[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens] 

                                                                                                Fernandina January 2nd 1862

My Dear Wife

                I received your short, but interesting letter by Cars in due time with a long PS by Davis, which made the letter all together a long one.  I was glad to hear that you all had been so agreeably surprised by Davis & Willies visit & glad to hear you had such a good time generally.  I am in fine health with the exception of a cold which is very common in camps, my cold is much better than it was yesterday.  Some few of the men have fever with their colds & some of the Regiment have pneumonia, Mumps, Measels & a variety of other Contagious diseases too tedious to mention ‑ one death occured in Capt Martins company last night, a man by the name of Morrison from near Ocala. ‑ We try to keep our men seperated as much as possible from other Companies to avoid the various diseases ‑ We have itch in camps but I shal hold myself aloof from the men as much as possible to avoid catching it if possible.  The general  health has improved in the last few days. Dr. Mathews told me just before dinner that he had less than half as many on his sick list than he had three days ago, & no serious cases - We have only two men on our sick list, Perdum & Glisson & they walk about Camps.  This has the appearance of a healthy place.  We have to drill about four hours every day which gives us exercise enough to keep us from getting lazy & the Company has very much improved since our arrival here. The cars did not arrive last night & the supposition is that some accident has befallen it & if so I fear our Capt has had his share as he was expected. A train went out this morning & we will not know the particulars until the return of that Train. 

                A small craft came in by the blockade on Sunday from Nassau loaded with salt & ask twelve dollars pr sack, but I think they will have to curtail the price before they sell.

                On Sunday I went down to the Fort & sand batteries below the Fort & I feel more convinced than ever the Yankees will have their hands full if our guns are used well. I saw Judge Brain & he looked worse than I ever saw him, I also found Mr Halliday there & they went around & showed me all the guns & the position of the channel &c all of which I found interesting & satisfactory, as I think they (I mean the Yankees) will have to land on the Island somewhere else & not at Fernandina, & if they should effect a landing on some other point we could whip them as we have several advantages from the position of the country, but I am at ease on that subject as I feel sure that they will not come here.

                If this letter is disconnected you must not blame me as it is impossible to write a letter in came without having interuptions every few minutes - I think I told you not to transplant the peach trees unless you had good seasons, but I want you to have it done at once & have them well watered about sunset every evening until you are sure they will live, also the Plum.  the three large trees by the old place you can let stay, but transplant all the rest, & if this dry weather continues until you receive this tell Burrel to examine the new ground & if the bushes are dead he had better set fire to it & burn it off & let Tom haul the rails before the woods are burnt, tell him to try & get a windy day as it will burn better & be careful & not let the fire burn him out when the woods gets afire. I enclose a ration table & if you will overlook my letters you will find this is the third time since I left, & I give it to you this time so you can keep it in your journal.

                It seems a long time to wait for a letter, from one Saturday to the next, but I suppose I should feel thankful to have one that often.  Does my Darling Rosa stil lisp her Pa name or can she talk plainer.  I would give any thing to see you both & have the pleasure of your society if only for a short time, but I cant tell you when that will be as Lt Peterman has the promise of the next furlough.  I think we will be removed before very long & perhaps to Smyrna, if so I will come home, I will perhaps be able to tell you more about the change in my next ‑ Kill the black hog as soon as he will do to kill as Gardners negroes will kill him if he gets out. Tell Clark I will try & write to him next mail. Give them love &c. We have to go to drill & I must close, I will add a PS to night. love to Mother & boys, & kiss Rosa & tell her to kiss Mother for PaPa – Good bye & bless you

                                                                                                Your loving husband

                                                                                                Winston Stephens

PS Capt H has arrived & no money but we will get in a few days by one of us going after it.

                                                                                                Yours ever

                                                                                                Winston

                This will give you some idea of our incampment.  The front row of tents are the officers the tents are all about 12 by 13 feet & the wall is about 3 feet & then tapers to the top ‑ which makes a very comfortable tent. Officers tents three to each company, these are the mens tents all opening on the streets & behind them they have their camp fires, each Tent holds four men. The Capt one wall tent, Myself & Lt Peterman one & Lt Gray & Mr Greely the clerk one ‑ and the Comisary tent is between the officers tents & the men ‑ & distance from the officers to the men 20 yards ‑ you must excuse me for not taking more pains in drawing the camp but remember I dont profess to be expert in such things & this will give you some idea of our situation.  We are on a high hill & nearly surrounded by branches from which we procure our water.

My Dear

                I got a letter from Mr Smith of Welaka asking if he could rent the house that Mr Gardner had last year & I have written to him & refered him to Mother ‑ I would say if she has not disposed of it that I think she had better let him have it as it is better occupied that not ‑ Gardner was to pay 9$ pr month ‑ I hope Willie got the money from G for Mr Tucker or at least the note ‑ it was 18 dollars.