[MANUSCRIPT] [DANISH] [MILITARY] 19th Century Journal - Danish/German by Dixen, Laue Jensen - 1848-1851

1848-1851. Sewn binding. Brown leather, hand sewn binding. Good. 16 x 11 cm. This journal belonged to Laue Jensen Dixon (once written Lauety), who was a member of the 10th Infantry Battalion from 1848 to 1851, after which he became part of the Gendarmerie.

Dixen appears to have traveled around Denmark and Germany and was most likely part of the First Schleswig War (1848 - 1851), also called the Three Years' War, between southern Denmark and Northern Germany - over the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg, in which Denmark was ultimately victorious. Almost every page has a drawn-in margin on the top and left side. On the top, he writes the month, year, and some version of "Journal of Laue Jensen Dixon" along with his battalion and company number. Each entry is demarcated by what we believe is the first letter of the day of the week and the number of the day.

Written in chronological order, Dixen changed companies a few times: 1848 to August 1849 he was with the 44th Company. August 1849 to January 8, 1850 he was with the 41st Company. January 8, 1850 to June 7, 1850 he was with the 185th Company. June 7, 1850 to June 1851 he was with the 25th Company. In August 1850 he became an Undercorporal (an enlisted personnel), and June 1851 onwards he was a member of the Gendarmerie No. 26, no longer part of the 10th Battalion.

In 1848 Dixen writes about Prince Ferdinandt, and the death of his brother Christian. He mentions Prince Wilhelm, which most likely refers to Frederick Wilhelm, king of Prussia at the time. He also mentions General Heedeman, likely referring to Hans Hedeman, one of the major leaders in the conflict on the Denmark side. Every so often he writes about the death counts.

The binding seems to be homemade - leather and string, along with a pocket in the front. Some letters laid in. Some pages disbound.