Letter from Harvey and Jane Mitchell to John Milton Binckley, November 9, 1863

Letter from Harvey and Jane Wood Johnston Mitchell to John Milton Binckley, November 9, 1863. "Pembroke" is probably Harvey Mitchell's name for his temporary abode on the Eastern Shore of Virginia rather than Pembroke, Virginia, which is in the mountains. There was also a Pembroke Farm near Hampton, Virginia. Harvey Mitchell displays "Anglo-Saxon" chauvinism and racialism that was widespread among his socio-economic profile at the time. A pencil note says that "he freed his slaves years before the war." One suspects that, behind his bravado, he was feeling displaced and overwhelmed by the impact of the American Civil War, and bitter at having lost his government job in Washington City.  

Pembroke 9^th Novr. 1863

Dear Milton,

The stampede of negroes has commenced. Some plantations still retain a few old men women & children – others are strip’t clean of all both male & female. Many crops of corn will be left ungathered; cotton likewise. The white men are in the fields with their coats off gathering corn – the women & children picking cotton & sorting potatoes. There is a universal rousing of the Anglo Saxon “Lion.” He roars for his prey. The insignificance of the negroe race will soon be exemplified. Mind & Muscle will now be combined. When [Isaac] Strain made his expedition over the Peninsula of Darien [in Panama, then part of Colombia, in 1854], he found the cultivated men to stand the hardship of the expedition best. Some Spanish gentlemen sank despondently besides a less sturdy Anglo Sax who had mind. So it will be in the present crisis. The negroe will give way to mind – he will vanish himself away from the land, & the poor white man will rise up to importance. Negro soldiers now strut about the streets in uniform, smelling like a war horse.

In my opinion, now is your time to strike your speculative iron, if you want to make the spark[s] fly. The people are in their first fear, wait not ‘till that fear subsides but take them while they are in the mood. Isaac & Betsey are still here. [H]he, has not enlisted, & says he will not. But. If he can be induced to stay with me next year, I shall make more money by my produce than I shall need. If you are coming come quickly. Love to all, to your mother & Nelly especially. Tell [N]ell a great many things from Grand Pa – Poor little monkey!!!

Affect’y yours

H. Michel

[From Jane]:

Dear Milton,

I write to ask you, for the sake of humanity, to see if it be possible to procure a passport for Mrs. Neale to go to Richmond. Poor woman, she is nearly crazy to go to her husband, from whom she has been separated for two years. He writes very urgently now for her to join him. She does not wish to run the blockade, but begs for a pass. Does not mean to return. If a pass can be had, she wants to go in December. Please ascertain how much baggage will be allowed. She has a little boy two years & a half old, who must be included. If you can do any thing for her, pray do it, & let me know the result at once. Louisa knows him.

Yours in love, Jane

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.