March 12, 1862. Wrote to Winston. In the afternoon Davis & the boys went hunting on the river, brought 2 ducks & 3 coots.

[Rebecca] March 12, 1862. A little after midnight we are awakened by a messenger bringing letter from Winston who is at Volusia. He will not be here for some days. Davis and boys go the fish and bring home four ducks – My thoughts are constantly with Willie who I fear will be ordered out of the state.

[Octavia Stephens to Winston Stephens] 

                                                                                                March 12, 1862

My own dear husband

                I hardly know what to write & how to write to you my poor heart is so full of anxiety for you, seems as though I can not concentrate my thoughts on paper, do not think though that I have given up to the blues & dumps, but no one knows the anxiety I feel when I think of your situation, but as I can not better it I try to trust in Providence, and if any poor mortals ever prayed earnestly I have for your safety.  I know they are heard, & hope & pray that they may be accepted and granted.  Oh I can not bear to think that it may be otherwise.  Well I ought not to write this way to you, for your burden is hard enough to bear. I received yours & Ma’s letters last night a little after 12 o’clock Josy and someone else brought them, when they first hallowed I thought it must be you as I could not help looking some for you yesterday, but when I saw two men I was afraid something was the matter with you, until Josy said he had “letters from the Capt.” I tell you my dressing gown & shoes were on in short order, he said that someone would go back to you tomorrow, & not knowing what time they start will send this over this afternoon.

                I think you may as well give up & come home as to try & keep the enemy back for they have a very large force, Mr Lewis Roux stayed on in Fernandina a day or two as a sort of spy, & passed himself off as a union man, & the enemy told him they had 25,000 men, and 21 gunboats, that they expected a hard fight & came prepared to conquer all Florida & establish a territorial government. I suppose you heard that the Government has abandoned this State & the Governor has ordered all the regiments that are mustered into the Confederate service away from East Fla.  What is to become of us.  I think we will have to leave or be made Lincolns subjects. I forgot to say that Mr Roux left just as the Yankees began to find him out, but left two or three more spies there.

                I think we are safe enough here if the Gun boats come up for they can not see us from the river, & they probably will not come from Welaka here.  I think there is no fear of my being insulted if any attempt should be made I think whoever did should rue it, if they come we intend to be civil as long as they are so, Mother thinks she will not be insulted, that she is too old & she will be "spokesman."  We have taken care of a small portion of the corn & a barrel of meat, & the bale of cotton.  Burrel thinks that some of the corn we thought killed will yet come out, he is getting along finely.  I would not like to leave the negroes if I should leave, for it would give them more of a chance to be unfaithful, & if faithful I would not like to leave them. The Hopkins negroes got frightened the other day at something they thought to be fife & drum, & came running up from the Bluff. Burrel heard a “lumbering” he says while we were at dinner but waited to hear something more decided before frightening us, he thought it might be up Dunn’s Lake, & I dare say, for the St Mary’s & America are up there, but I did not tell them as it is to be a secret if possible. Mother send love & says “we will try & not be so frightened as to loose our presence of mind, & she has not the slightest fears of their coming here to molest us.” There were several families on the Darlington when she was taken, & they released them, & said they were sorry all the families left Fernandina, as they would have troubled only the soldiers, they have given it out generally that they will only must need it by this time. I did not notice it until a few days ago, Davis brought up a good deal of cannon powder & gave some all around to the neighborhood, thinking they could pound it but tried some to day & thinks it does not do as well as he thought, he brought up lots of lead too, & a small boat, I forgot to tell you about Davis coming. On Sunday little Willie came over with Davis dressing case in his hand, & a letter from Davis saying he had sent all his baggage, on Monday we heard a boat whistle near our wharf, & thinking it unusual I told Hen to go down on Jennie (as she was in the lot) but he saw no one so send him to town, & Davis came back with him.

                Tina is still well, I am astonished at her keeping up so long. Mary Fleming has miscarried at last, poor thing, this is the third or fourth time. there were several births &c during the confusion in Jackson- Mrs Smith (Sams that was) for one I think, as D- said she was sick from a jar rec by the collission of the cars as to have to get out at Baldwin & some thought she would not live. Loulie & the Hopkins are at Lake City. Poor Ma, I wish she was near me.  I dont know how to write to her. Our little darling is well and is now enjoying her “ta ta” she improves fast, I hate to stop writing. God bless my husband.

                                                                                                Your Tivie

[Davis Bryant to Winston Stephens]

Dear Winston,

                I have nothing to day in addition to what I wrote You by Peterman. We have nothing later from below, and my views are unchanged. I am very sorry we cannot hope to see you here in a few days, and am very sorry I did not know the Milton would return as soon as she now intends, as I would have certainly gone up to see you. As it is I shall try to get up by some means this week, unless I have reason to change my mind. I think we are secure here for some time. I don’t think the enemy will move toward Smyrna by the river. If they do they will bring a very large force, as they know better, than to go so far from the coast without a sufficient force to carry them back without risk. It is possible they may send a Gun boat or two after the Steamer they know to be up the river, and on them your battery may have some effect, though not as much as your small arms. Allow me to remind you to see that the gunners keep their thumbs on the touch-holes of the guns while loading. I mention this supposing you have no experienced artillerists with you, and because this neglect has caused a good many serious accidents. Don’t think me an “old Granny” for it.

                I think that in any event the folks had better remain here. I shall try to keep out of the way, but within sight of them. However I have no fear of any trouble before, in all probability, we will see you.

                                                                                                Yrs ever Davis