

aristocracy was total and where life was dictated by the past—to live in “the
day after tomorrow.”9 She thought time and time again of her children, and
she depended on her own faith and a willing suspension of disbelief, holding
to the resolve that tomorrow would bring opportunity and growth. The result
was a family that has made significant contributions to Corpus Christi and

[  ]
 

South Texas and continues to do so. The strength of Maria von Blücher’s
individualism, her faith, and her determination reshaped the family’s life, of-
ten at immeasurable cost and in the face of obstacles that stagger anyone con-
sidering them now. This is the intangible legacy of Maria’s life and an impor-
tant part of our common heritage.

[  ]
            ’             

[  ]
 Notes



. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, June , , Blücher Family Papers, Spe-
cial Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M Univer-
sity-Corpus Christi, hereinafter cited as Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to My Dear Parents, July , , Blücher Family Papers.
. “Mrs. Maria A. von Blücher,” Corpus Christi Caller, September , .
. Bill Walraven, Corpus Christi: The History of a Texas Seaport (Woodland Hills, Ca-
lif.: Windsor Publishing, Inc., ), –; Eugenia R. Briscoe, City by the Sea: A
History of Corpus Christi, Texas, – (New York: Vantage Press, ), –.
. Julia von Blücher (–) traveled to Berlin in  and lived with her maternal
grandparents until , when she returned to Corpus Christi. Mary Downing to
Julia von Blücher, October , , Blücher Family Papers. For a biographical
sketch of Julia von Blücher, see Corpus Christi Caller, June , .
. Marie von Blücher to Dr. Ernst Nolda, September , ; April , ; Willy
Witzel to Marie von Blücher, May , , Blücher Family Papers. For a bio-
graphical sketch of Marie Marguerite von Blücher (–) see Corpus Christi
Caller-Times, February , .
. See, for example, Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, April , , and Au-
gust , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Three important books that greatly influenced my understanding of Maria’s life as
a pioneer woman, and from which I drew heavily, are Joanna L. Stratton, Pioneer
Women: Voices from the Kansas Frontier (New York: Simon and Schuster, );
Sandra L. Myers, Westering Women and the Frontier Experience, – (Albu-
querque: University of New Mexico Press, ); and Evelyn M. Carrington, ed.,
Women in Early Texas (Austin: Jenkins Publishing Company, ).
. Stratton, Pioneer Women, –, .
. See among others Gilbert G. Benjamin, The Germans in Texas (Austin: Jenkins
Publishing Company, ); Terry G. Jordan, German Seed in Texas Soil (Austin:
University of Texas Press, ); and Glen E. Lich, The German Texans (San An-
tonio: Institute of Texan Cultures, ).
. Jerry Thompson, A Wild and Vivid Land: An Illustrated History of the South Texas
Border (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, ), –, –.
. T. R. Fehrenbach, Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans (New York:
Macmillan, ), ix–.
. James L. Haley, Texas: From the Frontier to Spindletop (New York: St. Martin’s
Press, ), ix–x.

[  ]
               ‒ 
. Corpus Christi Caller, September , . Maria’s experience mirrors that of many
pioneer women. See Stratton, Pioneer Women, –.
. Corpus Christi Caller, September , . Franz Liszt (–), Hungarian com-
poser and the greatest piano virtuoso of his time, revolutionized the technique of
piano playing and invented the “piano recital” as it is known today. Alan Walker,
Liszt (London: Faber and Faber, ).
. Corpus Christi Caller, September , . Her obituary stated that “she had edu-
cated more pupils in music than any other music teacher in the state.”
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, August , ; Maria von Blücher to My
Dear Mother, November , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Three documentary volumes strongly influenced how I approached the daunting
task of editing: Paul Lack, ed., The Diary of William Fairfax Gray: From Virginia to
Texas, – (Dallas: Southern Methodist University, ); Theodore
Rosengarten, ed., Tombes: Portrait of a Cotton Planter, with the Journal of Thomas B.
Chaplin – (New York: William Morrow, ); and Robert H. Ferrell, ed.,
Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman, – (New York: W. W.
Norton, ).
. Fernand Braudel, The Structures of Everyday Life (New York: Harper and Row,
), .

        .      
. For a detailed history of Prussia, the land on the southeastern coast of the Baltic
Sea, see Hajo Holborn, A History of Modern Germany, –,  vols.
(Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, ), :–. Frederick William
IV (–) ruled Prussia from  to , a period of social unrest and de-
mands for German unity. A true conservative, he was a fervent believer in a God-
given medieval kingship. He opposed suffrage and championed government by
the predominantly aristocratic large landowners and the retention of the monar-
chical character of the Prussian army and bureaucracy. Historians have character-
ized his reign as “more ineffectual than calamitous, for Prussia’s spirit of traditional
loyalty to the crown and its deep class divisions helped to preserve his monarchy.”
E. Lewalter, Friedrich Wilhelm IV (Berlin: Gustav Kiepenheuer, ), .
. Holborn, History of Germany, :–. For a brilliant analysis of population
changes in Europe during this period, see Braudel, Structures of Everyday Life,
–.
. Alexandra Richie, Faust’s Metropolis: A History of Berlin (New York: Carroll and
Graf, ), –.
. Carl Friedrich Imme (–) was the proprietor of what was described as a
“large brass goods manufacturing establishment, making such items as lamps,
chandeliers and similar goods.” He was first married to Marie Luise Schröder (d.
), which union produced two children: Amalie (–) and Carl, Jr. (–
). In  he took as his second wife Marie Auguste Kroll (–). This mar-
riage also produced two children: Julius (–?) and the subject of this work,
Maria (–). Friedrich Wigger, Geschichte der Familie von Blücher,  vols.
(Schwerin: Stillersche Hofbüchhandling, –), :–. This massive gene-
alogy was discovered by Ernst Nolda, one of the translators of Maria’s letters, in

[  ]
          ‒ 
the Mecklenburg State Library at Schwerin. See Ernst Nolda to Marie von
Blücher, September , , Blücher Family Papers. As to Maria’s mother owning
and managing rental property, see Maria von Blücher to Dearly loved Mother,
February , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, September , ; October ,
, Blücher Family Papers. The -acre Tiergarten park is recognized as one of
the world’s finest urban parks. During Maria’s lifetime, the Tiergarten district was
home to Berlin’s diplomatic quarter and contained some of the city’s greatest cul-
tural institutions, including the Berlin Zoo and the Zoological Gardens. Richie,
Faust’s Metropolis, –.
. For Maria’s interest in German politics, see among others Maria von Blücher to
Beloved Parents, January , ; November , ; and June , , Blücher
Family Papers.
. Charles F. H. von Blücher, “My Mother,” typescript dated October , ,
Blücher Family Papers; “Mrs. Maria A. von Blücher,” Corpus Christi Caller, Sep-
tember , .
. Wigger, Familie von Blücher, :–. For the Immes’ guarded acceptance of
Felix, see Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, July , , Blücher Family Pa-
pers.
. Wigger, Familie von Blücher, :–.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, July , ; October , ; September
, ; February , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Karl Wilhelm Freiherr von Humboldt (–), language scholar, philosopher,
and diplomat, became in  Prussia’s minister of education and established in
that year the university that today bears his name. The university was a center for
liberal and radical thinkers who openly challenged Prussian authority. Richie,
Faust’s Metropolis, –.
. “Major F. A. Blücher,” Corpus Christi Daily Gazette, February , . General
George C. Meade, who met Felix during the Mexican War, wrote in his journal
that “Count Blücher was the editor of a paper (radical) in Berlin, and owing to
some articles that met with the disapprobation of the King, he was obliged to fly
the country.” George Meade, The Life and Letters of General George Gordon Meade
(New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, ), . Also see Maria von Blücher to Be-
loved Parents, July , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Felix A. von Blücher to C. F. Imme, February , , Blücher Family Papers. For
a biographical sketch of Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels and history of his found-
ing of New Braunfels, see Ron Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas,  vols.
(Austin: Texas State Historical Association, ), :–. For Meusebach’s
treaty with the Comanche Indians, see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas,
:–. A copy of the original treaty, drafted, penned, and illustrated by Felix
von Blücher, is in the Texas State Archives.
. Felix A. von Blücher to C. F. Imme, February , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –. For a biographical sketch of Henry Lawrence
Kinney (–), see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. Receipt from the Court Marshal’s Office of His Royal Highness, the Prince of
Prussia, Berlin, February , , Blücher Family Papers. William I (–)
became prince of Prussia and heir presumptive in  on the accession of his
childless elder brother, Frederick William IV. During the revolutions of  his

[  ]
      ‒
advocacy of force to crush the liberals and radicals earned him the sobriquet
“Prince of Grapeshot.” It must have been an interesting meeting between such a
conservative royalist as William and a young radical like Felix. William I went on
to become king of Prussia in  and the first German emperor in . Erich
Marcks, Kaiser Wilhelm I (Berlin: C. A. Starke, ).
. Maria von Blücher to Dear Mother, March , ; April , ; April , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear beloved Mother, April , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Founded and chartered by the Saxon duke Henry the Lion in , Schwerin is
located on the southwestern shore of the Schweriner See (lake) and was long the
historic capital of the duchy of Mecklenburg.
. Felix’s sister mentioned here was Marie (–?), who was married to Dr. Franz
Wentzlaff, an educator. Wigger, Familie von Blücher, :.
. Coming from a wealthy Berlin household, Maria’s Prussian sensibilities and class
prejudices are clearly shown in this statement degrading Mecklenburg servants.
. Dresden, founded in  and the historic capital of Saxony, lies in the Elbe River
basin, southeast of Leipzig. The city was known as “Florence on the Elbe” and
was numbered among the world’s most beautiful cities, noted for its architecture
and art treasures. Maria must have visited the city, for here she compares
Schwerin with it.
. The National Assembly of the German Confederation was meeting at the historic
ducal palace in Schwerin. It is indicative of Maria’s interest in politics that she
would take time from her honeymoon to attend the debates of the National As-
sembly. These were bitter disputes over the form that national unification should
assume.
. Located in the lowlands of the Mecklenburg plain and on the shore of the
Schweriner See (lake), Schwerin has mild winters, late springs, cool summers,
high humidity, and frequent fog. As Maria indicates, the weather is often cool and
damp.
. This is the anniversary of the outbreak of rioting in Berlin that helped spark the
Revolution of .
. These was Maria’s sister-in-law and her husband, Marie and Franz Wentzlaff.
. Hamburg, the largest port in Germany, lies on a promontory between the Alster
and Elbe rivers with access to the North Sea. Founded in .. , it is one of
Germany’s most historic cities and viable economic centers. In  when Maria
arrived seeking departure to America, Hamburg was a thriving port city of
, with extensive trade.
. Maria’s brother Julius and his wife Anna.
. Felix’s aunt, Christine von Rieben, apparently helped to raise young Felix after his
parents’ divorce. She was extremely fond of him and welcomed Maria into the
Blücher family with open arms. Christine von Rieben to C. F. Imme, April ,
; August , , Blücher Family Papers. Güstrow, on the Nebel River south
of Rostock, was a significant agricultural market and commercial center from the
time it was chartered in .
. Teschow was the castle and seat of Ernst Anton Wilhelm von Blücher (–
), one of Felix’s many uncles. It was located between Teterow and Waren and
contained some of the finest agricultural lands in Mecklenburg. See Adelige

[  ]
             ‒  
Haüser A. Band IV, Genealogisches Handbuch Des Adels (Görlitz: C. A. Starke,
), .
. For details of this family dispute, see Christine von Rieben to C. F. Imme, August
, , Blücher Family Papers.
. Felix’s uncle, Ernst Anton Wilhelm von Blücher (–), his second wife,
Auguste von Dewitz (–), and her younger sister. Band, Genealogisches
Handbuch, .
. The young men were Felix’s cousins, Gustav Hans Karl Friedrich von Blücher
(–) and Ernst Karl Theodor von Blücher (–). Band, Genealogisches
Handbuch, . Halle, founded in .. , is located on the Saale River just north-
west of Leipzig in central Germany.
. Sukow, the ancestral castle of Felix’s line of von Blüchers, was located in the vicin-
ity of Waren and was apparently built by Helmuth Hartwig von Blücher (–
) and Georg Ludwig Ernst von Blücher (–). Band, Genealogisches
Handbuch, .
. Poggelow was lost to Felix’s parents’ creditors in . For details on this misman-
agement, see Christine von Rieben to C. F. Imme, August , , Blücher Fam-
ily Papers.
. See Band, Genealogisches Handbuch, –, for an outline of this large and at times
complicated and confusing genealogy.
. Felix’s mother Karoline von Hertel married her husband George Kill-Mar, on
April , , after a scandalous affair. Kill-Mar was a wealthy real estate developer
who owned the estate Birkenwäldchen (Birchforest), located in the Tiergarten
district of Berlin. He later sold this estate and developed the lands into one of
Berlin’s most fashionable neighborhoods. Part of the land was also incorporated
into the city’s famous Zoological Gardens. Wigger, Familie von Blücher, :–.
. Felix’s two youngest brothers, Friedrich Theodor (–) and Lebrecht (–
), were said to have been “mistreated to death by the stepfather Kill-Mar.”
Wigger, Familie von Blücher, :.
. Büsse and Schünke were carpenters who accompanied Felix and Maria to Corpus
Christi to help them build their new home. Frederick Büsse would remain loyal to
the family his entire life, although at times he was troublesome for Maria in her
household. According to her son Charles, Büsse “was a highly educated man, a
graduate architect and builder, who contributed a great amount of pleasure and
general entertainment to our family. He was always jovial and full of fun. . . . We
children called him ‘Uncle Büsse’ and he died at about  years of age after a long
and interesting life spent as a neighbor of ours.” Charles F. H. von Blücher, “Uncle
Büsse,” typescript dated September , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Bremen is a port city on the lower Elbe, where hundreds of thousands of Ger-
mans departed for the United States. Le Havre is a city and port in northern
France on the English channel.

  .       : 

. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, July , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, June , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Ibid.

[  ]
       ‒
. Ibid.
. Lyle Saxon, Fabulous New Orleans (New Orleans: R. L. Crager, ), –.
. Saxon, New Orleans, .
. Ibid., .
. Ibid., –.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, June , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, June , ; July , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to My Dear Parents, July , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Ibid.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Briscoe, City by the Sea, –; Tyler et al., eds.,
New Handbook of Texas, :.
. Briscoe, City by the Sea, –.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, . See also Anne Dodson, “Pioneers in South Texas
Found Life Difficult, Bloody,” in Corpus Christi Caller-Times, January , , p. .
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, . For an excellent analysis of this livestock economy,
see Val W. Lehmann, Forgotten Legions: Sheep in the Rio Grande Plain of Texas (El
Paso: Texas Western Press, ), –.
. Briscoe, City by the Sea, .
. Maria von Blücher to My Dear Parents, July , ; October , ; November
, , Blücher Family Papers.
. As earlier indicated, Dresden was the beautiful and historic capital of Saxony. The
city was the scene of several riots during the revolutionary activity of –.
. Here, Maria is clearly worried about the safety of her parents in revolutionary
Berlin.
. Maria’s initial observations and comments on the American landscape mirror
those of most foreigners during this era. For an excellent introductory anthology
including representative selections from foreign travelers, see Oscar Handlin, ed.,
This Was America (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, ).
. Maria’s description of the Americans, their dress, character, language, and industri-
ousness is remarkably similar to those by other foreign travelers during this period.
Like her, many foreign observers commented with amazement on how much
Americans ate and on the abundance of food. See Handlin, This Was America, –.
. Wittenberg, chartered in , is located southwest of Berlin on the Elbe River. Its
university, made famous by Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon, was
founded by the elector Frederick the Wise in . The Reformation started in
Wittenberg on October , , when Luther nailed his famous Ninety-five The-
ses to the wooden doors of the castle Church of All Saints. Prince Paul, from the
House of Witten, was a celebrated world traveler and naturalist associated with
Wittenberg University.
. Herr von Winterfeldt could not be further identified.
. The California Gold Rush of  was in full swing when Maria wrote this letter.
New Orleans was a major stopover for all going west, by either land or sea, pro-
viding supplies and stores for the long journey ahead.
. For a biographical sketch of Captain Frederick Hughes, Mexican War veteran and
early land surveyor for Nueces County, see Frank Wagner, “Research Papers,”
typescript in Local History Collection, Corpus Christi Public Library, hereinafter
cited as Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Library.

[  ]
      ‒
. Nueces County Deed Records, Book E, , microfilm copy, South Texas Archives,
Texas A&M University–Kingsville, hereinafter cited as Nueces County Deed
Records. A morgen is a German measurement of land approximately  percent of
an American acre. This property was described as  acres on the Nueces River
“twelve miles from San Patricio.”
. This is the first mention of an inheritance dispute involving Felix, his mother, and
his stepfather. The dispute played a major role in the von Blüchers’ lives and
would shape Felix and Maria’s life in the New World. Details are in Christine von
Rieben to C. F. Imme, August , , Blücher Family Papers.
. From the German word Erdferkel, a nocturnal African burrowing mammal with a
thickset body, large snout, and donkeylike ears. This apparently was Maria’s first
view of African slaves, and her Prussian superiority and sensibilities are obvious.
. The first four were Maria’s brothers and sisters, the latter two her niece and
nephew.
. Pauline and Bertha Schmidt were Maria’s close girlfriends in Berlin.
. Maria spelled the name Ohlers throughout her correspondence, although the his-
torical documents record it as Ohler. For a biographical sketch of Edward and
Matilda Ohler, see Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Library.
Edward Ohler was among the wealthiest citizens in Corpus Christi, with an es-
tate of thirty thousand dollars. National Archives Microfilm: Seventh Census of
the United States, , Texas, Nueces County, , hereinafter cited as  Cen-
sus with appropriate county and page number.
. Maria at first thought highly of Matilda Ohler but later came to view her as a
woman of low morals and as greedy. After  the Ohlers divided their time be-
tween Corpus Christi and Indianola, where they had another warehouse and im-
port/export business.
. The Ohler home was located at what is today the corner of North Broadway and
Antelope. It stood until , when it was torn down and replaced with a United
States Post Office.
. Nueces County Deeds, Book D, .
. Maria’s son Charles later described the property: “My father located in the present
Blücher place in Corpus Christi, buying an eight acre tract which had been previ-
ously owned by one Hiram Riggs and used by Riggs as a small farm. The south-
east corner of the tract was sold to ‘Uncle Büsse.’ Riggs had, according to the
deed, only six acres, but the survey laid off eight. Riggs had improved the place
considerably, having placed on it a couple of wells and a high brush fence sur-
rounding the whole place, and some very good buildings, stables and pens, and a
drainage ditch around most of the place. It had at the time of my father’s advent,
however, only one small house in which father and mother lived and used as their
living room and parlor. It being a very small affair, most of their furniture, includ-
ing mother’s piano, was kept under a tree, and their kitchen was established under
a large hackberry tree and also a nearby mesquite tree. A spacious table for kitchen
work was built surrounding the trunk of the hackberry tree which was very conve-
nient. Soon afterwards, as father’s income permitted, he built another small house
and an addition to the first house.” Charles F. H. von Blücher, “Early Days,” type-
script dated July , , and “The Old Mesquite Tree,” typescript dated Febru-
ary , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Dramatic changes were taking place in South Texas with the construction of several

[  ]
             ‒ 
military posts to protect the frontier. Maria here is probably referring to the con-
struction of Fort Merrill on the south bank of the Nueces River in present Live
Oak County.
. Settled in  by Juan José de la Garza Montemayor of Camargo, Mexico, the
Casa Blanca grant consisted of twenty-two thousand acres on the Nueces River,
approximately twenty miles upstream from Corpus Christi.
. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) remain an important sport and commercial
catch to this day in the Nueces River and Corpus Christi Bay.
. This would later be named Nuecestown; see Walraven, Corpus Christi, –.
. This was the tract bought from Hiram Riggs.
. Maria’s daughter Julia brought back from Berlin in  an oil painting of this dog
by Gustav Richter, who had been a dear friend of Maria’s during her “Belle of
Berlin” years. The dog was named Stint and was Maria’s absolute pride and joy.
Note of Julia von Blücher dated December , , typescript, Blücher Family
Papers.
. The needle gun, a breechloader with cylinder bolt, was invented in  by
Nikolaus Dreyse and manufactured at Thüringen, Germany. The weapon was
adopted as standard issue by the Prussian army in  and was valued for its accu-
racy and rapid firing capabilities.
. This is the first indication of trouble in Maria and Felix’s marriage. Maria’s later
letters indicate that Felix had a violent temper that was made worse by drinking.
Here, he must have spoken harshly to her for the first time.
. Hungary’s reform revolution of  was crushed just a year later when Russia
invaded and defeated the liberals on August , , delivering the country back
to Vienna and the Habsburgs. Savage reprisals followed, and the country was
again dismembered and subjected to an absolutist and extortionate rule exercised
from Vienna through a foreign bureaucracy.

        .                 :       
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Briscoe, City by the Sea, –; Tyler et al., eds.,
New Handbook of Texas, :. For an insightful analysis of these boom and bust
cycles on the South Texas frontier, see Milo Kearney and Anthony Knopp, Boom
and Bust: The Historical Cycles of Matamoros and Brownsville (Austin: Eakin Press,
).
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Briscoe, City by the Sea, –; Tyler et al., eds.,
New Handbook of Texas, :. The agents Kinney hired in Europe were empow-
ered to offer each family of prospective emigrants upon their arrival at Corpus
Christi “ cows on shares for  years;  acres of land for . an acre;  yoke
of oxen and  horse—all to be paid for at the end of  years.”
. Walter Prescott Webb, The Texas Rangers: A Century of Frontier Defense (New York:
Doubleday, ), . The patrol was under the command of Captain Gideon K.
“Legs” Lewis (d. ); see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Briscoe, City by the Sea, –.
. Briscoe, City by the Sea, –. For an insightful analysis of racial relations, see
David Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, – (Austin:
University of Texas Press, ), –.

[  ]
            ‒  
. See, among others, Maria von Blücher to Fondly loved Parents, November ,
; and Felix von Blücher to Beloved Parents, April , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear Parents, January , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Fondly loved Parents, April , , Blücher Family Papers.
. See among others Maria von Blücher to Dearly loved Parents, November , ,
and February , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear Parents, November , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, November , ; February ,
, Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, November , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, February , ; January , ;
December , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Felix von Blücher to Dear Parents, April , ; Maria von Blücher to Cordially
loved Parents, November , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear beloved Parents, August , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. See among others Maria von Blücher to Dear Parents, July , ; June , ;
and May , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, February , ; May , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. See among others Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, July , ; De-
cember , ; and August , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear Parents, December , , Blücher Family Papers.
Alexandre Dumas (–) was one of the most popular French authors of the
nineteenth century. He gained a great reputation first as a dramatist and then as a
historical novelist, especially for such works as The Count of Monte Cristo and The
Three Musketeers. He exploited the vogue for historical fiction that had been inau-
gurated by Sir Walter Scott and introduced to France by Victor Hugo.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear beloved Parents, February , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to My Dear Mother, May , ; June , ; and November
, Blücher Family Papers.
. See among others Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, March , , and Feb-
ruary , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear Parents, October , , Blücher Family Papers.
Maria’s son Charles later reflected that “[Mother] raised a family of five children;
disciplining them according to the German method, which proved quite a success.
I recollect that there was no sparing of the rod, which sometimes took the form of
a raw-hide whip, that inflicted never-to-be-forgotten lessons.” Charles F. H. von
Blücher, “My Mother,” typescript dated October , , Blücher Family Papers.
. For a biographical sketch of Georg Noessel, proprietor of the Corpus Christi Ho-
tel, see Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Library. The Noessels
became close friends with Felix and Maria.
. For a biographical sketch of Margaret Rahm Meuly (–), see Charles F. H.
von Blücher, “Conrad Meuly and Meuly Genealogy,” typescript, Blücher Family
Papers. The Meuly family traveled on the same ship from New Orleans to Corpus

[  ]
             ‒  
Christi as did Maria and Felix upon their arrival in . The families would be
close friends thereafter; Maria’s son Charles married a daughter of Conrad and
Margaret Meuly in .
. Felix’s brother, Hermann Ludwig Karl von Blücher (–), had a brilliant mili-
tary career in the Prussian army and seems to have been the only sibling of whom
Felix remained fond. Wigger, Familie von Blücher, :–.
. During this period, Kiowas, Comanches, and Lipan Apaches often ravaged the
Texas frontier, particularly in the upper Nueces Valley. See Robert M. Utley, The
Indian Frontier of the American West, – (Albuquerque: University of New
Mexico Press, ), –.
. The tiger Maria writes of was probably a large mountain lion (Felis concolor).
Known by different names in different places, mountain lions are variously called
cougars, pumas, panthers, and catamounts. Up to five feet long, with gray to
tawny fur and a black-tipped tail, these furtive predators roamed throughout the
South Texas chaparral during the nineteenth century. The vast desert and brush
country also supported jaguars (Felis onca), jaguarundis (Felis yagouaroundi), and
bobcats (Lynx rufus).
. Sisters Bertha and Pauline Schmidt had been Maria’s closest friends.
. In  Kinney had married Mary B. Herbert, a widow with several children. The
marriage was doomed from the start and the two later divorced. Maria, however,
later became good friends with Mrs. Kinney, in spite of her “low descent.”
. Mauricia Arocha Belden, a native of Matamoros, Mexico, was the wife of
Frederick Belden (–), a prominent merchant and trader. For a biographical
sketch of the Beldens, see Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Li-
brary.
. For a biographical sketch of Henry A. Gilpin (–), see Wagner, “Research
Papers,” Corpus Christi Library.
. Felix would continue his entire life to bemoan his lost inheritance.
. Trakehner is an East Prussian breed of horse famed for its versatility, serving
equally well for riding, light labor, and carriage.
. Cholera represents any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals
marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms characterized by griping diarrhea and
sometimes vomiting. In overcrowded nineteenth-century Berlin, epidemics of
cholera swept the city annually, with devastating results. See Braudel, Structures of
Everyday Life, –.
. Maria here laments having missed her parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
In Germany, this milestone was a celebrated event. “This was when Grandfather
Imme was in the heyday of his active life. They gathered all the children and
grandchildren together on this occasion, except for Maria, who was away in
Texas.” See “Miscellaneous Notes from Aunt Julia,” typescript dated January ,
, Blücher Family Papers.
. Frederick William IV, king of Prussia, was in the throes of crushing the liberal
rebellion and reestablishing autocratic royal order in . See Holborn, History of
Germany.
. This scarcity of finished products on the South Texas frontier and Maria’s long
“laundry lists” of goods requested from Germany fill many of her letters to her
parents during this period.

[  ]
             ‒ 
. Without a surname, the Mexican Domingo could not be positively identified, for
there are numerous men of that name in the  census.
. Maria’s original letter in German contains a copy of Felix’s sketch.
. Holborn, History of Germany.
. Maria’s growing interest in American politics reflects the mantra that “all politics
is local.” For an excellent discussion of pioneer women in politics, see Stratton,
Pioneer Women, –.
. Smallpox was one of the world’s most dreaded plagues. A virus, it arises from hu-
man contact with another case of the disease. Smallpox was especially devastating
to Native Americans. After Englishman Edward Jenner discovered a vaccination
in , and the procedure spread rapidly around the world, the death rate from
smallpox plunged.
. As earlier indicated, Maria’s use of discipline in child rearing is described in
Charles F. H. von Blücher, “My Mother,” typescript dated October , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. This again was probably a mountain lion.
. For a biographical sketch of John Peter Schätzell (–), see Tyler et al., eds.,
New Handbook of Texas, :.
. One of Berlin’s many exceptional art museums in the Tiergarten district; it was
destroyed by fire. Richie, Faust’s Metropolis, .
. Maria is referring to London’s great world fair of .
. Here, Maria and Felix’s liberal politics are clearly expressed. This is the only letter
in which Maria identifies her father as a royalist; her other letters indicate that he
was more of a moderate.
. This filibuster was a fiasco, the mercenaries getting no farther than Mustang
Island, where they rioted while awaiting transport to Cuba and were finally dis-
persed by Texas Rangers. See Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public
Library.
. This event was Kinney’s infamous Lone Star Fair of , which led to his financial
collapse. See Walraven, Corpus Christi, –.
. As earlier noted, Mrs. Kinney would later become Maria’s friend.
. For the history of German immigration to Texas, see Benjamin, Germans in Texas;
Jordan, German Seed; and Lich, German Texans.
. Mieze, as Maria uses this term of affection for baby Mary, is from the German
word miezekaetzchen, meaning “little pussy cat.”
. See Hortense Warner Ward, “It Was Texas’ First State Fair,” Houston Chronicle
Magazine, April , , p. .
. These officials had all been followers of the liberal and revolutionary party headed
by Count Kossuth in Hungary in . They obviously fled the country after the
rebellion was crushed by the intervention of the Russian army in . As earlier
indicated, Hungary was then dismembered and ruled by a foreign bureaucracy.
. This is an interesting comment revealing that Maria had no qualms about owning
slaves, indicative of her later ardent support of the South during the Civil War.
Yet her son Charles later recalled that “my father and mother abhorred slavery.”
See Charles F. H. von Blücher, “Civil War Times,” typescript dated October ,
, Blücher Family Papers.
. Major General Persifor F. Smith (–), commander of the Department of

[  ]
             ‒  
Texas, relocated the army’s headquarters from San Antonio to Corpus Christi in
, supposedly because he favored the seaside climate and the local oysters. See
Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Library.
. Nueces County Deed Records, Book E, .
. The German word Meisbock can be literally translated as “wretched goat.” It is
used, however, as a name for a child who is in a sulky, foul mood. Maria seems to
have meant that Doña Carmel might help her care for her difficult toddler once
the new baby arrived.
. Seyler, obviously an acquaintance of the Imme family in Berlin, could not be fur-
ther identified. He quickly irritated Maria, who had little good to say about him.
. Yellow fever, caused by a virus, is transmitted among susceptible hosts by several
species of mosquitos. For more than two hundred years, it was one of the great
plagues of the world. The tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas were
subjected to devastating epidemics, and serious outbreaks occurred as far north as
Boston. During Maria’s lifetime, epidemics repeatedly swept over the southern
United States, decimating populations, paralyzing industry and trade, and holding
the people of the South in a state of perpetual dread. Maria’s letters reflect the
terror that the disease produced in the nineteenth century. The last outbreak in
the United States occurred in , when New Orleans and other ports of the
South were invaded.
. Nueces County Deed Records, Book E, .
. Dr. Henschel was the Imme family doctor in Berlin.
. Corpus Christi’s early medical needs were served almost entirely by military doc-
tors assigned to the Department of Texas. For an insightful look at how these
army doctors were valued by outpost communities like Corpus Christi, see Caleb
Coker (ed.), The News from Brownsville: Helen Chapman’s Letters from the Texas
Military Frontier, – (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, ), .
. For an excellent discussion of this race riot, see Briscoe, City by the Sea, –.
. This riot is indicative of the racial tensions that existed between Tejanos (Mexican
Texans) and their Anglo counterparts. See Thompson, A Wild and Vivid Land,
–.
. Mrs. Kinney and her mother, Mrs. Webb, shortly thereafter moved to Galveston,
where Mrs. Kinney then divorced her husband. Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of
Texas, :.
. Frank Abbe could not be further identified and no extant newspaper account of
this tragedy was found.
. For a biographical sketch of Cecilio Balerio (–), also known as Ceilio
Valero, see Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Library.
. The yellow fever epidemic of  devastated Corpus Christi, killing by some ac-
counts one-fourth of the town’s population. See Christopher Long, “Corpus
Christi,” in Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :–.
. This is Maria’s older brother, Carl Frederick (–), who succeeded his father
in the brass business.
. Nicholas I (–), emperor of Russia since , died in St. Petersburg on
March , , at the height of the Crimean War. That conflict lasted from Octo-
ber, , to February, , and was fought mainly on the Crimean Peninsula be-
tween the Russians and the British, French, and Ottoman Turkish.
. Neither this story nor the identity of the miracle doctor was discovered.

[  ]
            ‒   
. For biographies of Major William Warren Chapman and his wife Helen, see
Coker, ed., News from Brownsville.
. Maria was in error here, for there is no record of this rumored marriage. See Tyler
et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. In September, , the British, French, and Ottoman Turks landed troops in Rus-
sian Crimea, on the north shore of the Black Sea, and began a year-long siege of
the Russian fortress of Sevastopol. After a series of major battles, the Russians
blew up the forts, sank their ships, and evacuated Sevastopol. Apparently Felix’s
brother, Hermann, had left the Prussian army to join the English in the fight.
Wigger, Familie von Blücher, :–.
. For a biographical sketch of Hamilton Prioleau Bee (–), see Tyler et al.,
eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. Alvaro Pérez, a native of Mexico, was a successful tailor in early Corpus Christi;
 Census, Nueces County, .
. These are Spanish terms for godfather, godmother, godson, and goddaughter.
. These Spanish terms reference the godparents in relation to the parents of the
godson or goddaughter.
. Possibly Michael Müller, , carpenter and stockman;  Census, Nueces
County, . Felix and Maria’s son Charles identified this ranch as being “about ½
miles west of Corpus Christi on land known as Blücher Prairie, which extended
from Guajolote or Turkey Creek, where my father had a ranch, northerly into the
flats on the south side of Nueces Bay. Father’s ranch was a small place of about 
acres, the rest of the land being open country at that time and used by everyone
in common for grazing. It was covered with a fine growth of native grasses which
at the proper season of the year yielded a quantity of excellent hay. Many deer,
cattle, and horses grazed on this fine range. Father attempted to develop this
ranch throughout the s; he having a few huts for his Mexican workers and a
well of good water. About  the Indians raided and destroyed the place, and in
consequence he abandoned and sold it afterwards.” Charles F. H. von Blücher,
“Blücher Prairie,” typescript dated March , , Blücher Family Papers.
. For an overview of this contentious litigation, see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook
of Texas, :.
. After just three years the army abandoned its post and depot at Corpus Christi for
removal to San Antonio. The removal was completed in March, , when forty-
three wagons departed with the quartermaster stores. All army warehouses and
buildings were sold at auction, with the purchasers given until the last day of the
month to remove their property from government land.
. Nueces County Deed Records, Book G, –, –, .
. In spite of a messy divorce, failure to pay creditors, and a disastrous filibuster to
Nicaragua, Kinney was given a hero’s reception when he returned to the town he
founded. See Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. For a biographical sketch of Charles Lovenskiold (–), who became Felix’s
attorney and business partner, see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. In late  and throughout , the entire Texas frontier, from the Red River to
El Paso to the mouth of the Rio Grande, suffered attacks by raiding Indians. See
Utley, Indian Frontier, –.
. The sewing machine, invented in France in , was the first widely distributed
mechanical home appliance and an important industrial machine. The French

[  ]
              ‒  
version was widely improved upon in  by Americans Elias Howe of Spencer,
Massachusetts, Walter Hunt of New York, and Issac Merrit Singer of New York
and Boston. By , more than , sewing machines had been sold in the
United States alone. The firm of Wheeler and Wilson was headquartered in
Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was one of the nation’s largest manufacturers.
. For a detailed analysis of what became known as the Cortina War, see Jerry
Thompson, ed., Juan N. Cortina and the Texas-Mexico Frontier, – (El Paso:
Texas Western Press, ).

        .       

. Kearney and Knopp, Boom and Bust, –; Thompson, A Wild and Vivid Land,
–. For the Cortina War, see Thompson, ed., Juan N. Cortina, –.
. For biographical sketches of these influential leaders of the Lower Rio Grande
Valley, see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :–; :; and :, ,
–.
. For a biographical sketch of Richard King (–) and his influence on the eco-
nomic development of South Texas, see Bruce S. Cheeseman, “Richard King: Pio-
neering Market Capitalism on the Frontier,” in Ranching in South Texas: A Sympo-
sium, ed. Joe S. Graham (Kingsville: Texas A&M University–Kingsville, ),
–. For a biographical sketch of Mifflin Kenedy (–), King’s lifelong friend
and business mentor, see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :–. Ac-
cording to his obituary, Felix von Blücher was “engaged [for most of his career] to
attend to business for Capt. R. King, who, together with Capt. M. Kenedy, he
always esteemed as his nearest and dearest friends.” Corpus Christi Daily Gazette,
February , .
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, May , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, December , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dearly beloved Parents, October , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, May , ; February , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, February , ; May , ; Oc-
tober , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Thompson, A Wild and Vivid Land, ; Walraven, Corpus Christi, –.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear beloved parents, July , ; October , ; April
, , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear beloved Parents, October , , Blücher Family
Papers; “Major F. A. Blücher,” Corpus Christi Daily Gazette, February , .
. Maria von Blücher to Dearly beloved Parents, October , , Blücher Family
Papers. Also, for the role of the corps of engineers in coastal defense, see Alwyn
Barr, “Texas Coastal Defense, –,” in Lone Star Blue and Gray: Essays on
Texas in the Civil War, ed. Ralph A. Wooster (Austin: Texas State Historical Asso-
ciation, ).
. Maria von Blücher to Dearly beloved Parents, October , , Blücher Family

[  ]
      ‒
Papers; Norman C. Delaney. “Battle of Corpus Christi,” in Tyler et al., eds., New
Handbook of Texas, :–.
. Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :–.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, May , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Richard V. Francaviglia, From Sail to Steam: Four Centuries of Texas Maritime His-
tory, – (Austin: University of Texas Press, ), –; Bruce S.
Cheeseman, “‘Let us have  good determined Texans’: Richard King’s Account
of the Union Invasion of South Texas, November , , to January , ,”
Southwestern Historical Quarterly  ( July, ), –. On January , ,
King wrote to Confederate authorities: “The grass is as bad as it gets here. I am
now busily engaged gathering my horse stock, and trying to save a few of my
mares and colts. I know not where to drive them, as there is no grass east of the
Nueces. We are in fact in a starving condition.”
. Maria von Blücher to Fondly loved Parents, March , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dearly loved Parents, October , ; January , ;
March , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Ibid. For Rip Ford’s redemption of South Texas back to Confederate rule, see
John S. Ford, Rip Ford’s Texas, ed. Stephen B. Oates (Austin: University of Texas
Press, ).
. Maria von Blücher to Loved Parents, July , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear beloved Parents, October , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Ibid.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, May , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Fondly loved Parents, November , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Felix’s joining the French Imperial Army in Mexico earned him considerable
praise in the Paris press. See “Major F. A. Blücher,” Corpus Christi Daily Gazette,
February , . For a biographical sketch of General Mejía, see Tyler et al., eds.,
New Handbook of Texas, :–.
. Maria von Blücher to Dear Parents, January , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, January , ; February , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, May , , Blücher Family Papers.
. The curriculum of nineteenth-century art academies centered around drawing.
The student drew from the drawings of professors, then from casts, and finally
from life. This was a popular art text in Germany.
. Mary Littig, thirty-five, was a native of Wales and wife of merchant J. W. Littig,
fifty-five, a native of Maryland, who had mercantile stores in Nuecestown and
Corpus Christi with goods valued at five thousand dollars.  Census, Nueces
County, .
. Ibid. The Littig home in Nuecestown was described as being “twelve miles from
Corpus Christi.”
. This children’s book could not be identified.
. No extant copy of a newspaper account of the misadventures of the Fortuna was
found.

[  ]
              ‒  
. This early photograph of Corpus Christi also was not discovered. It would be a
rare find, possibly the earliest known photograph of the town.
. For a detailed biographical sketch of Richard Schübert, who befriended Maria
and was of great assistance to her and her family, see Charles F. H. von Blücher,
“Mr. Richard Schübert,” typescript dated October , , Blücher Family Papers.
For the importance of sheep raising in the emerging economy of South Texas, see
Paul H. Carlson, “Sheep Ranching,” in Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas,
:–.
. The outbreak of the Civil War brought renewed Indian attacks all across the
Texas frontier. See David Paul Smith, Frontier Defense in the Civil War: Texas’
Rangers and Rebels (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, ), –.
. The Blücher family friend Poly could not be further identified.
. On the Union blockade and its effects on Texas, see Francaviglia, From Sail to
Steam, and Cheeseman, “‘Let us have .’”
. The best accounts of Corpus Christi during the Civil War are found in Briscoe,
City by the Sea, and Delaney, “Battle of Corpus Christi.”
. Ibid.
. For a biographical sketch of the slave Phyllis, see Charles F. H. von Blücher, “Civil
War Times,” typescript dated October , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Two outstanding histories of the general Civil War in South Texas are James W.
Daddysman, The Matamoros Trade: Confederate Commerce, Diplomacy, and Intrigue
(Newark: University of Delaware Press, ), and James A. Irby, Backdoor at
Bagdad: The Civil War on the Rio Grande (El Paso: Texas Western Press, ).
. See Delaney, “Battle of Corpus Christi.”
. Ibid. John Ireland (–) later served as governor of Texas; see Tyler et al., eds.,
New Handbook of Texas, :. Capt. Herman Wilkie commanded a unit of eighty-
seven men as part of Major Alford M. Hobby’s Eighth Texas Infantry based in
Corpus Christi. For a biographical sketch of Hobby, see Tyler et al., eds., New
Handbook of Texas, :.
. The firm of Droage, Oettling & Co. had operations throughout the Rio Grande
Valley, exporting Confederate cotton to Europe and importing munitions, medi-
cal supplies, clothing, and shoes. See Robert Delaney, “Matamoros, Port for
Texas during the Civil War,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly  (April, ),
–.
. Ibid.
. See Lester N. Fitzhugh, “Saluria, Fort Esperanza, and Military Operations on the
Texas Coast, –,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly  ( July, ),
–.
. For the commercial activities of Confederate quartermaster Charles Russell, see
Ronnie C. Tyler, “Cotton on the Border, –,” Southwestern Historical Quar-
terly  (April, ), –, and L. Tuffly Ellis, “Maritime Commerce on the Far
Western Gulf, –,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly  (October, ),
–.
. By late  over ninety ships were observed at the mouth of the Rio Grande
waiting to take on Confederate cotton. See Tom Lea, The King Ranch (Boston:
Little Brown, ), :.
. For a detailed account of the importance of this cotton trade and the Union inva-
sion to destroy it, see Cheeseman, “‘Let us have .’”

[  ]
              ‒  
. Here of course Maria was in error, as Vicksburg, Mississippi, fell to Union forces
on July , , and the Confederates never recaptured New Orleans after the city
fell to the North in .
. Felix’s clerk, Taylor, whom Maria describes in such detail, could not be further
identified.
. The Confederate authorities conscripted planters’ slaves and exempt military men
to aid in both the construction of coastal fortifications and the movement of cot-
ton to the Rio Grande. This government conscription caused howls of protest
from both impressed citizens and private operators. See Barr, “Texas Coastal
Defense.”
. See Caroline Lee Hentz, The Planter’s Northern Bride (; reprint, with an intro-
duction by Rhoda Coleman Ellison, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina
Press, ).
. For a moving description of the want of foodstuffs Maria faced during these try-
ing times, see her son’s paper, Charles F. H. von Blücher, “Recollections of Civil
War Days,” typescript dated April , , Blücher Family Papers. “During the
war we used ground acorns for coffee, and all vegetables like potatoes or onions
were very scarce. To get some kind of vegetables, we went through both the Con-
federate and Union commissary departments, who used to throw away and con-
demn what little vegetables they had if not in absolutely good condition. These
condemned food stuffs were carted out and dumped in the arroyo, which was run-
ning all the time. They were dumped in the water, which washed them clean of all
soil, and the rotten parts were washed away. We and others would go at least every
week and gather them to help out with the problem of feeding a large family dur-
ing these hard times.”
. South Texas suffered through a severe drought in –. Rip Ford reported in
early  that one could not “imagine how desolate, barren, and desert-like this
country is; not a spear of grass, nor a green shrub, with nothing but moving clouds
of sand to be seen on these once green prairies.” See Cheeseman, “‘Let us have
,’” , n, n.
. For an important new work on the subject of Union destruction of private prop-
erty, see Mark Grimsley, The Hard Hand of War: Union Military Policy toward
Southern Civilians, – (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, ).
. Jacob Ziegler, sixty, and his wife Margaret, fifty-three, were natives of the German
province of Rhineland and managed a hotel in Corpus Christi.  Census,
Nueces County, .
. Mrs. Frost could not be further identified.
. Prussia under the leadership of Otto von Bismark attacked Denmark in ,
gaining control of the Danish duchies of Schleswig and Holstein on the pretext of
oppressed German nationality. The British and the French could not agree on
joint action and left Denmark to a crushing defeat at the hands of the superior
Prussian military.
. Maria is apparently describing the Battle of Las Rucias, which took place on June
, . Felix was commended by Rip Ford for “gallantry in action.” Ford later
spoke highly of Felix, who served Ford as chief of staff: Felix A. Blücher was “a
valuable man to the Cavalry of the West.” Ford, Rip Ford’s Texas, .
. The Union officer was a Lieutenant Stuart, who could not be further identified
with certainty.

[  ]
             ‒  
. Dr. Allen could not be further identified.
. Corpus Christi was occupied by black troops from the Thirty-sixth U.S. Infantry.
. For a concise history of the battles between the Juarista Liberal Army of Mexico
and the French Imperial Army, see Thompson, A Wild and Vivid Land, . Felix
was lucky to escape, for if captured he would certainly have been executed along
with Maximilian and General Mejía.
. See Coker, ed., News from Brownsville, . Mrs. Chapman was raising sheep with
James Bryden on a portion of Richard King’s Santa Gertrudis ranch, which later
led to a lawsuit in the late s.
. For a biographical sketch of Edmund Jackson Davis (–), see Tyler et al.,
eds., New Handbook of Texas, :–.
. For an excellent sketch of early education in Corpus Christi, see Charles F. H. von
Blücher, “The Early Schools of Corpus Christi,” typescript dated July , ,
Blücher Family Papers. He described the Hidalgo Seminary as “a Catholic school
for boys with a department for girls, conducted by the nuns. This school was held
in an old concrete building belonging to an old Spanish family named Pérez. This
school had for the boys several teachers at different times.”
. For a biographical sketch of James Downing (–), see Corpus Christi Caller,
May , , and Charles F. H. von Blücher, “Uncle Jim,” typescript dated Novem-
ber , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Merchant William Headen, thirty-two, and his wife Margaret, twenty-eight, were
natives of Ireland who became prominent business and civic leaders in Corpus
Christi. Their holdings were valued at sixty-five thousand dollars in the  cen-
sus, making them one of the city’s richest couples. For biographical sketches of the
Headens, see Frank Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Library.
. Cornelia Moore was the daughter of civic leader John Marks Davenport Moore
(–), who headed the dredging company attempting to establish a deepwater
port. See Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. Alfred Tennyson (–), poet laureate of England, was regarded as the chief
representative of the Victorian age of poetry. He was a particular favorite of Maria
and her daughters.
. The headquarters of the King Ranch, also known as Rancho de Santa Gertrudis,
are located along Santa Gertrudis Creek in Kleberg County, approximately forty-
five miles southwest of Corpus Christi. Established in  by Richard King, the
ranch became one of the most famous in the history of the American West. Lea,
King Ranch, :–.

  .    :   

. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Thompson, A Wild and Vivid Land, –. For
the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s economic good fortune as a result of the war, see
Daddysman, Matamoros Trade, and Irby, Backdoor at Bagdad.
. Maria von Blücher to Dearly beloved Parents, April , ; January , ,
Blücher Family Papers. See also Walraven, Corpus Christi, –, and Thompson,
A Wild and Vivid Land, –.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Thompson, A Wild and Vivid Land, –. For a
biographical sketch of Captain Leander McNelly, see Tyler et al., eds., New

[  ]
              ‒  
Handbook of Texas, :. For Cortina’s role in this violence, see Thompson (ed.),
Juan N. Cortina, –.
. Maria von Blücher to Fondly loved Parents, October , ; April , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –.
. For a biographical sketch of Edmund Jackson Davis (–), see Tyler et al.,
eds., New Handbook of Texas, :–; for Davis’s Civil War career, see Jerry D.
Thompson, Mexican Texans in the Union Army (El Paso: Texas Western Press,
), –.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents,
December , , Blücher Family Papers. For a biographical sketch of James
Downing (–), see Corpus Christi Caller, May , . Mr. and Mrs. Downing
remained childless.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; see also Bruce S. Cheeseman, Perfectly Exhausted
with Pleasure: The  King-Kenedy Excursion Train to Laredo (Austin: Book Club
of Texas, ), –.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Cheeseman, Perfectly Exhausted, –.
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –; Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans, –.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, December , ; June , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. Charles F. H. von Blücher, “My Mother,” typescript dated October , ,
Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, June , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, March , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to My dear Mother, November , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, September , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, June , ; October , , Blücher
Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, October ; October , , Blücher
Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to Beloved Parents, June , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Maria von Blücher to My Dear Felix, February , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Ibid.
. Lieutenants James Downing and Elijah Harvey Wheeler both came to Corpus
Christi with the occupation forces of the Thirty-sixth U.S. Infantry. They had
fought side by side for the duration of the war, rising through the ranks of the
First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. Their war records were valiant: they partici-
pated in the engagements at Fredericksburg, Spottssylvania, North Anna River,
Tolopotomy, Shady Grove, and Petersburg and in the surrender of Robert E. Lee
at Appomattox. Corpus Christi Caller, September , . Maria’s son Charles
later wrote: “While it may seem strange that our family, as many other families
did, entertained and made pleasure for these Union officers, their conduct and
general bearing were so agreeable to the people that the animosities of war were
forgotten. We ourselves, as no doubt others did, received many favors at the hands
of the Federal officers. Provisions being exceedingly scarce at the time, these officers

[  ]
              ‒  
provided us liberally with many things that could not be had otherwise in the
shape of provisions. The friendships formed at that time were very pleasant and
lasted a long time. My mother corresponded with several of the ex-officers scat-
tered throughout the North for many years after. Mr. Elijah Harvey Wheeler was
a lieutenant in the same company with Uncle Jim Downing and they were close
chums. My name ‘Harvey’ was given me for Mr. Wheeler.” Charles F. H. von
Blücher, “Uncle Jim,” typescript dated November , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Again, yellow fever decimated Corpus Christi; see Walraven, Corpus Christi, –
. See also Charles F. H. von Blücher, “The Yellow Fever Epidemic in Corpus
Christi,” typescript dated January , , Blücher Family Papers.
. On October –, , a strong hurricane roared in from the Gulf of Mexico and
ripped through Brownsville and Matamoros, causing immense damage to both
towns. Lea, King Ranch, :–.
. This was a major fund-raiser for the building of the First Presbyterian Church of
Corpus Christi, which would become the house of workship of Maria and her
family. In , Maria’s descendants donated an organ to the church “dedicated to
the glory and worship of God and in loving memory of Maria A. von Blücher.”
Antenna , no.  (October ).
. Maria’s younger daughter, Julia, was now entertaining two marriage proposals
from Union officers; she would eventually deny both.
. Wheeler and Downing were working in the reconstruction government, register-
ing adults to vote. For a biographical sketch of General Winfield Scott Hancock
(–), see Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. Reconstruction in New Orleans, unlike in Corpus Christi, was bitter and filled
with corruption; see Saxon, New Orleans, –.
. Charles F. H. von Blücher, “The Early Schools of Corpus Christi,” typescript
dated July , , Blücher Family Papers. “The school of Mr. J. B. Carpenter was
in the Chapman residence and was a flourishing school attended by most of the
big boys and girls and some of the small ones of Corpus Christi. It had a very
good curriculum. Mrs. Carpenter gave music lessons at the school. The school was
run in a very rampant and undisciplined manner. Mr. Carpenter was an accom-
plished scholar, a cultured man with a splendid education, a fine orator and elocu-
tionist (oh how he could recite The Raven!).”
. Maria’s joy over her new washing machine mirrors that of other pioneer women;
for an insightful look at how such inventions lessened the daily burdens of domes-
tic work, see Stratton, Pioneer Women, –.
. For a brief understanding of politics and government in Texas at this time, see
Carl H. Moneyhon, “Reconstruction,” in Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas,
:–.
. The most detailed discussion of Reconstruction in Corpus Christi can be found in
Briscoe, City by the Sea, –.
. For a biographical sketch of William Blair Chapman, see Coker, ed., News from
Brownsville, .
. In , Mifflin Kenedy began fencing Rancho los Laureles, just south of Corpus
Christi. This was the first large enclosure of land west of the Mississippi River in
the history of the American West. Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas,
:–.

[  ]
              ‒ 
. Berlin was recognized in the nineteenth century as one of the world’s most beau-
tiful cities; see Richie, Faust’s Metropolis, –.
. For a biographical sketch of General George David Ruggles, see The National
Cyclopaedia of American Biography, :.
. The Berlin Aquarium opened in  and earned marvel at the time as the world’s
largest collection of aquatic exhibits. Richie, Faust’s Metropolis, .
. Antenna , no.  (October ), provides a history of the Blücher family’s rela-
tionship with the First Presbyterian Church.
. Concepción is located in southeast Duval County and in the s was the center
of Texas’ sheep industry. Tyler et al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. Maria here clearly means Saxon and Switzerland. The Saxon duchies were made
up of several states in the Thuringian region of east-central Germany.
. For a biographical sketch of Perry Doddridge (–), Corpus Christi busi-
nessman and civic leader, see Corpus Christi Caller, June , .
. For a concise history of relations with Mexico during this period, see Thompson,
A Wild and Vivid Land, –.
. The Franco-Prussian War began in July, , and resulted in a total Prussian vic-
tory. The war remained confined to France and Prussia (or rather Germany, since
the southern German states joined Prussia). Peace was restored by the Treaty of
Frankfurt in May, , which rewarded Prussia with a large indemnity and the
provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.
. Corpus Christi had been under strict quarantine because of another outbreak of
yellow fever.
. The telegraphic messages were incorrect, as France never threatened Hamburg.
. In March, , Felix entered into business with lawyers Charles Lovenskiold and
John S. McCambell in a firm called Felix A. Blücher and Company, Western
Texas Land Agency.
. A good description of the effects of this drought on livestock operations can be
found in Lea, King Ranch, :–.
. Felix’s stepfather, George Kill-Mar, had indeed made an enormous amount of
money with the sale and development of the estate Birkenwäldchen. Wigger,
Familie von Blücher, :–.
. No extant newspaper account of this murder was located. During the s all of
South Texas suffered a general breakdown in law and order. Highway robberies,
murders, kidnappings, and general thievery were rampant. Thompson, A Wild and
Vivid Land, –.
. Teplitz is located on a rocky spur below the Erzgebirge mountains in Czec-
hoslovakia. It was famous for its radioactive springs. Believing that gunshot
wounds could be remedied by these waters, Prussian, Austrian, and Saxon au-
thorities maintained spa establishments for disabled men there in the nineteenth
century.
. Maria’s observation here turned out to be quite true; Julia remained unmarried
and independent until her death on June , .
. For a biographical sketch of General Philip H. Sheridan (–), see Tyler et al.,
eds., New Handbook of Texas, :–.
. Vienna, Austria, hosted a world’s fair in . The city skyline is still dominated by
its giant Ferris wheel in the Prater.

[  ]
      ‒
. Richard and Henrietta King were well known for their hospitality. Maria’s lack of
description of her visit to Santa Gertrudis is disappointing, for it would have been
one of the very few contemporary descriptions of the King Ranch during the
s. Lea, King Ranch, :–.
. For a history of the building of this railroad, see Cheeseman, Perfectly Exhausted.
For a detailed contemporary account and description of this survey, see Charles
F. H. von Blücher, “Early Plans for a Railroad to Laredo,” typescript dated Sep-
tember , , Blücher Family Papers.
. Lieutenant Elijah Harvey Wheeler had remained in Corpus Christi after the
Civil War, taking a room at first with Maria and her family. After losing in his
attempt to win Maria’s daughter Julia’s hand in marriage, he married the daughter
of Felix’s business partner, lawyer John S. McCampbell. He and Maria, however,
remained close friends.  Census, Nueces County, .
. Anna Josephine Schubie was described as “a beautiful and wealthy Prussian
widow,” who had worked at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. She was
reported to be a favorite conversational companion of President Abraham Lin-
coln. In  she married Colonel Richard Henry Savage at the embassy. New York
Times, October , .
. Colonel Richard Henry Savage, soldier, author, traveler, and engineer, was born in
Utica, New York on June , , and grew up in San Francisco, California. Hav-
ing graduated from West Point in , he served as federal commissioner to
Texas in –, investigating the cattle wars and general lawlessness in South
Texas. He met Richard King during this investigation and later helped to build
the railroad to Laredo. Afterward, Savage spent his time traveling around the
world, engaged in geographical and engineering studies. A voluminous writer, he
authored thirty volumes of prose and poetry, including a fictional account of
Richard King and the building of the railroad to Laredo, titled For Life and Love:
A Story of the Rio Grande (London: George Routledge and Sons, ). New York
Times, October , .
. Lieutenant Tilston was one of the unsuccessful suitors for Julia’s hand and one of
the former Union officers with whom Maria corresponded.
. Koblenz is located in western Germany at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel
rivers. A Roman town founded in  .., it has a strategic location that made it an
important military post. The Ehrenbreitstein fortress and castle, first built in the
eleventh century, was blown up by the French in  after a four-year siege; it was
later rebuilt (–) into one of the strongest fortresses in Europe. Hermann von
Blücher had apparently accepted a military assignment there.
. This gentleman and family could not be identified. Again, Maria’s prejudice and
Prussian sensibilities are obvious here.
. Felix was actively selling and trading land during this period; see, among others,
Nueces County Deed Records, Book H, –, –; Book I, , , –,
–; Book K, –; Book L, ; and Book M, .
. Königsee is located on Bartholomaussee in Bavaria in southeastern Germany, high
in the German Alps. Situated in a deep valley surrounded by sheer limestone moun-
tains rising to , feet, the town is one of the most picturesque in all the Alps.
. Maria is referring here to the now famous campaign waged against banditry by
Captain Leander H. McNelly of the Texas Rangers, who with measured brutality
“cleaned up the Nueces Strip” in . Lea, King Ranch, :–.

[  ]
              ‒  
. Strong hurricanes struck the Texas Gulf Coast in both  and ; see Charles
F. H. von Blücher, “ Hurricane,” typescript dated September , , Blücher
Family Papers.
. Ibid.
. For a biographical sketch of Major Hollub, see Charles F. H. von Blücher, “Major
Hollub,” typescript dated January , , Blücher Family Papers.
. For a biographical sketch of Dr. Arthur Edward Spohn (–), see Tyler et
al., eds., New Handbook of Texas, :.
. The centennial of the Declaration of Independence in  was widely celebrated
across the nation, including with a world’s fair in Philadelphia. Every community
in America held festivities.
. Maria’s son Richard built and occupied a home located next to that of his older
brother Charles. He worked at various occupations until he died in .
. Maria’s son George would go on to a successful career in the emerging ice and
refrigeration industry.
. See Utley, Indian Frontier.
. Once again, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were ravaged by yellow fever.
Saxon, New Orleans, –.
. For a biographical sketch of John McClane, former sheriff of Nueces County, see
Frank Wagner, “Research Papers,” Corpus Christi Public Library; see also “Major
F. A. Blücher,” Corpus Christi Daily Gazette, February , .

 . 
. Maria von Blücher to Dear Mother, February , , Blücher Family Papers.
. See, among others, Nueces County Deed Records, Book D, , , ; Book E,
, , , , , , ; Book F, –; Book G, , –, –, ; Book
H, –, –; Book I, , , –, , –; Book K, –; Book L,
; and Book M, .
. For example, see among others Felix von Blücher to Beloved Parents, April ,
, Blücher Family Papers.
. For land sales, see among others Nueces County Deeds, Book G, ; Book I, ,
–; Book L, ; and, Book M, .
. Maria von Blücher to Cordially loved Parents, March , , Blücher Family
Papers.
. Nueces County Probate Court Minutes, Book E, –; Book F, –.
. “Mrs. Maria A. von Blücher,” Corpus Christi Caller, September , .
. Walraven, Corpus Christi, –.
. For an excellent discussion of the immigrant experience reflective of Maria’s deci-
sion to remain in America and not return to Germany, see Daniel J. Boorstin, The
Americans: The National Experience (New York: Random House and Vintage
Books, ), –.

[  ]
[  ]
    

Index
Photos and illustrations are indicated with bold typeface.
MvB is an abbreviation for Maria von Blücher and FvB is an
abbreviation for Felix von Blücher.

Abbe, Frank,  Bee, Hamilton Prioleau, , n. 

absences (FvB’s, Civil War period): au- Belden, Frederick, , , , n. 
tumn, , , ; extended, –, Belden, Mauricia Arocha, , , n. 
, , , , , ; overview, , Berlin: aquarium, –, n. ; chol-
; spring, , , , , ; sum- era, , , –, , , n. ;
mer, , ; winter, , , . See fire in art museum, ; panthers, ;
also military service (FvB’s) population, ; rioting, , n. ;
absences (FvB’s, early Corpus Christi Tiergarten district, , n. , n. 
years): autumns, , , , , –, Bernhard, Mr., 
, –; overview, ; spring, –, birds, , , 
–, , ; summer, , , , ; Birkenwäldchen, , , n. , n. 
winter, , , , . See also work birthdays: FvB’s, ; MvB’s, , , , ,
(FvB’s) ; parents of MvB, , , , 
absences (FvB’s, emigration/arrival pe- Bismarck, Otto von, n. 
riod), , ,  blockade effects, –, –
absences (FvB’s, Reconstruction era): Blücher, Anna Elizabeth von: birth/
autumn, , –; extended, , infancy, xi, , , ; death, , ,
, ; spring, , , –, , , ; grave site, , , 
; summer, ; winters, , , , Blücher, Auguste von (born Dewitz), –
. See also work (FvB’s) , n. 
“Adam’s Express,”  Blücher, Carl (Charles) Friedrich von
Aliza (daughter of Mrs. Savage),  (adulthood): Christmas celebrations,
Allen, Dr.,  ; engagement, ; FvB’s death,
Andersonville prison,  ; FvB’s Laredo illness, ; garden-
angina cough, ,  ing, –; illness, ; marriage, –
Antonio, ,  n. ; post office work, ; railway
ants,  work, ; schooling, ; survey work,
Apollonio,  , –, –, , , , ,
Atlantic voyages, xv, , , –, ,  ; thunderstorm, –; trip to
Germany, , , , ; on Union
Balerio, Cecilio, , n.  officers, –n. 
baptisms, , ,  Blücher, Carl (Charles) Friedrich von
Battle of Las Rucias, , n.  (childhood/youth): appearance, 149,
bedding, , – 154, 183, 210, 218; baptism, 200;
Bee, General,  birth/infancy, xi, 39, 102–103, 104,

[  ]
    
Blücher, Carl (Charles) Friedrich von ships, ; horseback riding, , ;
(childhood/youth) (cont.) horse thefts, ; household opera-
105; Christmas celebrations, 126; tions/projects, , , , ; house
church, 116; clothing, 154; dances/ plans, ; Hungarian fugitives, –;
parties, 154; household work, 149, hunting, ; illness, , , –, ;
206; illness, 127, 182, 187, 188, 190, Indians, ; inheritance, –, ;
192, 209, 213; Independence Day letters from, –, ; Mexican
celebration, 107; music, 148, 159, 205; “insulter,” –; needle guns, , ;
Rio Grande City trip, 214; schooling, overview, –; panther, ; pigs and
140, 147–48, 162, 172, 175, 181, 202, arm wound, ; political activities, ,
205, 211, 213; survey work, 215–16; , –; ranch operations, , ,
temperament, 106, 110, 111, 114 , , , , n. ; rattlesnakes,
Blücher, Ernst Anton Wilhelm von, , –; rescue of Domingo, ; servant/
n. , n.  worker payments, ; Seyler relation-
Blücher, Ernst Karl Theodor von (FvB’s ship, ; shipping problems, ; status
cousin), , n.  in community, –; survey work, ;
Blücher, Felix von (biographical high- temperament, , , , –; umbrella
lights): childhood/youth, –, ; Civil search, . See also absences (FvB’s, early
War period, –; death/estate, , Corpus Christi years); work (FvB’s,
–; early Corpus Christi years, – early Corpus Christi years)
; education/work in Germany, –, Blücher, Felix von (emigration/arrival
n. ; emigration/arrival period, – period): clothing, ; drinking, n.
, , –; mapmaking legacy, ; ; friendships, , , , ; gifts to
Reconstruction era, –; wedding/ MvB, , –, , ; house plans, ;
honeymoon period, ,  hunting, ; inheritance dispute, –
Blücher, Felix von (Civil War period): ; land purchases, , , n. ;
appearance, ; celebrations, –; music, ; ocean journey, ; overview,
clothing, , ; Confederate military –; rattlesnakes, ; temperament,
service, , , , , , , , , n. ; work, , , , –
n. ; drinking, ; French/Mexi- Blücher, Felix von (Reconstruction era):
can conflict, , , n. , n. ; appearance, , ; birthday, ;
gifts to MvB, –, ; house plans/ business/work, , , , , ,
building, ; illness, ; inheritance, , , , , n. ; drinking,
, –, , –; Mary’s en- , , , , , , , , ;
gagement, ; MvB’s trip to Ger- illness/injuries, , , , ; in-
many, , ; Mexico period, , heritance/contact with Kill-Mar, ,
, , , ; money from MvB’s , , , ; Julia’s trip to Ger-
parents, –; overview, –; many, , , , ; Mary’s Boston
payment of workers, ; ranch opera- period, ; Mary’s wedding, ;
tions, ; temperament, ; work,  MvB’s trip to Germany, , –,
Blücher, Felix von (early Corpus Christi ; temperament, , , , 
years): appearance, , , –; birth Blücher, Friedrich Theodor von, n. 
of children, , , , ; Büsse rela- Blücher, Gehard Lebrecht von, 
tionship, , , ; celebrations, , Blücher, George Anton von: adult work,
–, , ; children’s schooling, ; , –, n. ; anniversary gifts
dancing, ; drinking, , ; feather to mother, ; appearance, , ,
bed, ; friendships, ; gifts to MvB, ; baptism, ; birth/infancy, xi,
, , , , ; godparent relation- , , , ; celebrations, , ;

[  ]
    
clothing, , ; donkey, ; gun Blücher, Lebrecht von, n. 
from grandparents, , ; illness/ Blücher, Maria Augusta Imme von (bio-
health, , , ; schooling, , , graphical highlights): birth/childhood,
, , , ; temperament, , –, –n. ; Civil War period, –
; trip to Germany, , , ; ; death, –; early Corpus Christi
work, – years, –; emigration/arrival period,
Blücher, Georg Ludwig Ernst von, n. , , –; overview, xv–xviii, –;
 Reconstruction era, –, , ;
Blücher, Gustav Hans Karl Friedrich von, wedding/honeymoon period, , ;
–, n.  widowhood, –
Blücher, Helmet Hartwig von, n.  Blücher, Maria (Mary) Felicia von (adult-
Blücher, Hermann Ludwig Karl von, , hood): appearance, , , ; Bos-
, , n. , n. , n.  ton period, , , –, , ,
Blücher, Ida von, – , ; Christmas celebrations, ;
Blücher, Julia Augusta von (childhood/ father-in-law’s death, ; gardening,
youth): appearance, , , , ; –, , ; household work at
birth/infancy, , –, ; Christmas MvB’s, ; illness, , , , ,
celebrations, ; church, ; clothing, –, –, ; Julia’s letters, ,
–; dances, ; engagement, , , , , ; music, , , ,
, , ; horseback riding, ; , ; Rio Grande City period, ,
household work, , , , ; , , , , , , , –,
illness/injuries, , , , , ; ; social standing, , , ;
Independence Day celebration, – temperament, , –; wedding,
; livestock, , ; marriage pro- , ; work at MvB’s household,
posals, , , , ; Mary’s wed- , 
ding, ; music, , , ; Blücher, Maria (Mary) Felicia von (child-
personality/interests, , , , ; hood/youth): appearance, , , ,
schooling, , –, , , ,  , , , , , ; baptism, ;
Blücher, Julia Augusta von (adulthood/ birth/infancy, xi, , –, –, –
trip to Germany): appearance, , ; Christmas celebrations, ;
; arrival, ; baptism, ; death, church, ; clothing, , , –;
n. ; engagement, ; illness, , dances/parties, , ; engagement
; letters home described, –, period, , , –; horseback
, –, , , , , , , riding, , , , , , ;
, , , ; MvB’s hope for household work, , , , , ,
return, –, , , –, ; ; illness, , ; illness/injuries, ,
MvB’s war worries, ; money from , ; Independence Day celebration,
MvB, , , ; music, , , , –; livestock, , ; music, ;
–; personality, , , , – personality/interests, , –, , ,
, , n. ; preparations/depar- , , , , , n. ; ranch
ture, , , –, –, n. ; work, , ; schooling, , , ,
return to Texas, xv, , n. , n. , , –, , , 
; travel expenses, ; visit of MvB, Blücher, Marie Marguerite von, xv
; visit to Kill-Mar, ; writing Blücher, Richard Paul von: adult work,
interests,  , , , , , , , ,
Blücher, Karl Wilhelm von,  n. ; appearance, , , ;
Blücher, Karoline von (later von Hertel; baptism, ; birth/infancy, xi, , ,
then Kill-Mar), , , , , n.  ; Christmas celebrations, ;

[  ]
    
Blücher, Richard Paul von (cont.) catfish, , n. 
church, ; donkey, ; household cattle ranching and drought, , , 
work, , ; illness/health, , , celebrations: birthdays, , , , , ,
, ; Laredo trip, ; schooling, ; Corpus Christi, , –, , ,
–, , , , , ; tempera- , n. ; Easter, , ; Indepen-
ment, , ,  dence Day, –, –, –,
Blücher Prairie, n. . See also ranch n. ; neighborhood, –; New
operations (FvB’s) Year’s, –, , ; weddings and
Blüthner, Julius,  anniversaries, , , , . See also
boots, –,  Christmas celebrations
Bremen, Germany, , n.  Chapman, Helen, –, , , ,
brick yard business,  n. , n. 
Britton, Dr.,  Chapman, William Warren, –, ,
Britton, Rebecca,  , n. 
Brownsville violence,  childbirth/pregnancy, , –, , –,
Bryden, James, n.  –, , –, , 
business activity. See economic activity, child rearing practices, , –, –,
Corpus Christi , n. 
Büsse, Frederick: A. von Blücher’s grave cholera, , , –, , , , n.
site, , , ; birthday celebrations, 
, , ; carpentry work, , , , , Christmas celebrations: Civil War period,
, , ; cash assistance, , ; , , , ; early Corpus Christi
characterized by MvB, , , , , years, , , –, –, , , ;
; cholera news, ; Christmas emigration/arrival period, ; Julia in
celebrations, , , , , , ; Germany, , –; Reconstruction
Civil War period, , , , ; era, , –, , 
companionship generally, , , , Civil War: Battle of Las Rucias, , n.
, ; fishing, ; gardening, ; ; blockade effects, –, , ;
illness, ; Independence Day cel- conscription, , , , , n. ;
ebrations, ; Indian conflicts, ; Corpus Christi battles, –, ;
Kill-Mar and, ; Mary’s birth, ; MvB’s Confederate sympathies, ,
Mary’s wedding, ; Mexican “in- , , , ; Mustang Island
sulter,” ; money orders, ; New battles, ; New Orleans, n. ;
Year’s celebrations, ; ocean voyage, overview, –; secession of Texas,
, , ; overview, n. ; property, ; shipping routes, , , , ,
n. ; rattlesnakes, ; on Richard’s , n. ; Vicksburg, , n. 
temperament, ; shopping, ; thun- clothing: Civil War period, –, ,
derstorm,  , , , , , –, , –
butterflies,  ; early Corpus Christi years, –,
–, , , –, , –, –,
California fever, , n.  , ; emigration period, ; Recon-
cardinals, ,  struction era, –, , , 
Carl (Prince of Solms-Braunfels),  cockroaches, 
Carmel, Doña,  Concepción, Texas, , n. 
Carolina Cottage,  conscription during Civil War, , ,
Carpenter, J. B., , , n.  , , n. 
Casa Blanca grant, , n.  cooking utensils, , 
castor bean plants, ,  corn crop, 

[  ]
    
Corpus Christi, overview: Civil War engagement period, , –, ,
years, –; founding/early settle- , ; father’s death/estate, , –
ment, , , –, n. ; Recon- , ; FvB’s death, ; fire in tool
struction era, –. See also eco- house, ; household assistance, ,
nomic activity (Corpus Christi) , ; illness/health, , , –;
Corpus Christi Caller, – Independence Day celebration, ;
Cortina, Juan N.,  Laredo trip, ; marital gifts, , –
Cortina, Nepomuceno,  ; military service, , –n. ;
cotton,  mother’s death/estate, ; pipes from
crime. See violence/crime Germany, –, , ; political
Crimean War, n. , n.  work, ; property, ; voter registra-
Croll art museum,  tion program, , –, n. ;
Cuba, , n.  wedding, , 
currency/coin during Civil War, , , draft during Civil War, , , , 
, , ,  drawing education, , n2
Dresden, , n. , n. 
dances/parties, , ,  Dreyse, Nikolaus, n. 
Davis, Edmund Jackson, , , , drinking (FvB’s): Civil War period, ;
n.  early Corpus Christi years, , ;
Davis, Mrs., , ,  emigration/arrival period, n. ;
deer, –, – Reconstruction era, , , , ,
Democrats of Corpus Christi,  , , , , 
Denmark, n.  Droage, Oettling & Co.: crate shipments,
Dewitz, Auguste von (later von Blücher), , , ; money from MvB’s par-
–, n.  ents, , , , , –, ;
Dewitz, Louise von, – operations described, n. 
diphtheria,  drought: Civil War period, , , ,
disease. See illness/health entries, e.g. ill- n. ; early Corpus Christi years,
ness/health (MvB’s) , , , , , , ; Reconstruc-
doctors: Civil War period, –, , ; tion era, –, , , –. See
early Corpus Christi years, , –, also weather entries, e.g. weather in
, , n. ; emigration/arrival Corpus Christi (winter)
period, , ; Germany, , , n. Dumas, Alexandre, , n. 
; Reconstruction era,  Dunn (Scotswoman servant), , , 
Doddridge, Perry, , n.  Dweyer family, 
Doddridge, Rachel, , ,  dysentery, , 
dogs: early Corpus Christi years, , ,
, , , ; in Germany, , n.  Eagle Pass trip, –
dolls, , , ,  Easter celebrations, , 
Domingo, –, , , –, , , , Eaton & Henderson, 
 economic activity, Corpus Christi: Civil
Downing, James: appearance, , ; War shipping routes, , , , ,
bookkeeper work, ; Boston stay, , n. ; early years, , –, ,
, –, ; brick yard business, , , ; Reconstruction era, ,
; carpentry work, ; cash assis- –, –
tance, , ; characterized by MvB, economic activity, New Orleans, –
; Christmas celebrations, ; cus- Edly and Kirsten, 
toms job, , , , , , ; education. See schooling of children

[  ]
    
egret feathers,  , , ; emigration/arrival period,
Ehrenbreitstein castle, n.  , ; Reconstruction era, , –,
Elbe (ship), , , – , , 
Elizabeth (servant),  Garza Montemayor, Juan José de la, n.
emigration/arrival period (overview), – 
 German Emigration Association, , 
English lessons (MvB’s), ,  gifts from FvB: Civil War period, –,
evacuation of Corpus Christi (Civil War), ; early Corpus Christi years, , ,
 , , ; emigration/arrival period,
eye trouble: MvB’s, , –; MvB’s , –, , 
father, , ,  gifts from friends/relatives: early Corpus
Christi years, –, , , , , ,
Falcón, Blas,  ; emigration/arrival period, , ;
fandango riot,  honeymoon period, ; Reconstruction
Fanny (ship),  era, . See also Christmas celebra-
farming, , ,  tions
finances. See income gifts from parents (MvB’s): Civil War
fires, –, , , n.  period, , , , , , , –
First Presbyterian Church, , n.  ; early Corpus Christi years, , –
fishing, , , , n.  , , , –, , –, , , ,
flamingos,  , ; emigration/arrival period, ;
flowers, , –, ,  honeymoon period, , ; Reconstruc-
food: Civil War period, , –, , tion era, , , , , 
, , , , , , , n. ; Gilpin, Mr., 
early Corpus Christi years, –, , godparent relationships, 
, –, –, , , –; emi- Greer, Captain, 
gration/arrival period, –, , , ; Gulf of Mexico voyage, –, –
Reconstruction era, , , . See guns, , , , , , , , n. 
also gardens Güstrow, Germany, , n. 
Ford, Rip, , n. , n. 
Fortuna (ship),  Halle, Germany, n. 
Franco-Prussian War, n.  Hamburg, Germany, –, n. 
Frederick the Wise, n.  Hancock, Winfield Scott, , , n.
Frederick William IV, , n. , –n. 
, n.  Hardy, Professor, 
freight costs, –, ,  Headen, Margaret, –, , n. 
French/Mexican conflict, , , n. , Headen, William, , n. 
n.  Heath, Mr., 
Friedrich-Wilhelm Universität, , n.  Henschel, Dr., , , n. 
Frost, Mrs., – Hentz, Caroline Lee, 
fruit, , ,  Herbert, Mary B. (later Kinney), ,
Fullerton, Captain,  n. 
Fullerton, Philip,  Hermes, Wilhelm, 
Hertel, Karoline von (later von Blücher;
Gamble, Mr.,  then Kill-Mar), , , , , n. 
Gannard, Father,  Hildago Seminary, , n. 
gardens: Civil War period, ; early Hobby, Alford M., , n. 
Corpus Christi years, , , , –, Hollub, Major, –, 

[  ]
    
homesickness: Civil War period, –, ice, , –
; early Corpus Christi years, , , illness/health: Berlin’s cholera, , ,
, , , , , ; emigration/arrival n. ; Civil War period, , ,
period, , , , ; Reconstruction , , , , , , ; early
era, , , ,  Corpus Christi years, , , , , ,
honeymoon period, – , , –, , , , , n. ;
Horn, Pauline,  ocean voyage, , 
horseback riding: Civil War period, , illness/health (MvB’s): Civil War period,
; early Corpus Christi years, , , , –, , ; early Corpus
, , , , , , ; Teschow Christi years, , , , –, , ,
visit,  –, –, –, , ; emi-
horses: drought conditions, ; FvB/MvB gration/arrival period, , , ;
purchases, , ; feeding, , ; light- Reconstruction era, , , ,
ning strikes, , ; panther attack, 
; racing, ; rainy season, ; rattle- illness/health (Reconstruction era): Char-
snakes, –; sale prices, ; sickness, ley, , , , ; Downing, ,
; thefts, , , . See also livestock –; family colds, ; FvB, , ,
household goods: Civil War period, – , ; Julia in Germany, , ;
, ; early Corpus Christi years, – Mary, , , , , –, –,
, , , –; emigration/arrival ; yellow fever epidemics, , ,
period, –; Reconstruction era,  , 
household operations: Civil War period, Imme, Amalie, –n. 
, , , , , , , , ; Imme, Anna, , n. 
emigration/arrival period, –; Imme, Carl Friedrich, , –n. . See
Reconstruction era, –, , – also gifts from parents (MvB’s); par-
, , –, , ,  ents (MvB’s); requests of parents
household operations (early Corpus (MvB’s)
Christi years): child care, ; costs of, Imme, Julius, , , , , –n. ,
, ; FvB’s assistance, , , , ; n. 
laundry, , , , , ; monotony/ Imme, Marie Auguste (earlier Kroll), ,
burden of, , , , –; over- –n. . See also gifts from parents
view, –. See also servants/workers (MvB’s); parents (MvB’s); requests of
(early Corpus Christi years) parents (MvB’s)
houses: arrival period, , , , n. ; Imme, Marie Luise (born Schröder), –
Civil War period, ; early Corpus n. 
Christi years, –, –, –, , Immel, Carl Frederick, Jr., , , ,
, –, ; Ohler’s, , n. ; n. , n. 
Reconstruction era, ,  income: Civil War period, , , ,
Howe, Elias, –n.  , , , , , , , , –
Hughes, Frederick, –, , n.  , –; early Corpus Christi
Humboldt, Karl Wilhelm Freiherr von, , years, , , , , , , , , ,
n.  , ; emigration/arrival period,
hummingbirds,  –, , ; inheritance, ; over-
Hungarian fugitives, –, n.  view, ; Reconstruction era, ,
Hungary, , n. , n.  , , , , , , , ,
Hunt, Walter, –n.  , , , 
hunting, , , , –, –, , – Independence Day celebrations, –,
hurricanes, , , , n. , n.  –, n. 

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    
Indian corn, , , ,  land management for Kinney, , 
Indianola, , , n.  land purchases (FvB’s), , , , –,
Indians, , , , –, , –, , n. 
n. , n. , n. , n.  language skills, , , , , , , –
inheritance dispute (FvB’s), –, –, , 
, , –, , –, , , laundry services. See washing work
, n.  Lawrence, Dora, 
Ireland, John, , n.  Le Havre, France, , n. 
Lerdo de Tejada, Sebastián, 
jackrabbits,  Lewis, Gideon K. “Legs,” n. 
jaguar skin,  lightning strikes, –, , 
Jenner, Edward, n.  Liszt, Franz, xvii, , n. 
Jorden, Mr.,  Littig, J. W., n. 
Juan (servant), , , ,  Littig, Mary, , , n. 
livestock: Civil War period, , , ,
Karney, Dr.,  , , n. ; early Corpus Christi
Kenedy, Mifflin, , n. , n.  years, , , , , , , , , ,
Kill-Mar, George: Birkenwäldchen resi- , , , –, ; emigration/
dence, , , n. , n. ; arrival period, , ; Ohler’s, ;
FvB’s inheritance and, –, –; Reconstruction era, , –, ,
FvB’s later contact, , ; Julia’s trip . See also horses
to Germany, , , , , , London’s world fair, , n. 
, ; MvB’s opinion of, , , , loneliness, early Corpus Christi years, .
; MvB’s photograph request, ; See also homesickness
MvB’s visit, ; treatment of stepchil- Lone Star Fair, , , n. 
dren, , n.  López, Señor, 
Kill-Mar, Karoline (earlier von Blücher; Love, Louise, 
then Hertel), , , , , n.  Lovenskiold, Charles, , , n. ,
King, Henrietta, n.  n. 
King, Richard, , , n. , n. , Luther, Martin, n. 
n. , n. , n. 
Kinney, Henry Lawrence: affair with M. Magner, Mr., 
Ohler, ; Corpus Christi promotion, maguey plant, 
–, , , n. ; divorce, , n. Mann, Bill, 
; land sale to FvB, ; livestock sales mapmaking work (FvB’s), , , –,
to FvB, , ; Lone Star Fair, , , 
n. ; marriages, , , , n. , Matagorda, 
n. ; MvB’s cow, ; Nuecestown McCambell, John S., n. 
promotion, , n. ; work for FvB, McCambell, Miss (later Wheeler), ,
,  , n. 
Kinney, Mary B. (earlier Herbert), , , McClane, John, 
, , , , , n. , n.  McNelly, Leander H., , n. 
Kittredge, John W., , ,  Meade, George C., n. 
Koblenz, Germany, n.  measles, 
Königsee, Germany, n.  Mecklenburg visit, 
Kramer & Comp.,  medicine. See illness/health entries, e.g.
Kroll, Marie Auguste (later Imme), , illness/health (MvB’s)
–n.  Mejía, Tomás, , 

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Meuly, Conrad, –n.  newspapers, , , , 
Meuly, Mary,  New Year’s celebrations, –, , 
Meuly, Mary Rahm, , , , , , , Nicholas I, n. 
–n.  Noessel, George, , , , , , ,
Mexican “insulter,” – , , 
midwives, , , . See also childbirth/ Noessel, Mrs., , , 
pregnancy Noessel, Otto, 
military posts, , –, , , , , Nolda, Ernst, –n. 
–n. , –n. , n.  Normann, Herr, 
military service (FvB’s): Civil War, –, Nueces River land purchase, , n. 
, , , , , , , n. ;
Comanche wars, , n. ; French/ ocean voyages, xv, , , –, , 
Mexican conflict, , , n. , Oettling, Mr. See Droage, Oettling & Co.
n. ; Mexican War,  Ohler, Edward, , , , , n. ,
Mississippi River, , , –,  n. 
money. See income; wages Ohler, Matilda: affair with Kinney, , ;
money orders,  characterized by MvB, –, , ,
Moore, Cornelia, , , –, n.  n. ; Christmas celebrations, ;
Moore, John Marks Davenport, –, Civil War period, ; haircutting, ;
n.  house description, n. ; Schätzell’s
Morgen, defined, n.  estate, 
mosquitos, , , 
mountain lion, , n.  panther attack, 
Müchler, Carl,  parents (MvB’s): birthdays, , , ,
Müller, Bertha,  ; death, , ; health, , ,
Müller, Captain.,  , , , ; MvB’s travel encour-
Müller, Madame,  agements, , , , , , , , ,
Müller, Michael, , , , , , – ; opinion of FvB, ; political opin-
, n.  ions, , , n. ; wedding anni-
music: Civil War period, , , , versary, , , , n. 
, , ; early Corpus Christi parties/dances, 
years, , , , , , , ; emi- Patrick, Captain, 
gration/arrival period, , , ; Julia Paul of Wittenberg, Prince, , , n.
in Germany, , , –, ; 
Reconstruction era, , , , , pelicans, 
, , , n. ; Schwerin Pérez, Alvaro, , , n. 
opera,  Petersen, Miss, 
music (MvB’s teaching): Civil War pe- pets: early Corpus Christi years, , , ,
riod, , ; obituary comment, n. , , ; in Germany, , n. 
; Reconstruction era, xvii, , , Phyllis (servant), , , , –, 
–, , –, ,  pianos: FvB’s gift, ; freighting to Cor-
Mustang Island,  pus Christi, , ; MvB’s pleasure in,
, , ; MvB’s purchase, ; sales
National Assembly visit, , n.  of, , ; shipping damage, ; tun-
needle guns, , , , , n.  ing costs, . See also music; music
New Braunfels,  (MvB’s teaching)
New Orleans: characterized, –, n. Planter’s Northern Bride (Hentz), 
; letters from, –, – Poggelow, Germany, , , n. 

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    
political opinions/interests (MvB’s): Schatzel, John Peter, , n. 
Confederate sympathies, , , , Schätzell, Peter, –
, ; FvB’s elections, , , – Scheibler, Mr., 
; Germany, n. ; local elec- Schmidt, Bertha, , , n. 
tions, . See also war in Europe Schmidt, Mrs. (midwife), 
Poly (friend),  Schmidt, Pauline, , , , n. 
postage costs,  schooling of children: Civil War period,
pregnancy/childbirth, , –, , –, , , , , –, –, , ,
–, , –, ,  –, , n. ; early Corpus
Prussia, overview, , n.  Christi years, , –, ; Recon-
Pumusz (Hungarian fugitive), – struction era, , , , , , ,
, , , , n. 
racial comments, , , , , –, , Schröder, Marie Luise (later Imme), –
, , , , n.  n. 
railroads: construction, , ; impact, Schübert, Auguste, , , 
, , ; surveying for, , , Schübert, Richard: assistance during Civil
, –; wages,  War, , , –, , , , ;
Rancho los Laureles, n.  assistance in general, , n. ; cash
ranch operations (FvB’s): Civil War assistance, , , ; Christmas
period, ; early Corpus Christi years, celebrations, , ; escorting the
, , , , , , , n.  children, , , ; evacuating the
rattlesnakes, , –, ,  household, ; horseback riding, ,
Reconstruction era, overview, – ; Independence Day celebrations,
religion, , , , , n.  ; marriage/wife, , , , ,
requests of parents (MvB’s): Civil War ; photograph of Corpus Christi,
period, , , , , , , , ; sheep ranching, , , ; store
, , , , ; early Corpus keeping, , , ; teaching Mary,
Christi years, , , , , , , , ; thunderstorm, ; visit to Ger-
, , , –; emigration period, many, , , , , , , ,
, –; honeymoon period, ; 
Reconstruction era, , , , , Schubie, Anna Josephine (later Savage),
, , , –,  –, , n. 
Richter, Gustav, n.  Schünke, Mr., , , , , , , , , 
Rieben, Christine von Blücher, , , , Schwerin, Germany, –, n. , n.
, , , , n.  
Riggs, Hiram, n.  scorpions, 
Rio Grande City,  Scotswoman servant, , , 
riot in Corpus Christi, – scurvy, 
Ruggles, George David, – secession of Texas, , 
Russell, Major,  servants/workers: FvB’s, , ; in Meckle-
burg, . See also Büsse, Frederick;
Santa Gerudis ranch, , , , , Domingo; Phyllis (servant); Schübert,
n. , n.  Richard
Savage, Aliza,  servants/workers (early Corpus Christi
Savage, Anna Josephine (earlier Schubie), years): complaints about, , , ,
–, , n.  –, , , ; lack of, , , ;
Savage, Richard Henry, , n. , praises of, –, , , , ; wages,
n.  , , , , , 

[  ]
    
Sevastopol, , n.  Tiltson, Lieutenant, , , n. 
sewing, , –, , , ,  toothache (MvB’s), , –, 
sewing machines, , , , , – Trakehner (horse), , n. 
n.  travel to Germany (MvB’s): departure,
Seyler, Mr., , , n.  , ; hopes for, , , , , –
sheep ranching, , , , , n.  , –, , , ; letters to
sheepshead (fish),  Felix, ; planning, , –; re-
Sheridan, Philip H., , n.  turn from, –; worries about, –
shoes, –, , , ,  , , , –. See also Blücher,
Singer, Isaac Merrit, –n.  Julia Augusta von (adulthood/trip to
slavery, , , , n.  Germany)
smallpox, , , , , n.  Turner, Dr., –, 
Smith, Persifor F., –, –n. 
social standing: Civil War period, –; Uihatzi (Hungarian fugitive), –
early Corpus Christi years, –; umbrella search, 
Reconstruction era,  Union Record, 
Spanish skills,  Union soldiers. See Yankee soldiers
Spohn, Arthur Edward, , n. 
spring weather,  Vicksburg, , n. 
Stint (dog), , n.  Vienna Exposition, , n. 
Stone, Mr.,  violence/crime: early Corpus Christi
storms: autumn, –, , , , , years, –, –, , , n. ;
n. , n. ; ocean journey, , Reconstruction era, , –, ,
–; spring, –; summer, , , n. , n. 
–
Stralow home, , ,  wages, , , ; carpentry, , , ,
Stuart, Lieutenant, , , , n.  ; cotton trading, ; customs work,
Sukow, Germany, , n.  , , ; land management, ;
Sulakowsky, Col.,  mapmaking, , , –; midwife
surveyor elections, , – work, ; military service, , , ;
survey work (FvB’s). See work entries, e.g. music lessons, ; railroad work, ;
work (FvB’s) servant, , , , , , , , ;
skinning hides, ; store clerking, ;
taxes, ,  survey work, , , , ; teaching,
Taylor, Mr., , – , ; well-digging, 
teaching work (MvB’s), , , , , Wardwell, Mr., 
, , . See also music (MvB’s war in Europe: Civil War period, , –
teaching) , n. ; early Corpus Christi
Tennyson, Alfred, , n.  years, –, , , , –, , ,
Teptlitz, Czechoslovakia, n.  n. , n. , n. ; Recon-
Teschow castle, –, n.  struction era, , , , , ,
Texas Rangers, , , , n. , n. , n. 
, n.  war with Mexico, , , n. 
Texas stars (flowers), , – washing machines, –, 
thunderstorms. See storms washing work, , –, , , , –
Thuringia (ship),  wax taper gift, 
Tiergarten park, , n. , n.  weapons, , , , , , , , ,
tiger, , n.  n. 

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    
weather: Berlin, ; New Orleans, , , Winterfeldt, Herr von, , 
; ocean journey, , – Wittenberg, Germany, n. 
weather in Corpus Christi: autumn, – Witzel, Ernst Nolda, xvi
, , , , , , , n. , Witzel, Willy, xvi
n. ; spring, , , , –,  wolves, 
weather in Corpus Christi (summer): Woodhouse, Henry E., 
early years, , , , , , , ; work (FvB’s): Civil War period, ;
emigrant/arrival period, , ; Re- emigration/arrival period, , , ,
construction era, , –, , , –; Germany, –, n. ;
. See also drought mapmaking legacy, ; Reconstruc-
weather in Corpus Christi (winter): Civil tion era, , , , , , , ,
War years, , ; early years, , ; , , n. . See also absences
Reconstruction era, , , –, entries, e.g. absences (FvB’s, early
, , , , . See also drought Corpus Christi years); military service
Webb, Mrs., , , n.  (FvB’s)
wedding anniversaries: MvB’s, ; MvB’s work (FvB’s, early Corpus Christi years):
parents, , , , n.  autumn, , , –, , , ;
weddings, , ,  habits of, –, ; payment for, ;
Wentzlaff, Franz, –, n.  spring, –, , , , ; summer,
Wentzlaff, Marie (born von Blücher), , , , ; surveyor election, , –
–, n.  ; winter, 
Wheeler, Elijah Harvey: assistance of
MvB’s family, , , , ; Boston Yankee soldiers: Corpus Christi battles/
visit, ; brick yard business, ; char- occupation, –, , –, ,
acterized by MvB, , ; Christmas , , ; dances, ; departure
celebrations, ; courtship/engagement from Corpus Christi, ; Julia’s pro-
with Julia, , , , , , , ; posals, , ; mail/shipping assis-
government work, ; Julia’s trip to tance, , , –, ; Mustang
Germany, , , , , ; mar- Island battles, ; post-Civil War
riage/family, –, , , n. ; correspondence, ; settlement in
Mary’s wedding, ; military service, Corpus Christi, –. See also
–n. ; New Orleans offer, ; Downing, James; Wheeler, Elijah
Schübert and, ; store keeping work, Harvey
, , ; voter registration program, yellow fever: Civil War period, ; early
, –, n.  Corpus Christi years, , –, ,
Wheeler & Wilson, , , –n.  , , , n. ; epidemic nature,
whooping cough, , , , ,  n. ; Reconstruction era, , ,
Wilkie, Herman, , n.  , , , n. 
William I, , , –n. 
Wilson, Colonel,  Zamora, Don Elochio, 
Wilson & Wheeler. See Wheeler & Zeigler, Jacob, , , , n. 
Wilson Ziegler, Margaret, , , , n. 

[  ]