Letter from John Milton Binckley at Washington City to his Mother, April 21, 1861

Wash DC  21 April ‘61

My dear Mother,

I received yesterday your letter of the 17^th inst. And I have just put in the mail a letter to you from Mary. As mail matters may any day be interrupted between us, I must hurry to write, and what I write you now you must often have recourse to hereafter if communication be cut off.

The war is come. Virginia is out of the Union and so is Maryland, because it is now at open war with the Lincoln government. Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee & Missouri will soon be in the same situation. In short, the great bloody struggle between the [N]orth and [S]outh is here at last. It has been long coming but wicked politicians have helped each other to bring it, and now we have it. It is now of no use to inquire what made it, who is most to blame etc. [T]he only thing left us mother is how to make peace. What war would bring lasting peace ought to be done, be it what it may. “Rights” are now out of the question. Wrongs are out of the question. Politics and parties are out of the question. There is nothing in question but how to restore permanent peace. Don’t forget that.

Ten thousand troops are in Washington and thousands more coming. The [S]outh is secretly preparing a tremendous army to march on this city. The government knows it and is hurrying to bring [N]orthern troops to save the city. If they do not have sixty thousand here within twenty days, the [S]outh will certainly capture this city and if possible overthrow the Lincoln government and establish their own. Now the gov’t has to bring troops through Maryland, and half the populace in Maryland turned out day before yesterday and killed & wounded 50 Massachusetts recruits in the streets. The mayor and Gov. Hicks have declared martial law in Baltimore & the Maryland Legislature to be called, will doubtless immediately declare martial law in all Maryland. The governor (Hicks) forbade the President bringing troops through the state, and Lincoln said “they must come, to defend the capital, and they shall come, if it cost a million of lives.” This was yesterday morning – it is not yet published. Hicks replied, “Mr. Lincoln, I  have you – we are enemies!” So you see Maryland is at war. The Maryland people have also burnt the bridges, torn up the railroad, & invaded Pennsylvania to so it. & a thousand other things which I have not room to tell.  

You remember mother how I so often dwelt with gloom on the immense hordes who would trample Maryland underfoot if once around. I fear you would not believe it – But the “roundheads” are upon us, & the “cavaliers” are few. You no longer doubt the terrible crusade which Governor Lowe and Robert McLane and others were so willing should come. I thought Maryland had better not make any war than was unavoidable. However, let that go, because I repeat, there is only one question – How make peace? 

Now as mails may be interrupted, I want to prepare you, should you not hear from me, so that you would not imagine the awful things you will soon hear, are dangerous to our folks personally. We will not be in personal danger, no matter what comes. This city will not be bombarded, but even if it should be, I have not space to tell how, we have made arrangements for perfect safety. So don’t think us in danger, no matter what comes. Now this I want you to remember. I forbid you forget for a moment. Moreover, if provisions are cut off, we are safe in the matter of grub. 

I have looked over the events, & have consulted able judges. I have concluded that within a few days – say 12 or fifteen – a great battle will be fought.   

It may be fought at this city, but I think it will be in Carroll[?] or Howard county. Think if 200,000 men have a death struggle over the old farm! It is possible! You see, Virginia will doubtless send thirty or forty thousand men into Maryland, who with the Maryland troops, will forbid the [N]orthern army on their march to save the capital. The [N]othern army will stay in Penna. Till they are strong enough, and will then start for Washington City, and wherever the [S]outhern army meet[s] them, there will be battle! If [S]outhern arms should prevail, and Washington [C]ity fall into the hands of the South, woe woe woe!!!  The South would be blotted from the map of America. If the two millions and six hundred thousand [N]orthern men, all of whom would engage, could not do it, all Canada, or if need be Great Britain, would join & blood would flow like rivers – and the South would be no more. On the other hand, if the South should be defeated in the battle I speak of as coming, they would not be disgraced, and their soil would be uninvaded so far, except that of Maryland. The war spirit of the [N]orth might subside, people everywhere might reflect, & peace might be made. Do you wonder therefore, that sad as it would be to think of it, I would rather the [S]outh should fail to arrest the army on their way to this city – it would bring peace if anything can.

It will be possible too that an attempt will be made to capture Ft. McHenry, & if so, Baltimore will likely be laid in ruins!  But war at Baltimore is not as likely as in the middle counties, at this time.

We are all cool and nerved up, and in fact, awful as things are, suspense is over and we feel that some end is near.  

Oh mother, this secession movement was a wicked and abominable thing. For everybody that ever read history must have known that to dissolve the Union would produce civil war. It is impossible longer to shut our eyes to the truth. There was no ground but selfish and wicked ambition for the revolution. Va. And Ky. thought, when they were calm and in their senses, that there was nothing to fear. If so, why did South Carolina act? And by acting, put Virginia & Kentucky out of their senses & in the midst of violence, war & ruin!

I am afraid it is a crime to kill [N]orthern men who try to uphold their own government. The question is not whether the [N]orth is in fault, but can we risk such a thing as overthrowing one government until we are able to make a better one? Or in other words, shall we strike down the Lincoln government, & go into Mexican Anarchy or uphold it? It is a solemn question. There is great crime somewhere. I want none of it on my soul.

We are all well. Genl. Cooke[?] is better. Mrs. Cook and Roy are here now. I say all well, but forgot to say I have a regular Elephant cold.

Affectionately, J. M. Milton

Letter from John Milton Binckley (1821-1878) at Washington City to his Mother (Charlotta Stocker Binckley), April 21, 1861. 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.