Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]
Washington Dec. 14th 1862
My dear mother Binckley
Your most welcome letter was duly received, and the only regret it caused was that you should [not] have thought for an instant that I would allow myself to be hurt by your seeming neglect. No, I know too well how difficult it is for you to write now, and am thankful that you can, and do have the patience to accomplish even an occasional letter. So do not I beg of you, allow that idea to trouble you again, but just write when you feel like it, and be assured I will wait patiently, and receive any thing from your pen gladly.
It has been so long since I wrote, and I have so many things to talk of, I scarcely know where to begin. Mother had been gone only two weeks and I was just beginning to get the house straight, and myself a little used to housekeeper's harness, when poor little Rosalie made her appearance, at least a month sooner than I had expected. I was alarmed at first, thinking that the unusual exertions I had made after mother went had injured me, but the Doctor assured me every thing was right, and Milton was so glad it was all safely over, that I was glad myself finally.
Of my troubles during the last two months it is useless to speak now. I think they are pretty much over now and I do hope brighter days are in store for us. Milton has recovered entirely from the severe spell he had when baby was about a month old.
Baby herself is not so cross, does no cry so continually, and I myself am pretty well now. The violent cold and cough I had when I first left my room has left me entirely, with neuralgia to be sure, but that you know one gets used to.
I have got the house straight at last for the winter do begin to feel as if I could draw a fine breath. Our winter had begin unusually soon -- we have had two snows already and one very cold spell the last week in November. I am sorry for it not only because I dislike cold weather, but fuel is so high this season that fire is a heavy items of expense.
This is a hard winter for us, but when I think of our family still entirely in the midst of this terrible war which is making so many widows and orphans I must confess that our trials are comparatively easy to bear. Lately especially I have had peculiar cause for thankfulness. The house where mother and Sue were boarding, a fine old-fashioned place, took fire Thanksgiving night and burnt to the ground, and Sue and mother both made narrow escapes.
Sue had not gone to sleep as early as usual and as the fire broke out just over her room, she would have been surrounded by flames and suffocated if she had gone to bed at the usual time. Poor Susie! Mother says she did behave so well, showed the self possession and energy of a woman and managed to save nearly all their clothes, besides many things belonging to the family. Mother was trying to save things upstairs when the stairway caught, and she just did escape.
It fills me with horror to think of that night. Poor mother lost a chest packed with all her old relics, mementoes of the past -- old books, drawings, letters, in short every thing of that kind that she valued on earth, and I know what a trial it has been to her by the grief it has caused me.
They are living now in an old uninhabited house in the neighborhood, but it is cold and comfortless and [they] hope soon to be able to fix up the old house father bought and go with that. I expect mother will write to you soon, when she feels a little more settled, and can get together some writing materials. Every thing of that kind was burnt.
Father is going down to see them for a few days Christmas principally to take down various things which they are in need of. I will have to spend at least two days this week shopping for the Moores and mother, for you know some things are more trouble to get large ones.
I was so disappointed last week. Mr. Field had been trying to get leave of absence to make a visit to his family in Burlington, and for some days thought he could. I was going down [the] street to take my Christmas treat in fixing up a little box to send you by him, when he announced he had been refused leave. Saturday evening he did get leave, but too late for me to do anything, and I had to let him go without one thing for you, knowing too that my only chance was gone for we cannot afford the expenses this year.
[D]ear mother, will you accept from me as the only substitute I can offer, the first money I earned by working a pair of shoulder-straps? I consecrated it to you as I worked, and hope you will get with it some little thing for your own personal use or gratification. I only wish it could be multiplied a thousand times, so that we could transport you to our own fireside.
If we could have you and brother George here it would be Christmas indeed -- my own family have all left me, I cannot have my husband with me, and the social season will be lonely and saddened.
I heard from Willie not long ago through a lady who had just come on -- he was doing well and in better health than he had been for years. All our relations, as far as we can hear are well.
As for news here, I can give you but little; I have not visited, or gone out except on business for months.
Katy Ridgely came by in the carriage 3 months ago to show me her baby -- a fine boy, some six weeks old then. She herself looked badly, had lost her hair and was evidently worsted.
Susie[?] and Mary are well but much occupied -- Mary by constant company, and Susie[?] by nursing first Mary, who had hooping-cough badly in the fall, and now old Mrs. Cromwell who is sick constantly. Emma's bad health makes her of little service.
I suppose Milton wrote to you that we had heard of Erskine Stuart's folks. They had come into possession of the property left Mrs. Stuart* and were in Richmond living in style, and Fannie to be married soon. All were well. I haven't heard from the Alexandria Stuarts.
I will have to stop . . . baby is crying for me, and I have to keep Nellie in my sight continually or she is in some mischief -- her last exploit was to get the scissors, hide under the table and cut all the hair off one side of her head! [I]t curled so prettily too. I took a good cry. Good bye
In haste
Lou
[John Milton Binckley (circa 1831-1878).
It has been so long since I wrote, and I have so many things to talk of, I scarcely know where to begin. Mother had been gone only two weeks and I was just beginning to get the house straight, and myself a little used to housekeeper's harness, when poor little Rosalie made her appearance, at least a month sooner than I had expected. I was alarmed at first, thinking that the unusual exertions I had made after mother went had injured me, but the Doctor assured me every thing was right, and Milton was so glad it was all safely over, that I was glad myself finally.
Of my troubles during the last two months it is useless to speak now. I think they are pretty much over now and I do hope brighter days are in store for us. Milton has recovered entirely from the severe spell he had when baby was about a month old.
Baby herself is not so cross, does no cry so continually, and I myself am pretty well now. The violent cold and cough I had when I first left my room has left me entirely, with neuralgia to be sure, but that you know one gets used to.
I have got the house straight at last for the winter do begin to feel as if I could draw a fine breath. Our winter had begin unusually soon -- we have had two snows already and one very cold spell the last week in November. I am sorry for it not only because I dislike cold weather, but fuel is so high this season that fire is a heavy items of expense.
This is a hard winter for us, but when I think of our family still entirely in the midst of this terrible war which is making so many widows and orphans I must confess that our trials are comparatively easy to bear. Lately especially I have had peculiar cause for thankfulness. The house where mother and Sue were boarding, a fine old-fashioned place, took fire Thanksgiving night and burnt to the ground, and Sue and mother both made narrow escapes.
Sue had not gone to sleep as early as usual and as the fire broke out just over her room, she would have been surrounded by flames and suffocated if she had gone to bed at the usual time. Poor Susie! Mother says she did behave so well, showed the self possession and energy of a woman and managed to save nearly all their clothes, besides many things belonging to the family. Mother was trying to save things upstairs when the stairway caught, and she just did escape.
It fills me with horror to think of that night. Poor mother lost a chest packed with all her old relics, mementoes of the past -- old books, drawings, letters, in short every thing of that kind that she valued on earth, and I know what a trial it has been to her by the grief it has caused me.
They are living now in an old uninhabited house in the neighborhood, but it is cold and comfortless and [they] hope soon to be able to fix up the old house father bought and go with that. I expect mother will write to you soon, when she feels a little more settled, and can get together some writing materials. Every thing of that kind was burnt.
Father is going down to see them for a few days Christmas principally to take down various things which they are in need of. I will have to spend at least two days this week shopping for the Moores and mother, for you know some things are more trouble to get large ones.
I was so disappointed last week. Mr. Field had been trying to get leave of absence to make a visit to his family in Burlington, and for some days thought he could. I was going down [the] street to take my Christmas treat in fixing up a little box to send you by him, when he announced he had been refused leave. Saturday evening he did get leave, but too late for me to do anything, and I had to let him go without one thing for you, knowing too that my only chance was gone for we cannot afford the expenses this year.
[D]ear mother, will you accept from me as the only substitute I can offer, the first money I earned by working a pair of shoulder-straps? I consecrated it to you as I worked, and hope you will get with it some little thing for your own personal use or gratification. I only wish it could be multiplied a thousand times, so that we could transport you to our own fireside.
If we could have you and brother George here it would be Christmas indeed -- my own family have all left me, I cannot have my husband with me, and the social season will be lonely and saddened.
I heard from Willie not long ago through a lady who had just come on -- he was doing well and in better health than he had been for years. All our relations, as far as we can hear are well.
As for news here, I can give you but little; I have not visited, or gone out except on business for months.
Katy Ridgely came by in the carriage 3 months ago to show me her baby -- a fine boy, some six weeks old then. She herself looked badly, had lost her hair and was evidently worsted.
Susie[?] and Mary are well but much occupied -- Mary by constant company, and Susie[?] by nursing first Mary, who had hooping-cough badly in the fall, and now old Mrs. Cromwell who is sick constantly. Emma's bad health makes her of little service.
I suppose Milton wrote to you that we had heard of Erskine Stuart's folks. They had come into possession of the property left Mrs. Stuart* and were in Richmond living in style, and Fannie to be married soon. All were well. I haven't heard from the Alexandria Stuarts.
I will have to stop . . . baby is crying for me, and I have to keep Nellie in my sight continually or she is in some mischief -- her last exploit was to get the scissors, hide under the table and cut all the hair off one side of her head! [I]t curled so prettily too. I took a good cry. Good bye
In haste
Lou
[John Milton Binckley (circa 1831-1878).
Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930). Children up to that time: Ellen / Nellie / Nella (Fontaine) Binckley (1860-1951), Rosalie Binckley (October 1862-June 1864).
Mother Binckley = Charlotte Stocker Binckley (1788-1877).
Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Father = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).
Sue = Sue Henry Mitchell/Michel (1845-1940).
Willie = William Manning Mitchell/Michel (1839-1908).
George = George Michael Binckley (1828-1885).
Mother Binckley = Charlotte Stocker Binckley (1788-1877).
Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Father = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).
Sue = Sue Henry Mitchell/Michel (1845-1940).
Willie = William Manning Mitchell/Michel (1839-1908).
George = George Michael Binckley (1828-1885).
*Frances "Fannie" Elizabeth Glenn Stewart (1825-1913) – wife of James Erskine Stewart (1814-1890), who served as law clerk with the US Department of the Interior, 1852-1861; Frances “Fannie” Stewart (ca. 1845-?) was their daughter.]
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