Jane Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel to John Milton Binckley, 10th September 1864

Hollybrook [Holly Brook, Eastville, Virginia], 10th Sept, [1864].

I just feel like writing a letter to you, my dear Milton, without having anything special to say. It begins to be time for you to be coming here again, considering you were to be gone not more than a fortnight. I want to see you very much, and I really believe all the others do too. I hope you don't intend to wait until you see "poetic justice" meted out to Gen: Terry. We divine that your object at present must be to being him to judgment for his sins -- but, as the process is likely to be a slow one, I think you will get tired of waiting.

We are all going on in the usual humdrum style.  Farm matters are just about as promising as they were -- No, I believe somewhat better. The potatoes look pretty fair (excuse this blotted paper, as the article is scarce), the turnips look well, though young still, and the cotton has begun to blow.

I can't help thinking that things will not be so bad as you anticipate. But I can't speak confidently, not being able to see much of the crops. The intense heat, for some three weeks past, has kept me a close prisoner. I dare not go out in the morning, by reason of the dew, nor in the evening, for fear of damp air. The middle part of the day is hot enough to bring bilious fever, ague, & Typhoid, all in a bunch. Still we all escape, though everybody around nearly is sick. Your mother is wonderfully well and sprightly. It seems teems that "life in the barn" was of essential benefit to her -- she has been more out of her own room, more active & busy, than I ever saw her: has thriven on her labors   on the fruit-drying line. Mary is in quite good health just now. The dear little ones have not been sick at all, & I trust they will get through the season without suffering. Nelly looks better than when you left us, is fatter. Little Harvey looks a young Hercules, & roars like a young "short-horn."

yours in love,
J.W.M. 

[Jane Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel to John Milton Binckley]. Photo: link here. Holly Brook, U.S. Route 13 vicinity, Eastville, Northampton County, VA.  Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.

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.