Letter to Philipp Neff

Adam Mohr, Philipp Neff's brother-in-law received a letter from his son, Philipp Mohr, while young Philipp was serving with the forces of the North German Confederation during the Franco-Prussian War. Adam forwarded the letter to Philipp Neff in New Orleans, along with his own letter. Adam's letter, along with a transcription and translation, are below. Adam Mohr used the other side of the 8½ x 13½ sheet of paper that his son Philipp had written on for his own letter.








Letter [two pages] from Adam Mohr and Anna Margaretha (Neff) Mohr to Margaretha's brother, Philipp Neff in New Orleans, Louisiana. The letter was written by Adam Mohr.

[German transcription]

                              Dusenbach am 11. Dezember 1870
Schwager und Schwägerin, wir hoffen, daß Euch unser
Schreiben bei guter Gesundheit antreffen wird, wie
es uns hier verlassen hat.  Lieber Schwager, dein
Schreiben vom 17. Oktober haben wir am 4. November
erhalten und daraus ersehen daß dein Bruderherz
großen Anteil an der traurigen Lage deiner
Schwester genommen hat.  Es hat sich mit mir wieder
gut gebessert.  Eben kann ich wieder alle Arbeiten
verrichten.  Auch unser guter Sohn Philipp liegt bis jetzt noch
in Darmstadt, wo ich ihm am 4. Dzbr besucht habe.
Am 5. erhielten wir dieses Briefchen.  Da mache ich mich
Dienstag wieder auf den Weg mit schwerem Herzen, doch
mit Vertrauen auf Gottes Beistand.  Gott schützet die seinen.
Am 11. November brachte uns der Postbothe die 50 [?].
Am demselben Tag erhielt ich auch eine Rechnung vom
Doktor.  Das ich mit dem schreiben so lange gewartet
habe, wirst du mir verzeihen.  Es war wegen
unserm Sohn Philipp.  Er wußte, daß bald eine große
Zahl Ersatzmannschaft nach Frankreich marschieren thut, wo
es ihm gewiß auch treffen wird, daß wir es schreiben
können.  Als ich am 6. Dzbr Abschied von ihm nahm sagte

Er:  jetzt schreibt meinem Patten einen herzlichen Gruß
und einen Dank von mir.  Denn 25 [?] von dem Geschen=
ke brachte ich ihm.  Das Geld kommt von Orleans und geht nach
Orleans, freilich nach Frankreich.  Was thun die Aeltern nicht
an dem Kinde, wenn wir das Geld auch nothwendig
brauchen könnten, wenn er nur Gesund wieder kommt.
Lieber Schwager, wir danken dir vielmal für das
Geschenk.  Wir können es nicht vergelten.  Gott wird
es dir gewiß lohnen.  Deine
Schwester A. Margaretha läßt
euch grüßen.  Schreiben kann sie eben nicht, weil
die Tage so kurz sind.  Ein andermal.
Viele Grüße von eurem Schwager und Schwester
Adam Mohr
A. K. Mohr

Lieber Schwager, ich benachrichtige dich hiermit, daß der
Ausmarsch aus Darmstadt auf weitere Ordre verschoben
ist. Gott sei gedankt. Vielleicht gibts Frieden. Die feindliche
Armee ist nach den Schlachten vom 27. N. bis 4. Dez. nach allen
Richtungen geschlagen und zerstreut.


[English translation]

                              Dusenbach, 11. December 1870
Brother-in-law and sister-in-law, we hope that our
letter will find you in good health, as we are here as it
leaves us. Dear Brother-in-law, we received
your letter of 17. October on 4. November,
and understood from it the dear brother's
great concern regarding the sad situation of your
sister. For me it has gone better. Now I can
once again do all of my work. Also our good son
Philipp has been stationed up to now
in Darmstadt, where I visited him on 4 Dec.
On the 5th, we received this little letter. I went on my
way Tuesday with a heavy heart, yet
with trust in God's support. God has been our defense.
On 11 November, the postman brought to us the 50___.
On the same day I also received a bill from
the doctor. Please excuse me that I have waited
so long to write. It was because of
our son Philipp. He understood that a large
number of reserves would be marching to France, where
he would also be found, and where we could write to
him. Therefore when I took my departure from him on 6 Dec.,

he said: Now write my godfather a hearty greeting
and a thank-you from me for the gift of the 25___
I received from him. The money came from Orleans and goes
to Orleans, certainly to France. Parents must do at least this
for their child, so that he returns again with his health.
Dear Brother-in-law, we thank you many times for the
gift. We cannot repay it. God will
surely reward you for it. Your
sister A. Margaretha sends
you greetings. She cannot write just now, because
the days are so short. Another time.
Many greetings from your brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Adam Mohr
A. K. Mohr

Dear Brother-in-law, I am informing you herewith, that the
departure [of the troops] from Darmstadt on further orders has been postponed.
God be thanked. Perhaps there will be peace. The enemy
army is, after the battles from 27. N to 4. Dec., beaten
and scattered in all directions.


The story presented by these letters is both fascinating and poignant. Philipp Neff's sister and brother-in law were already in poor health and financially strapped by medical expenses. Then the Franco-Prussian War took their oldest son from them—at least temporarily. Philipp Neff, financially successful in New Orleans, was able to send funds to his sister and brother-in-law as well as to his Godson. Despite his dire circumstances, Philipp Mohr was able to make a small joke, suggesting that "the money came from Orleans and goes to Orleans, certainly to France," meaning that the money came from New Orleans, and might very well wind up in Orleans, France, or at least somewhere in France, if he were sent there with the army.

Apparently Philipp Mohr did not have to go to France and was soon reunited with his family, as the Franco-Prussian War officially came to an end on 10 May 1871.


Return to Life in New Orleans, Part II (1862-1876)