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  • Civil War Letters of Louis Lehmann: With Alexander Terrell’s and James B. Likens’ Texas Cavalry Regiments, 1863–1864
  • Judith Dykes-Hoffmann
Civil War Letters of Louis Lehmann: With Alexander Terrell’s and James B. Likens’ Texas Cavalry Regiments, 1863–1864. By Edmund Louis Burnett. (Hillsboro, Tex.: Hill College Press, 2011. Pp. 252. Illustrations, maps, notes, bibliography, index. ISBN 9780912172019, $25.00 cloth.)

There are hundreds of books published that contain thousands of letters written by those who saw battle during the U.S. Civil War. In this sesquicentennial year of its commencement, it is fitting that another book containing a soldier’s letters back home be published. What makes these letters stand out are they are from Louis Lehmann, a German immigrant who had lived in Texas for fifteen years when suddenly he found himself at war with his newly adopted country. His great-grandson, Edmund Louis Burnett, is the author of Civil War Letters of Louis Lehmann. In this work Burnett offers the reader the translated letters of Louis Lehmann mostly written to his wife Freidericke, along with his own excellent commentary that gives further explanation, insight, and historical context. In addition, there are photographs and maps to add to this wonderful collection.

The letters capture Louis’s time spent in East Texas with Terrell and Likens practicing drills in anticipation of a Union invasion. The reader gains a true perspective of the struggles and even homesickness felt by these men. It is quite helpful, too, that Louis was an excellent writer and his letters are truly engaging. The topics he spent the most time writing home about were camp life, cooking, and the desertion of fellow soldiers. He also gave farming instruction to his wife and spoke of how much he missed her and the family. The letters of most interest to Civil War enthusiasts chronicle Louis’s time spent participating in the Red River Campaign and the action he encountered at the battle of Mansfield. They capture the drudgery of a soldier’s life in which most time was spent either waiting for a battle or having to pack at a moment’s notice anticipating the enemy’s next move. [End Page 421] The letters close with his time spent while being a prisoner of war in New Orleans and the last letter, written in 1866 to his brother-in-law in Germany, is quite interesting in that he gave a lengthy reflective opinion about the war itself.

Civil War Letters of Louis Lehmann adds to the growing collection of letters written by German immigrants who served in this bloody conflict. This one enriches the collection in that not only are the letters translated for the reader of English, but it is one put together by a direct descendent of the letter writer. The result is a deeper insight into the world of Louis Lehmann and his family as can only be captured by a family member. Burnett also traveled Texas and Louisiana visiting places Louis spent time at while a soldier, which adds to his commentaries. He also did the appropriate research to put these letters in proper historical context. Though not a historian by professional training, he took the appropriate steps to make this work well written and researched. He is to be commended for his efforts. It is obvious that this work was a labor of love for the author. Scholars, students, fans and lovers of Texas history are richer because of it. This book would make an excellent addition to any personal or public library of Texas history. Any student interested in German Texas history, Civil War history, military history or even social history will find this book useful to read.

Judith Dykes-Hoffmann
Texas Lutheran University
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