My dear Milton,
Your dispatch announcing that you were in Richmond came to me last night at 8 o'clock -- too late for me to send an answer by telegraph, or even a letter in reply. It was most fortunate that Charlotte was in Liberty, and could give an answer. The news of your being in Richmond filled me with anxiety and dismay. The last letter received from you, dated 17th July, said most decidedly that you had abandoned all idea of coming into Virginia. This relieved me from all apprehension of such a disaster. And now behold a new complication of troubles. You, my poor Milton, in Richmond, and Lou [Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley, Milton's wife and Jane's daughter], my darling child, with weary and over-burdened heart, reaching Washington only to find you gone! Oh it is dreadful. It makes me wild to think of what you both are suffering this moment. And I can do nothing to help either. Here I am with hands tied, seeing terrible evils besetting all I love best, yet unable to lift a finger even in warning. We all thought it a most desperate undertaking for Louisa to attempt to get to Washington -- alone, except for the dear little helpless baby, who was an obstacle & responsibility on such a journey beyond anything else.
The outrages committed in various instances by the Northern soldiers made me shrink with horror from the idea of her passing through their camps. I am sure you would not have asked her to return if you could have known of the dangers & difficulties to be encountered. The only safe route was the one through Louisville -- and that seemed beyond her strength: so long & fatiguing, with dear Nellie on her lap day and night for a week -- and the expense so heavy. She had only about fifty dollars when she left here [equivalent to about $1,300 in 2015].
We believed, when we went to Richmond, that she could pass at Manassas -- found it impossible. Then she turned to Old Point as a certain mode of egress -- went alone to Norfolk, & wrote you by Express via Louisville, to come to Fortress Monroe and get a flag of truce to come from there over to Norfolk and convey her across. She was confident of the success of this plan.
But evidently, the letter never reached you. She waited two weeks in Norfolk, in a state of the most torturing anxiety -- found no flag would be sent, & at last determined to take the route through Louisville -- came to Petersburg & borrowed thirty dollars from Junius Butts [1830-1878] (Charlotte Campbell's [1837-1906] husband) for the journey; having, as you may well believe, nearly exhausted her funds. Then she started to travel day & night to Louisville, where she thought she should hear from you by telegraph. She had previously written to our friend Mr. Whittle [Francis McNeece Whittle, 1823-1902], who lives there, to send you a telegraphic message to let you know her plans.
Poor soul! She had received your letter saying you would start to Virginia on the 29th July and she was nearly deranged with terror on your account. She did not even pause to see me in Liberty, but hastened on, with that wild dread urging her every step. And now, alas! It is realized. I trust she reach Washington on Tuesday -- but what a shock! You not there. I know her courage & strength gave way then. She has borne up wonderfully -- sustained by unwavering trust in God. And He has raised up friends and help for her wherever she has been.
The day after she reached Norfolk, she found in the Hotel two young ladies from the North who were trying to get home. They immediately joined her. The three went to a boarding house together, where they took one room. They were the greatest aid and comfort to her whilst in Norfolk; and they went with her when she turned to the West. Of course they would go all the way in company -- and these girls relieved my poor child much fatigue by assisting in the care of little darling.
Several letters from you & Harvey have come to my hands in the last two weeks -- all urging my return as well as Louisa's -- if you could place yourself in my situation one moment, you would perceive that to be impossible. I have no money, and could not borrow any with a prospect of being able to replace it. In fact, my friends can do anything for me better than giving me money, which is wanted for their boys in the army.
The route to Harper's Ferry, I hear from Capt. Smith, is still practicable. He says I could go safely through the Confederate lines as Gen. [Joseph E.] Johnston's sister, but that fact would be ruinous on the other side of the Potomac.
[p.s.] Fred Mitchell is at Mr. Hugh Fry's -- go see him. Lydia [McLane Johnston, wife of Joseph E. Johnston] is with President Davis. Mrs. Davis was so good to Lou.
Original manuscript in the John Milton Binckley papers, 1816-1943. Library of Congress Manuscript Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. This is my rough transcription.
Many thanks to William Myers for sending scanned copies of the documents from the Binckley papers, and also to Mary Davy and Sally Young for their assistance over the past few years.
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