Translating German to English

Julius Hundhausen's Journal Translation Entry 7

We left off with Julius and his brothers finally vacating the boredom of waiting in St. Louis and boarding the steamer W.R. Arthur. On to bigger and better things...I hope. I'm enjoying this project immensely and feel a real connection to a relative long gone, who I never met myself. I'd like to think the joy of writing perhaps genetic and passed down through the generations landing on myself and my daughter (check out her blog Life as a Tween Post Covid-19).

German Transcription of Julius handwriting (don't hurt me I did my best!)

Mitwoch den 17hau August 1864

Nachdem ich meine Rechnung im Betrag von $9.00 entrichtet, und wir unsere Sachen an board gehrhaht Jatten, tranken wir mit Dustrow einign Flahchen Wein zum Abhchird. Dustrow, so wie Hermann u Hirt begleiteten uns aufs boat, auch kam Auf Nape u Edward Cramer nach aufs Boat u Naharen Abschind. Auf dem Boat machten wir de Bekanetschaft von Gaul Totten u Cape Walker von 2tau M.S. Cav. welche mit nach Orleans gehen, ebenfalls Col Clipper von Merrills Horse welcher nach Little Rock geht. Eendlich un 6 Uhr Abends Suhren wir ab, gelangten jedoch mit weiter els bis Carondelet, wowir de Nacht in Folge des eindringen Wassers lingen blieben. Nachdem Nachtessen gingen wir in gesellschaht von Totten u Walker in die stadt, und da Totten in Folge verchender glühen Leier und Whiskeys die er getrunken etwas se lag wurde, So miethete er eine Carraige, u vuhte nuht eher, bis wir alle eines Ingen, worauh wir zurück nachdem Arsenal fuhven, we Totems Famielie wohet welcher er eine Rleine Uberrahchnug zugedacht Hatta. Nachdem Totten nach mals von Seiner Famielie abschied genommen, bei welcher Gelegen heit ihren seine Frau by the bg Sagte: "Jim you are drunk," und nachdem wir endlich nachverschiedene Bitters zu uns genommen, fuhren wir zurück u gelangten Morgens um 3 Uhr aufs Boat, woselbss em Jeder seine Sehlofszelle aufsuchte, und daleh nichts besseres zu schon weiss, so vill Ichs auch so machen. Gute Nacht!

German to EnglishTranslation (using Google Translate and some educated guessing)

Wednesday the 17th of August 1864

After I paid my bill for $9.00 and we welcomed our friends on board, we drank a few bottles of wine with Dustrow for an evening meal. Dustrow, as well as, Hermann and Hirt, accompanied us onto the boat, and Auq, Nape, and Edward Cramer also came onto the boat and sailed away. On the boat we made the aquaintence of Genl. Totten and Capt. Walker of 2nd M.S. Cav. who go to New Orleans, also Col. Clopper of Merrills Horse who goes to Little Rock. Finally at 6 o'clock in the evening we set out, but we got further east to Carondelet, where we stayed the night as a result of the incoming water. After supper we went into town in the company of Totten and Walker, and as Totten became somewhat blessed as a result of the dwindling glow of beer and whiskey he had drunk, he hired a carriage and he had to wait until we all sang together. So we headed back to Arsenal to find out where Totten's family was, which he thought was just surprise enough. After Totten said goodbye to his family, on which occasion his wife told him by the by: "Jim, you are drunk," and after we had various bitters, we finally drove back and got to the boat at 3 o'clock in the morning, where everyone went to their sleeping quarters and since I don't know anything better to do, I'll do that too. Good Night!

I have to say this is an exciting and depressing entry for several reasons. All of which I will get to shortly. He mentioned so many names here, but only four of them were accompanied by family names for me to try and track down. Dustrow, Auq, and Nape, I can do nothing with really.

Edward Cramer

Since he refers to Edward as a friend, I assumed that he was also from Hermann, Missouri and I was correct. I found an Edward Cramer, son of Edward Cramer, MD, born in Hermann, Missouri in 1844. He married a Louis Henley and had three children. He died in December of 1914.

General James Totten

Now this is an interesting name in the history of this particular area. The circumstance surrounding this particular person in the story proved a little depressing. At first I thought his wife might be teasing him with her comments about the state of his inebriation, but after looking into the General and his life, I think perhaps it was more exasperation. Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvanis, Totten graduate from West Point in 1841 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. From 1849-50 he served in Florida to help "supress" the Seminole Indians and later after attained the rank of Captain he served in Kansas from 1857-58 intervening in the Bloody Kansas Conflict. By 1860, he expelled non-Indians from reserves in Kansas as a result.

In 1860, he and six-fice men now occupied the Little Rock Arsenal. This being a previously unmanned location, their appearance caused quite a stir in the area. The state didn't want anymore men showing up or weapons leaving, but Totten didn't work for the state, he worked for the Federal government. Discontent grew from January 28, 1861 until February 6th when the Governor of Arkansas convinced Totten to surrender the location to the Arkansas militia. By February 8th, Totten and his men were escorted to a ship which left for St. Louis, Missouri on the 12th. While he waited for this ship, Totten received a sword from the ladies of the city to honor his conduct during the whole affair. Totten's father had moved to Little Rock in 1840 and they remained there until the start of the war. On August 10, 1861, Totten was accused of using that very sword he was gifted on Arkansas men at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Mary Weaver who helped organize the presenting of said sword wrote to her son, 1st Lieutenant Omer Weaver, saying, "Totten is in Missouri wielding the sword we gave him against us!" Omer never received that letter, as unknown to Totten, the soldiers he fought against on August 10th included his old friends from Little Rock. Omer Weaver was killed during the battle.

Totten continued to serve throughout the remainder of the war and was dismissed from military service on July 22, 1870 for "Disobedience of Orders", "Neglect of Duty", and "Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline." There's a note relating to his dismissal at the bottom of the above link that delves into greater detail as to his condition at the end of his career and his fight with alcoholism.

That General James Totten was the husband of the memorialist. He graduated at the West Point Military Academy, and for thirty-one years continued in the service of his country in the Regular Army; but during the war of 1861 and 1862 was commissioned by the governor of Missouri a brigadier-general. During his thirty-one years of service it does not appear that he had more than six months of furlough. He was twice brevetted for extraordinary gallantry on the field of battle. As an artillery officer he had no superiors and few peers. For bravery and gallantry he was a model. In the history of the Mexican war his name is inscribed as one of the bravest of the brave. While in the service in the line of his duty in Florida, he contracted a pulmonary affection which lasted during life, and directly or indirectly induced his death. While in the service, in the war of 1861 and 1862, his comrades who were with him in the field attest the fact that he was incessantly suffering from a hacking cough; that he, while suffering from physical disease, insisted upon performing his duties in the field, when others in better physical health, of less daring spirit, would have found ample excuse to be relieved from service.

In consequence of his diseased condition he was compelled to use stimulants, which soon grew to a habit of inebriety, and in 1870 he was dismissed from the service on account of his intemperance, and soon after, in the year 1871, he died of phthisis pulmonalis, which the evidence shows was contracted in the service. He was a man of high honor and unquestioned integrity. He tried to struggle in the world for a living after his dismissal, but, in consequence of his ill health, he could not. He was taken up a stranger on the streets of a strange city by a kind friend. He soon died, and but for the strength of the friendship which was not alienated from this broken officer, he might have died a pauper. For his life's services, which are inscribed upon the pages of his country's history, his aged widow should receive a pension.

Phthisis Pulmonolis or pulmonum literally translates from Latin to "wasting/deteriorating lungs". We're talking tuberculosis or consumption. General James Totten died October 2, 1871 in Sedalia, MO at the age of 53, 7 years after this journal.

Capt. Walker of the 2nd Missouri State Cavalry

Honestly, I thought since he was referred to as Captain, that I'd have no problem finding him, but alas...nothing. I can't find hide-nor-hair of a Captain Walker in the 2nd Missouri State Cavalry anywhere. I have the names of Captains from company A-M and there's no Walker. Perhaps he got the Regiment wrong? He remains a mystery.

Lt. Col. John Y. Clopper of Merrills Horse

The 2nd Regiment of Cavalry was organized by a Captain Lewis Merrill in St. Louis in 1861, thus called Merrill's Horse. John Clopper rose in ranks within this regiment through a long list of engagements, during one, the Battle at Memphis, MO, he is said to have lost all but one of his men to death or injury.

I will be tracking their progress on the map above. Starting at the red star next to St. Louis, they spent the night at Carondelet, underlined in red.