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M.N. ROWAN : 1864 - 1874 ORIGINAL ARCHIVE OF EIGHT [8] MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY A KEY RAILROAD EXECUTIVE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN WAR IN DENMARK

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a fascinating and historical archive of eight [8] original manuscript diaries handwritten by M.N. Rowan, an upper management railway man, concerning his work with British and foreign railways who starting in 1864 is right in the middle of the Schleswig-Holstein War and a key player in many ways. There are 7 more diaries running through 1874. Rowan is sporadic in his entries sometimes merely noting travel, hotels stayed in then more complete notes on Board meetings, appointments of a NY engineer, trips to Hamburg, Cologne, Lubeck, Malmo, Copenhagen, Aarhus and many, many more. Researchers and historians of the Schleswig - Holstein War will realize that Rowan is right in the middle of the conflict in Denmark from February 1864 and on. Through March he notes troop movements, skirmishes etc some from reports and many from personal observations. Notes as to operations in the cities run from details to travel notes with many interesting observations: 'Traffic on railway stopped by government. Engaged all day in clearing line to carry troops.' Interestingly he uses the word 'intelligence' often as in sending an agent to gain intelligence regarding the status of the conflict affecting the rail lines. He also will write an entry 'No new intelligence.' Again, interestingly he notes: 'Cavalry after my horses.' He learns of an Armistice before it happens through 'intelligence and then General Falkenstein gives him direction as to when the Armistice will end. Synopsis by year: 1864 writings include undated notes on blank pages of diary to sporadic entries as to location and travel. The year begins with a page and a half note regarding some conflict in the building of a railroad: 'Behn came out in the afternoon. Tells me that [Col.] Winterfield sent for him and told him that if he did not put within 48 hours a declaration that the railway should be put in working order he would destroy it.' The notes go on to detail further complications, difficulty in getting parts, huge outlays of money that a party did not wish to do, trying to buy an engine in Aarhus [Denmark] and in the end all correspondence going to a General Falkenstein. 1865, 1866, 1867 finds Rowan in Copenhagen Denmark through January and then he spends February in Frederica and throughout Denmark for the year. The diaries then skip two 1871 diaries [curiously we can find no reason for two and they both contain different entries though one appears to be more financially oriented] and while based in Denmark he is now doing a fair amount of travel to Germany and Belgium and then to England. 1872 Mr. Rowan is still in England and spends his time in Cornwall mentioning St. Blazey, Truro etc. The final diary in the archive, 1874, has few entries and mainly of a financial or expense type. There are a small number of ephemeral items tucked inside adding a bit more depth to the archive. Not the most prolific of diarists we would guess that the diaries are about 40% used some more some less. The original green cloth almanacs are Overall G+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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