[Mary Louisa Mitchell Binckley at Eastville, Virginia, to John Milton Binckley at Washington City, February 27th, 1865]:
I do want to write you a long letter to-night, my dearie, but am afraid that I can't keep my eyes open by this scamp of a boy [Harvey Mitchell Binckley, 1864-1928] for several consecutive nights, and I feel used up completely. I intended to take a nap in the middle of the day, but took father [Harvey Mitchell/Michel, 1799-1866] in to town & then travelled in various directions some 8 or ten miles in search of corn and fodder, and didn't get home until a late dinner -- after that found the stalls were in want of kine-shatters [kine = cows] to bed the horses (you can't get straw here) and as I could'nt [couldn't] spare the men from their work, I just took the cart and Sue [Sue Henry,1847-1940] & Nell [Nella Fontaine Binckley,1860-1951] and I went into the woods, raked up and filled the cart two loads, and drove home at sunset. So here I am, wanting for supper, hungry as a wolf, and so tired! but I have'nt [haven't] had a severe attack of neuralgia this winter, and if I could rest at night, would be almost well of my nervousness.
I had a short letter from you by last mail complaining terribly that you had only one letter since you saw me in Baltimore. So it seems that the long epistle I wrote just after I got home, has never reached you. The one you got was my second, this is the fifth.
But now I must try and give you some idea of the state of my affairs on "my farm." I have about 100 acres enclosed in petty fair fence: that, if nothing happens, I shall cultivate myself, little over 100 only enclosed on the upper end, which upper end (of some 25 acres) Mr. Westcoat will, I am pretty sure, rent. The other 70 or 75 entirely unenclosed, I will still try to rent out. Of my own part I draw a sort of rough diagram to give you some idea of how we think to divide it. But first I will speak of the chief of my difficulties just now.
First, hands. I have determined to keep Rose in the house as house-maid and nurse, and to do odd jobs, and lend a hand generally. Leah in the kitchen. For out hands as yet only two Curtis and George, who is a stout young man and a good hand. By dint of great exertions have got the promise of another man, a boy and a woman on Wednesday (1st of March) from Town-fields. So have to wait (im)patiently.
Have hired from Gov. [U.S. Government] 4 stout work horses, one of them a gentle old sheep that I drive myself. Doctor is too frisky for me either to ride or drive alone, so I put him in the plow. I have had the greatest difficulty in finding corn and fodder. I think I have now engaged corn sufficient (and it is terribly high,) but fodder is so scarce, being constantly bought up by the Quartermaster, that I may have to send to Balt. for hay.
The weather has been very unfavorable indeed for ploughing, hard freezes until last week, and since then constant rains. I have managed to get about two days ploughing done, and my only consolation is that I am not behind my neighbors.
Tuesday morning [February 28, 1865]. Had to give up and go to bed. Mother [Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel, 1811-1892] wrote, but what I do not know, as she is not yet up. I am a very early riser these days. She said she wold give you an idea of the plan of the season and so I presume it is useless for me to say any thing on that subject.
Altogether, tho' expenses are heavy, and difficulties great, I do not on the subject of the far, feel at all discouraged. Such things I can easily endure, but lately I have had a cause for anxiety that weighs on me more than every thing else together. The cold I told you mother Binckley [[Charlotte Stocker Binckley (1788-1877)] had has taken the Ague and fever form, and though she is better, and getting well, she seems very much discouraged. Since her spell last September, she has been so well,ad so essentially free from neuralgia, having had only one . . .
[the fragment earlier put with an August 23, 1865 letter fits here better]:
. . . severe attack (and that did not last 24 hours) that I was in hopes that she would enjoy her life here. I do hope this will be the last attack she will have of this detestable disease. She will write to you in a few days.
As usual, I have been interrupted again, and now have only time to say goodbye and close this hurried scrawl. I have'nt [haven't] the remotest idea now what I have written. Mother B. is still asleep, or I would have some special message for you. Fortunately Father had just a present of some delightful wine, and some birds, both of which she seemed to enjoy very much. And she is now taking Plantation Bitters. She positively refuses to see a doctor again.
I must stop -- Father is starting. Oh if I could only see you for one minute! [A]nd yet that would only be an aggravation. -- Mary
[P.S.] By next mail I shall give you an account of "Money I have spent." The goods are all received, and I got them hauled for nothing.
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.
I do want to write you a long letter to-night, my dearie, but am afraid that I can't keep my eyes open by this scamp of a boy [Harvey Mitchell Binckley, 1864-1928] for several consecutive nights, and I feel used up completely. I intended to take a nap in the middle of the day, but took father [Harvey Mitchell/Michel, 1799-1866] in to town & then travelled in various directions some 8 or ten miles in search of corn and fodder, and didn't get home until a late dinner -- after that found the stalls were in want of kine-shatters [kine = cows] to bed the horses (you can't get straw here) and as I could'nt [couldn't] spare the men from their work, I just took the cart and Sue [Sue Henry,1847-1940] & Nell [Nella Fontaine Binckley,1860-1951] and I went into the woods, raked up and filled the cart two loads, and drove home at sunset. So here I am, wanting for supper, hungry as a wolf, and so tired! but I have'nt [haven't] had a severe attack of neuralgia this winter, and if I could rest at night, would be almost well of my nervousness.
I had a short letter from you by last mail complaining terribly that you had only one letter since you saw me in Baltimore. So it seems that the long epistle I wrote just after I got home, has never reached you. The one you got was my second, this is the fifth.
But now I must try and give you some idea of the state of my affairs on "my farm." I have about 100 acres enclosed in petty fair fence: that, if nothing happens, I shall cultivate myself, little over 100 only enclosed on the upper end, which upper end (of some 25 acres) Mr. Westcoat will, I am pretty sure, rent. The other 70 or 75 entirely unenclosed, I will still try to rent out. Of my own part I draw a sort of rough diagram to give you some idea of how we think to divide it. But first I will speak of the chief of my difficulties just now.
First, hands. I have determined to keep Rose in the house as house-maid and nurse, and to do odd jobs, and lend a hand generally. Leah in the kitchen. For out hands as yet only two Curtis and George, who is a stout young man and a good hand. By dint of great exertions have got the promise of another man, a boy and a woman on Wednesday (1st of March) from Town-fields. So have to wait (im)patiently.
Have hired from Gov. [U.S. Government] 4 stout work horses, one of them a gentle old sheep that I drive myself. Doctor is too frisky for me either to ride or drive alone, so I put him in the plow. I have had the greatest difficulty in finding corn and fodder. I think I have now engaged corn sufficient (and it is terribly high,) but fodder is so scarce, being constantly bought up by the Quartermaster, that I may have to send to Balt. for hay.
The weather has been very unfavorable indeed for ploughing, hard freezes until last week, and since then constant rains. I have managed to get about two days ploughing done, and my only consolation is that I am not behind my neighbors.
Tuesday morning [February 28, 1865]. Had to give up and go to bed. Mother [Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel, 1811-1892] wrote, but what I do not know, as she is not yet up. I am a very early riser these days. She said she wold give you an idea of the plan of the season and so I presume it is useless for me to say any thing on that subject.
Altogether, tho' expenses are heavy, and difficulties great, I do not on the subject of the far, feel at all discouraged. Such things I can easily endure, but lately I have had a cause for anxiety that weighs on me more than every thing else together. The cold I told you mother Binckley [[Charlotte Stocker Binckley (1788-1877)] had has taken the Ague and fever form, and though she is better, and getting well, she seems very much discouraged. Since her spell last September, she has been so well,ad so essentially free from neuralgia, having had only one . . .
[the fragment earlier put with an August 23, 1865 letter fits here better]:
. . . severe attack (and that did not last 24 hours) that I was in hopes that she would enjoy her life here. I do hope this will be the last attack she will have of this detestable disease. She will write to you in a few days.
As usual, I have been interrupted again, and now have only time to say goodbye and close this hurried scrawl. I have'nt [haven't] the remotest idea now what I have written. Mother B. is still asleep, or I would have some special message for you. Fortunately Father had just a present of some delightful wine, and some birds, both of which she seemed to enjoy very much. And she is now taking Plantation Bitters. She positively refuses to see a doctor again.
I must stop -- Father is starting. Oh if I could only see you for one minute! [A]nd yet that would only be an aggravation. -- Mary
[P.S.] By next mail I shall give you an account of "Money I have spent." The goods are all received, and I got them hauled for nothing.
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.
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