[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens] 

                                                                                                Palatka Dec 5th 1861.

My Dear Wife

                I received yours by Capt Hopkins yesterday about 1 1/2 PM.  I was glad to hear from you, but sorry you have the fever & hope you are clear of it before this.  I send you 33 grains of Quinine which cost one dollar now & hard to get even at that price.  I want you to take enough to break the fever if you have it after you receive this.  I would come up to day to see you but last night just as I was about to open my mouth to ask my "Boss" if I could come he assigned me to some duty for to day & I then held my tongue, but perhaps if I were to come up to day I could not come Christmas & if you are not sick any more I had rather come then than now.  I send you some calico for four shirts but I dont want you to work on them until you are well as I have got more calico shirts already made since I came down here, I also send you half dollars worth of blk flax all that I can get in the place & I send the paper. I wish you would try to find out when the Sumpter is coming down & let me know how you are & dont hide your real feelings & if you are no better I will come up.  I am in fine health & we have comfortable quarters in houses, the only thing I miss is a fire place.  We have no tents yet from Government but Cpt Hopkins has five that he has promised the Company.  Bless my Dear Rosa for writing to her Pa Pa.  I am glad to see she is improving so fast & to hear she has so much good luck with her teeth.  I think if you continue to have fever you had better wean Rosa, but your Mother knows best.  If you can take it the Quinine will be more effective in solution. About killing the hogs, so as you wish but if the black on is not fat don’t kill him but the smaller ones. I am sorry Henry could not find the Mill man tell him I am much obliged to him for the trouble he took for me. I don’t know what to do about Simmons if Clark can find out where he is send to him if not too far. I am sorry on your account of the difficulty between you & Carrie, but hope to be the gainer by it, as I propose to come in for the ambrotype, send it by the first opportunity if you can give it to me.

                Henry & George can plant the old yard & garden if they wish & I will plant the rest. I give Burrel 1 peck of card & half bush potatoes & sarah twice & Tom & Rach the same. I am glad you spoke so short to Burrel & if they trouble me I will hire the whole of them out & you may tell him so. I have just finished breakfast & the boys are to be off soon & I presume as this is the third week you can put up with it. my fingers are quite cold, did Ben sell the peas? I will try to make some arrrangements for him to go if he wishes. Tell Clark his old boat is here but not worth much.   Love to all.  Kiss Rosa & accept as many as you wish from your old Man Winston.