Feb 20, 1862. Henry went to town in the morning to get a peck of corn from the store. Hard rain after supper.

[Rebecca] Feb 20, 1862. Very warm in the morng. – A heary rain comes on after tea.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]

                                                                                                Dunlawton  Feb 20, 1862

My dear wife

                I arrived here about 4 oclock on Tuesday & found Capt Hopkins very sick & not expected to live until the next morning, but he is with us yet & at this time I think him better than when I first arrived. We are working night & day for him & although Dr Holmes says there is no hope for him, I think it is possible for him to recover. When he gets up to stool he is able to stand & help himself a great deal & is rational all the time when aroused or clearly awake – sometimes when he is partly asleep he talks at random but not otherwise – but when I arrived his mind did not appear so clear as it does now & the change to day is rather for the better or merely a temporary change before dissolution but I think & hope it is a permanent chance for the better - poor man!  He is so very much reduced in flesh - he gets up to stool from four to five times a day & it is very dark and offencive.  We are using injections of gumerabic & the blisters have drawn well & we give him brandy in boiled milk & arrow root & the Dr says that is all that keeps him alive.

                I send the waggon home & I want burrel to haul the manure out & plant the old field corn as soon as possible - fix up my trunk blankets & if you can fix me up a small matras & musquito bar I will thank you as we are ordered to Smyrna & they are bad there, also send the box with fixings if convinient, send every thing over to Welaka as soon as you can get them ready & Sergt Mizell will bring them down.  I cant return now & dont know when I can.  We have been ordered to Smyrna to cooperate with Maj Barnwell with the work he has to perform & we will go up as soon as the Capt's condition will permit.  I sent 20 dollars to Col Deval & wrote him to send me a barrel of syrup and hope you will get it by Mondays Boat.  has Mother heard from the boys yet & why is it she has not rec'd letters by the last two mails?  I rode out yesterday to kill a deer & killed a very large Panther but no deer - the men have no meat and I went on their account & to day I have sent out for some pork.  I am suffering so much for want of thinner clothing - ask Clark to see Mr Tuton & try & get enough goods to make a pair of pants - send my light linnin coat & vests. We have just had a rain – but no sand flies or Musquitoes here – but the finest lands & finest fish oysters, oranges &c. I will ad a P.S. in the Morning.

                                                                                                Your loving Husband

love to Mother, boys & many kisses to my Darling babe & all you want for yourself.

                                                                                                Winston Stephens 

Dont forget to send my old shoes - & send my shot gun the goasd of buck shot about one pound of small shot & if Davis sends the caps send me the Water proof & one box of the others. send the trunk key in the letter as I had as soon not have a trunk in camp as to have one & no key – When Burrel goes over with the things ask Mr Smith to send the corn I told him which was my rations. PS The Capt was not quite so well during the night & if he is no better soon he cant hold out long. I sent last night to Augustus after Dr Peck, but fear he will do no good as he cant arrive before before Monday - Send the Sword in my bedding -Much love to all - Yours Very truly

                                                                                                Winston Stephens