Jane Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel notes (circa 1891), part 1

Panicello [Panecillo] Memorial Trail, Abingdon VA
(Appalachian Sustainable Development, 2013)

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Michel (aka Mitchell) [at Washington City for Robert Morton Hughes at Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1891.] Box 3, folder 9, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough, annotated transcription from a copy graciously provided by William Myers.]

I don’t know if you will consider this worth recording, but give it as an early reminiscence[.]

Joseph began to show his military inclinations when he was not more than five or six years old when the family lived in Abingdon. There he got up a company (which they called an army) of little boys, whom he trained. They made him their General, & Ben was Colonel. Thus he was accustomed to the title of Gen. all his life.

Deer were very numerous in that region in those days & my father & his sons were greatly addicted to hunting, sometimes near home, sometimes as far as 12 or 14 miles. The two younger boys, Beverly & Joseph, usually went on foot to the hunting ground, & then went into the drive, which led them over rugged hills & high mountains, & took them many miles.

This training to fatigue & hardship Joseph considered very valuable in preparing him for the life of a soldier. He likewise was much given to athletic exercises in early years.  [Continued.]

[Robert Morton Hughes (1855-1940).
Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).
Ben = Benjamin Franklin Johnston (1808-1834).
My father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Beverly = Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876).]

[Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration; in this case, specifically to William for providing a scanned copy of the original document.]