Neumann, Emil.

The collection consists of letters written mainly to Louisa Neumann (later Mrs. Charles H. Bering) in Houston, by her brothers and sisters. Of greatest interest are the 12 letters written by her brother Emil from 1862-64. Emil, a member of the Confederate Army, was stationed at Fort Eagle Grove, Pelican Battery, and Galveston. In a letter to Louisa written from Galveston on January 7, 1863, he described a battle in which he was in charge of cannon "near the brick warehouse" on The Strand. He witnessed the capture of the vessel "Harriet Lane" and the escape of her companion ships, the "Orosco" and the "Clifton." In a letter written four days later, he mentioned the five vessels then lying off the island, which "shot over one hundred shots into town." We do not know the names of these ships, but presumably they were Union vessels, as they were firing into Galveston which was then held by the Confederates.