June 30, 1861. Ma & the girls went to Tina to spend the day & in the afternoon Ida & Toady came over for some things & said they were going to stay over night to meet Mary tomorrow.

June 29, 1861. Winston went to town & got beef.

June 28, 1861. Tina, Bama & Minnie spent the day with us. Rain. Winston went to town in the morning for beef but got none.

June 27, 1861. [no entry]

June 26, 1861. In the afternoon Winston went to town, sent Mother a bag of vegetables etc. In the afternoon Ma & all of us went to meet W.

June 24, 1861.  Expected Mary but she did not come, rec'd a letter from Mother speaking of a narrow escape from drowning of Willie & Georgie & being ordered off by the blockading vessel....

June 23, 1861. Rosa missed her fever. All home all day.

June 22, 1861.  In the morning Winston & Ben with Clark & others cut two bee trees.  In the afternoon Ma, Ida & Alabama came over to stay two weeks.  Rosa had fever again.

June 21, 1861. Winston & I went over to Tina’s soon after breakfast & I went huckleberrying with Tina & the children, we spent the day there. Rosa had fever.

[Willie Bryant to Rebecca Bryant] 

                                                                                                Rebel Tent June 21, 1861

My dear Mother,

                I am happy to inform you that after a very tedious trip we arrived here. yesterday just before 1 o'clock; We were travelling the whole time from 12 o'clock of the night before, with the exception of about 4 hours, when we laid by for some rest, & breakfast, & because we could get no further, I must say the delay was not enjoyed in any particular; The breakfast consisted of parched‑corn, coffee without "sweetening", some rice boiled without salt, & some mullet ditto, & for once I found a meal that others could eat, & I could not any more than courtesy required; no, "I'd have fought first" ‑ I have felt sure I was to be sick, sure enough, but have taken a dose of medicine this a.m. & have been up about an hour & a half & feel quite bright, & am sure I will be all right when "The tocsin of the soul" sounds, the dinner bell – The Typhoon came down in the night, I understand, so of course George did not come, but if he has I will soon know; he must not come unless by stm’r & when all is favorable, & by no means in a small boat; Denny & I am to be alone in our tent for several days & I very much wish George could be here now, & find much to interest him but must bring an interesting book or two to read, & if he comes in a few days may bring the fowl he was to -

                My time is up I must close in haste to send ‑ With much love to all ‑

                                                                                                Willie

Davis – In Col. H”ing & try & get “Henry” who is here for his food & clothes until times are easier, he is here doing nothing but what we make him do for his food, as we are obl’ged to feed him as no else will – both of his boys are at our kitchen – I want all of the cigars at the house.

June 20, 1861. In the afternoon Winston surprised me by coming home, had bad luck, brought only a few fish & oranges. Rosa not well to day.

June 19, 1861. In the morning Ben carried some melons to town. In the afternoon Ben & I went to Tina’s & then he & Ma & I went to Mrs. Hopkins to call on Mrs. Granger, she was not at home, we had some music, then Bella, Mrs. Braham, Tina & I walked to the wharf & got me a pair of shoes. Ben & I did not get home till dark.

June 18, 1861, [no entry]

June 17, 1861. Winston went to town in the morning. Received a letter from Mother & Willie. In the afternoon Winston started with Clark on a hunt of a week. Rain. Had a watermelon.

June 16, 1861. Ma, Clark, Tina & the girls spent the day with us.

June 15, 1861. Rain. Winston & Ben cut a bee tree in the morning & the bees ran them off then they went again in the afternoon & got the bees & more than two buckets of honey.

June 14, 1861. We all took dinner at Clark’s. Clark, Winston & Ben went fishing in the morning & got soaking wet. Rain.

June 13, 1861. Winston went to Mrs. Tyner’s got potatoes vines, Willie & Lewis went home in the morning, Rain.

June 12, 1861. In the afternoon Winston Rosa & I went to town. I went to Mrs. Hopkins, Winston carried 24 melons to the boat, & sent a melon & some honey to Mother, had a nice rain, met Willie S. and Lewis coming over here. Rain.

June 11, 1861. [no entry]

June 10, 1861.  Received the news of Callies (Dick's wife) death, she died Tuesday June 4th. Winston went to town brought me a nice letter from Mother.

June 9, 1861.  Quite a nice rain.  Winston went patrolling in the morning.

June 7, 1861. Winston & Ben went huckleberrying.

June 8, 1861.  Toady & Lewis came over just before dinner.  In the afternoon Ben, Toady & Lewis went to cut a bee tree. Ma and the girls went to Tina’s. Had 2 watermelons. Ben's bee tree turned out to be a fine one, the bees drove them away once & they came home and Winston went back with them, they did not return until 9 o'clock & brought lots of honey & fish.

June 6, 1861. [no entry]

June 5, 1861. Winston went hunting with Clark, killed a deer, sent some berries & vension to Mother.

June 4, 1861.  Rhubannah, Ida, Rosa, Jane and I went huckleberrying at the Lake, Tina & her children also went, took dinner with her.

June 3, 1861. Winston went hunting with Clark did not get back until late in the afternoon, they killed two deer & a turkey.

For background on these families, click on Introduction
June 2, 1861.  Ma, Ben, & Alabama spent the day at Tina's  Rhubannah & Ida came back with them to stay with us awhile.