Oct 31, 1861. Willie Stephens went home Henry & George went with him but returned to dinner.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Oct 30, 1861. Winston left on the boat for Palatka with Gen Hopkins & others to have their company mustered into service.
[Willie Bryant to Davis Bryant]
Rebel Hall
Wed’y night. Oct 30/61
Dear Davis,
I’m here & somewhat broken-in already. We got off at 10, & at just 1, had rowed to Y. Bluff, waited there ‘till 6, and rowed to Mayport by a little past 8, & then footed it to camp by ½ p 9, making a devilish good trip & after quite a pleasant one, “so to speak”; We were all 4 good hands, & tho’ we did not sail a nick put the Dixie “right thro” to my notion.
I find the camp generally, about as I left it, the same old complaint about grit & the same chances for dirty work, & to-night, the same chances for sleep among the musquitoes; (amen!)
The boys all greet me cordially & none I care for seem to think I have been shirking duty.
I can tell you in candor, that on rt’g here after such a long stay in town the camp presents but very little that is particularly inviting or lovely, & as for the feed, & the dirty smutty work going on, I’ll swear it ain’t cunning. Falany goes to town with a subscription list & intends trying to hire some negroes to do this heavy work here, ask him about it; the work is powerful dirty & goes on slowly. “In Pare thesis”; I have just written Hickman at Fernandina that if he can do anything for either of us, &c, that it will be appreciated, & gave the letter open to Capt. S. to read, & deliver at Fernda. to-morow; Hickman will be here soon now & I can then know. You will see by my a/c of trip down that I spent 5 hours at Y. Bluff; almost the whole of that time was spent in the house in enjoyment; thro’ kind arrangements I was able to take both dinner & supper with them, which was cunning, sure; Miss Aggie & I made much music of course, & the widow & I had one of our good chats; they are expecting you along with yr flute all the time, & had been told you would be down with me; Young Tombs has got well enough to leave but his pleasant little wife is still there. I thought of you all last eveg. as being at the “Source” & having a good time, & wished myself “mixed-in”, tho’ I hardly think it was as “big a thing” as the “blow out” of the previous night; I enjoyed that certain; if Maggie should happen to know how much give me the wink will you; Denny will “blurt it out” sure, I suppose.
Chauncey & Louis did not get here till noon yesterday, tho’ they did not have a very hard time, lying by at Joyners, Freemans, & Y. Bluff. Charlie & crew made good time & arrived here Sunday just ahead of a good N Easter.
“Grub” being out yesterday, Allen, Doggett, Richard, & Stuart, refused to do work, but Capt. made one of his Patriotic speeches to them last night & this a.m. they turned to again. I hope some of the fellows will come by return of St. Marys. I shall wait to hear from Mother & write by mail Sunday.
I pd no attention to the article put in our boat as we left but concluded as all my articles were together all had been put in, but find I left 2 wood chairs, & Doc’s chair, & my box; the chairs may remain for awhile but the box I wish for St. Marys & also wish you to send in it, 1 pkge large, & 1 of my small Envelopes, & 3 com. White cups & Saucers to be got from B&c, & chgd to Charlies; I also send Chauncey’s trunk keys, & if you can, please send his Musq. Net. If you get Ivy please get gall Syrup & have chgd to Doc, at Hartridges & send also; again, please get gall Fluid Ivy from B&c’s & keep for me, it has a little sealing wax on the mouth. Also please Flagg 10c for me.
[Willie]
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Oct 29, 1861. In the afternoon Winston went to town & brought home his pony.
[Rebecca Bryant to Davis Bryant]
Rose Cottage Oct 29, 1861
My dear Davis,
I am here safe and sound – Our trip up the river afforded no incident worthy of note, we arrived at Palatka just at nine o’clk. Silas came for our baggage immediately and we were all in our berths before ten o’clk. We arrived at Welaka earlier than usual and as Tivie did not receive my letter last week, she was not expecting me. Capt Brock blows no whistle now when he comes, and there was no one from this place for the mail ‑ Gen Hopkins and Mr Smith were the only persons to be seen on the wharf – Mr S- looked miserably – has had chills & fevers for a long time –Gen H- insisted on our going to his house to breakfast, he knew Winston would come over for letters and we had not been there long before Henry spied him coming up the road and hailed him ‑ He was surprised but very glad to see us ‑ we did not get through breakfast until 9 o'clk, then I borrowed a side‑saddle and rode over the mule that Winston came on, George walking by me, and sent Tom with the waggon to bring over the "plunder." I found Tivie well and cheerful, notwithstanding she has five sick negroes to attend to, and those five include the best in the place ‑ Burrel, Rachel, Sarah the cook, the little girl that waits about the house and the youngest boy, Jess. She does not appear to feel as sadly about Winston's going as I thought she would ‑ I know however she always conceals her feelings ‑ but she does not dread the future as I do ‑ She is young and hopeful yet, I can no longer build castles. Gen H‑ asked me if Willie was going to join his company and be his Sergeant ‑ I told him W‑ said it was impossible ‑ He said he did not know who he should get that was competent to keep the accounts ‑ I asked what he thought of you taking it ‑ he said he should like it very much and went on to say everything he could think of in favor of it. Winston went to town this afternoon and talked with him about it ‑ he thinks that you would do well to go ‑ He says the pay is about 44 dolls. per month, beside the money for clothing which is the same as in other companies ‑ that the writing and figuring you would be required to do would not occupy half your time ‑ You would not be required to do guard duty ‑ Winston says they are all ignorant of the cavalry drill but Gen Commander has promised to spend two weeks with them after they are mustered in and drill the company. He says you had better get a good horse even if you have to pay two hundred dollars because he will sell for as much when you leave the service ‑ They have bought many of the horses on 12 months time and think you can. They expect the mustering officer to be at Palatka next Monday and if you decide to take this situation you must come up on the St. Johns and muster in with them, you can then return to Jacksonville for a few days, probably a week & make your arrangements to leave. If you have not applied for the other office you spoke of, and you cannot get anything to do in Jacksonville I suppose this is the next best thing ‑ It is hard for me to be reconciled to having both Willie and yourself in the service and both so far from me and from each other, but since I can not change circumstances, I must learn to submit and not add to your discomfort by complaining.
Mr Burritt told me on Sunday that he had spoken to you about writing to your Father by the vessel that is going to Nassau ‑ I hope you or Willie will write ‑ I shall write a few lines in the morning and enclose with this, hoping the vessel will not leave before it reaches you ‑ If there is no opportunity to send it before you leave please destroy it. If you decide to leave Jacksonville please send me the list of articles left with Mrs Maxey and also those left with Mr Bouse – I did not intend to leave the table mats, but as I did, they had better be put on the list. If you come up to Palatka I would like to have you bring ½ doz of our small knives (leaving Mrs Maxey 5) and the new carving knife, leaving her the old one is she wants it, also a tin pan which is in the barrel send to Mr Bouse’s. Winston expects to come home after the company is mustered in and can bring them. I should like some larger envelopes than the white ones I brought.
Give my love to Mrs Maxey and tell her I was very sorry to learn from Josephas that Mr Sanchez was no better, write me if she has heard any thing definite about her sister, coming to her. How are the Reeds? Give my love to them and to Mrs Foster and Beck – Remember me to Mrs Hewitt when you see her. I wish I knew if Willie went to Fort Steele to‑day ‑ Oh me! it is a long time to Christmas ‑ Every one has been in bed nearly two hours and I must follow their lead ‑ Good night may Heaven bless you and my dear Willie whereever you go.
Mother
Wednesday morng. Winston says Mr Gardner is going down on the Darlington to-day on route for Savannah – if he is not on the Darlington tomorrow you may be sure he will be on the St. Mary’s when she comes down the river. He told Winston he would give a draft of a house in Savannah for the amount due you, if her does, Winston will enclosed it to you and send by Capt. Brock, if not you can see Gardner and ascertain what he intends to do – Winston thinks he intends to pay but like many others is tied up now – He told W- that he had $25,000 owing to him in N. Carolina. He has purchased a vessel to send his turpentine and rosin to Havanna, if he can run the blockade. Wednesday 10 AM. Never mind the envelopes I have given Winston money to buy them at Palatka – You can read my letter to your Father if you wish.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
[Willie Bryant to Davis Bryant]
Ft. Steele Oct 1, 1861
Dear Davis
Yr's with one inclosed from Beck, sent by Falany was recd. yesterday, & I assure you "did me good & helped me too." I looked for our boat most longingly all day Sunday, to hear from home, & was just blue & sick enough to be impatient & troubled by the delay, & finally when the StmBoat arrived yesterday p.m. & I could find no letter, nor tidings of the Dixie, I was almost desperate; late p.m. "Hospital nurse Falany"s came down to camp & informed me he had a letter for me but had left it at Mayport; I was "desperater," but sent a negro for it & at dark was gratified by recv'g it. The first subject on my mind worthy of mention is the fact of being a convalescent & in a fair way of recovering & I might say soon & beyond doubt; I have had but little fever since Henry left, & Quinine &c has now entirely broken it & I will soon report for duty, tho' I am yet "powerful weak" & good for nothing; it has been a very long time since I have been so "used up."
The St. Johns was obliged to go back to Yellow Bluff yesterday, & several urged me to take advantage of the opportunity my sickness gave, & go up there to be nursed & to recuperate, the idea was tempting, certain, but my concience wouldn't permit me to "sojer" so much, & amid many indearing epithets I backed out; yr letter soon proved to me the truth of my favorite old maxim, "Honesty is the best policy - sometimes."
I infer from Yr letter that George is on his way down in the Dixie, or started in her – for as she has not yet arrived I suppose the Capt. has not been quartering on plantations thro’ all this storm, but went back to J- & I am glad he is coming, for tho’ he will not have the playmates that Henry had the trip will do him good & he & I can manage to find some amusement for him; I want to know the extent of his “furlough” so that I may be governed by it, for as long as he improves & is satisfied here I wish him to remain.
The St. Johns will not be able to go out to-day, but the wind is changing I think, & to-morrow will be better; when I hope the Dixie will be able to “fly” down; It is too bad that the whole Co. is a loser by this delay, - & many more such that must occur, - for if the next squad could go they wd. Not lose much time in running to town before this wind, & it adds to the interminable long time between furloughs.
Tuesday 4 o clk Pm
Oct 1/61
Chauncey has just got here they have had the “devils” own time; arrived at Y. Bluff yesterday P.M. staid till this m. & left George to come by stmr to-morrow; he is all right, & Mrs Joint & the two children there are happy to have him with them.
Hollis, the ungrateful, & impolite chowder-head, went off without letting me know he was going, an opportunity luckily turns up to send by Lieut. Butter in a minute.
Adieu! Love to You all
Willie
Oct 2, 1861. Winston went to town in the afternoon.
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