March 3, 1862. Rain in the afternoon.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]

                                                                                                Enterprise  Mar 4, 1862

My Dear Wife

                Your first letter was rec'd by Sergt Mizell after taking the rounds of Dunlawton, Smyrna, & this place, & yours of the 2nd inst was received by Sumpter & I was glad to see them both and find you all were well, but sorry you have had so much trouble in the first place with my fixings and in the second with the darkies - never mind I will fix up their account & settle it for them.  I will come home some time next week and hav'nt time to write you a long letter as I will start to day for Volusia & am in a hury preparing to leave.  Some of the boys are sick but I keep well & have had none of the diseases of Camp yet.  The trunk & goodies were rec'd and very acceptable & no remark made only in the praise of them - Dont fear that I shall ever despair of My Wife for she is the best I have ever seen.  I want to get home & see you & be with you as much as possible & I think I shall be about Welaka for some months, this is only supposition as we have traveled around considerable lately - Good news for the Confederate States - We have the Carolina, Cecil, & three Sailing crafts now inside of the Smyrna bar.  The Steamers are loaded with arms, powder & other things to equip about 15 thousand men, one of the sail vessels has 1,000 sacks of salt -the others I have not learned what they have - I am to keep watch at Welaka & Volusia for the enemy & if they approach I am to send an express to Smyrna &c.  I think we are yet to have trouble on this River, caused by the shipment of these goods.  If we do I will have a chance to fire my gun in defence of my Country and My Dear family & you may rest assured that one will fall when she fires.

                I am sorry burrel attempted to roll all the logs as he could have cut the tops & burned them & plowed over the logs where they were not too thick & tell him to do so if he has not finished, but that is no excuse for impudence.  I thought Rachel wanted it [the lash] before I left & she will get enough to do her a season when I get home.  Make out till I come & I'll fix things generally - love to all & write to Volusia Monday - Kiss my Dear Rosa and accept much love from your aff

                                                                                                Old Man.

March 5, 1862. Mr Wall left after breakfast & took no few lines for Winston. Henry came home in the afternoon no letter from Winston by the boat. Mother received a letter from Davis by the “Gov Milton.” Rain & wind in the morn.

[Rebecca] March 5, 1862. Still windy & cool. The sick soldier leaves after breakfast for Volusia.