Apr 30, 1862. The boys went hunting in the morning got nothing, went fishing in the afternoon caught 19 fish.

[Rebecca] Apr 30, 1862.  A pleasant day - Busy sewing all day - The boys go fishing again after dinner and bring home 19!

Apr 27, 1862. Cool. Mother walked to the river & back by herself in the afternoon. (No sandflies)

[Rebecca] Apr 27, 1862. Cloudy and cool. Read all the morng. – In the afternoon take a walk to the river alone.

Apr 28, 1862. Cool again & no sandflies, had soap made.

[Rebecca] Apr 28, 1862. Misty and cool all day. Cutting out jackets and boy’s lessons occupy the greater part of the day.

Apr 29, 1862. Pleasant some gnats, the boys went fishing in the afternoon. Henry fixed the well in the morning.

[Rebecca] Apr 29, 1862.  Morng. cloudy, the afternoon bright and warm. Boys go fishing after dinner and return before dark with some fine fish. A year ago this day my dear husband arrived in Jacksonville from Cuba and left on the 3d. May, expecting to return in a month, but I have not seen him since and have no prospect of a reunion!

Apr 26, 1862. The boys went fishing in the morning. In the afternoon they went to town with Burrel after some hogs. Sandflies leaving.

[Rebecca] Apr 26, 1862. Cloudy – a shower in the afternoon – Boys go over the Office for sundries, return in the rain.

Apr 25, 1862. After dinner one of Winston’s company came to tell me that W probably would not be expected to go to Alachua.

[Rebecca] Apr 25, 1862. A pleasant day. Sew all day on clothes for boys. After dinner Tivie receives a message from Winston saying he will not be at home for sometime.

Apr 24, 1862. Tina & her children spent the day with us. In the afternoon the boys went fishing caught five. Henry went again at night. Little Willie came to bring the horse for Tina & staid as her feet were blistered from a ride in the country.

[Rebecca] Apr 24, 1862. A fine cool morning. Mrs Stephens, Lewis and Minnie pass the day here. The boys go fishing after dinner and bring home a fine trout and some small fish.

Apr 23, 1862. Davis went to town directly after breakfast to the boat, returned after 10 for the wagon & some peas which I gave to a company of soldiers who had nothing to eat. Davis left on the Milton for Orange or Silver Spring.

[Rebecca] Apr 23, 1862.  After breakfast Davis & Henry go to town to ascertain what is to be done – They find the Hattie has gone up the Ocklawaha and the Milton about to follow, and Davis decides to go on the latter & proceed to Orange Springs & thence in some way to reach Jacksonville. Tivie loans her wagon to haul wood and gives them peas.

Apr 22, 1862.  In the morning the boys went to town to carry Davis’ brush to him, got there just in time to see him off on the Milton. Little Willie went home. Davis came back about 11 o'clk at night, could not get to Jacksonville on account of the enemy.

[Rebecca] Apr 22, 1862. A clear, cool morning. Soon after breakfast H & G go to town to see Davis – The Milton arrives between 9 & 10 am and D- goes on board. The Hattie also goes down. We hear the citizens of Jacksonville are returning to their homes. About 11 o’clk P.M. Davis returns! The Hattie had discovered one of the enemy’s boats below Palatka and having a quantity of military stores on board would not venture –

Apr 21, 1862. Rain in the morning & cold enough for fire. Davis & Henry went to town in the afternoon, returned to tea after “T-“ Davis went to Clark’s to wait for the steam boat over night.

[Rebecca] Apr 21, 1862. Rain in the morng. windy and very cool after. Davis and Henry go to town in boat to learn about the Milton, return before tea and Davis goes to Mr Stephens’ to pass the night, thinking the Milton may come in the night.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens] 

                                                                                                Ocala  Apr 21, 1862

My Dear Wife

                I arrived in this place yesterday & find that I will have to go as far down as Peas Creek which is 50 miles below Tampa, & consequently you may give out seeing me at the time appointed but I will hurry back as soon as possible.  I learn here that there is no truth in the report about the Indians & need not be uneasy on that account. I shall in all probability be engaged in the business for some time but will come home when I return from South. I am quite well & will leave the Waggon & take a buggy from this point.  I will not be able to see Ma now but Dick is in Town & just from there & he says they are all well.  I shall want some clothing by the time I return.  My Draws I had to throw away as they tore off, & now I am wearing the old pants.  We have gained a fine Victory by Beaureguard - 20 thousand Killed & thirty thousand prisonors. 

                I am in haste & cant write more - Love to all & many kisses to Rosa-  Your aff husband

                                                                                                Winston Stephens

Apr 20, 1862. In the afternoon Mother Davis & I walked to the Branch.

[Rebecca] Apr 20, 1862. A warm day. All at home, reading most of the day – About sunset Davis, Tivie and I take a walk.

Apr 19, 1862. Davis went to town. George came home & Lewis with him to stay over night.

[Rebecca] Apr 19, 1862.  The morng. cool. In the afternoon hearing a stm. boat whistle Davis & Henry go to town in the boat.  The Milton had passed up the river & left no information of the Capt's intentions.  So Davis reluctently returned.

Apr 17, 1862. Davis went to town in the morn. In the afternoon Davis went to the landing with his baggage but was left by the boat.

[Rebecca] Apr 17, 1862.  Davis goes to town in the morng. to engage Capt Canova to stop at this landing and returns to dinner.  He sends his baggage down when the Milton whistles and walks rapidly down but the Boat passed and left him.

Apr 18, 1862. In the morning the boys carried Davis’ trunk to Welaka that it may be ready for any boat that comes. George went to Tina’s to stay until Sat afternoon.

[Rebecca] Apr 18, 1862. The boys & Davis take Davis’ trunk over to town in the boat, expecting the “Hattie” to come down the river. In the afternoon George goes to Mrs Stephens to pass the night – Weather pleasant.

Apr 14, 1862.  Winston arrived from Tallahassee about 8 o'clk in the evening, had seen Willie & brought letters from him.

[Rebecca] Apr 14, 1862. Showery & sunny by turns – About 8 o’clk P.M. – Winston arrives had seen Willie twice and brought a few lines from him, written at Jacksonville!

Apr 15, 1862. Davis went to town in the morn. In the afternoon Winston & Davis went hog hunting & killed a large one.

[Rebecca] Apr 15, 1862. Clear & warm – Davis went over to the office in the morng. – Towards eveg. he goes out with Winston to kill a hog. A fine moonlight eveg. – all sit in the piazza.

Apr 12, 1862.  Tina, Minnie & the baby spent the day with us.  Davis went hunting in the morning, the boys went fishing, one possum the result.  Mr Levi Tyner came to get a harness from Davis.  D- went to town & gave it to him.  I tried to make some soap & failed.  The boys went hunting after supper & killed another possum.  Davis and I practiced.

[Rebecca] Apr 12, 1862.  Cool & high wind.  Mrs Stephens brings her baby and Minnie to pass the day -  Mr Tyner brings report of Indians being hostile in S. Florida. Davis goes to town.

Apr 13, 1862. Rain. Lewis came & spent the day. While we were at supper Clark came over to tell Davis that some of Capt. Steele’s company were in Welaka & wanted to see him. Clark & Davis took supper & left. Lewis went with them. Davis came back at 1 o’clk.

[Rebecca] Apr 13, 1862. A rainy day. Davis quite unwell. While we were at tea Mr Stephens comes to inform D- that some men had come from the J.L.I.’s saying the enemy had left Jacksonville and they wd. like to see Davis – He went over and returned home with the determination to return with them on the Gov. Milton.

Apr 11, 1862. Not many sandflies as there was wind.

[Rebecca] Apr 11, 1862. Cool but pleasant nothing particular to record.

Apr 12, 1862.  Tina, Minnie & the baby spent the day with us.  Davis went hunting in the morning, the boys went fishing, one possum the result.  Mr Levi Tyner came to get a harness from Davis.  D- went to town & gave it to him.  I tried to make some soap & failed.  The boys went hunting after supper & killed another possum.  Davis and I practiced.

[Rebecca] Apr 12, 1862.  Cool & high wind.  Mrs Stephens brings her baby and Minnie to pass the day -  Mr Tyner brings report of Indians being hostile in S. Florida. Davis goes to town.

Apr 9, 1862. Rain in the morning. In the afternoon the boys all went to the office.

[Rebecca] Apr 9, 1862. Cool with some rain in the morng. – High wind and clear afternoon – Boys go to the office.

Apr 10, 1862.  Davis & the boys went hunting in the morning, killed two squirrels, a fox, & partridges. Willie Stephens came over to stay afew days. In the afternoon Mr Brown and Mr Gleason of W's company came for a gun.

[Rebecca] Apr 10, 1862. High wind – Boys go squirrel hunting after breakfast – W. Stephens comes over before dinner. Evening very cool, requiring fire.

Apr 7, 1862. In the morning Davis went to town to see Capt Canova, the little boys joined him there & they took a hunt in the swamp but did not kill anything. In the afternoon one of Winston’s company came for a gun that was here & left another. Davis & Henry went to kill a wild hog, but did not.

[Rebecca] Apr 7, 1862. Suficient wind to keep off sandflies until after 10 o’clk – Boys have another unsuccessful hunt.

Apr 8, 1862. Davis & the boys went turkey hunting before breakfast did not get anything. Went fishing in the afternoon brought home five fish.

[Rebecca] Apr 8, 1862. Boys go very early to hunt turkies – return to breakfast, unsuccessful. After dinner they fish in the Ocklawaha and bring home some fine trout & cat-fish,

Apr 5, 1862. In the morning Lieut. Gray came for a gun that was here & said he was going to move the company to Big Creek. Davis & the boys went aligatoring did not get anything.

[Rebecca] Apr 5, 1862. Cooler with high wind. Davis & boys out in his boat all the morng. Lieut. G- goes down to Rice Creek, expecting to find Capt. Pierson’s company there.

Apr 6, 1862. In the afternoon I rode mule back to see Tina, Davis went over to come home with me, got home just in time to escape rain but proved to be only a slight shower.

[Rebecca] Apr 6, 1862. A pleasant day – Tivie goes to see Mrs Stephens in the afternoon and Davis goes over to accompany her home – A shower just as they reach home –

Apr 3, 1862. Very warm & lots of sandflies.

[Rebecca] Apr 3, 1862. Still very warm Davis and boys fixing the gate in the morning. Sew all day.

Apr 4, 1862. While at dinner Lieut. Gray and another man came & staid awhile after dinner. Davis and the boys went hunting on the river did not have much luck.

[Rebecca] Apr 4, 1862. Very warm. Lieut. Gray and another here to dinner. Davis & boys go out in the boat after dinner and bring home a water turkey and duck. 

Apr 1, 1862.  Winston left soon after breakfast for Tallahassee & Davis, Henry, & Tom went to Buffalo Bluff to put him across the river, they did not return until late in afternoon, brought some ducks. Little Willie spent the day here.

[Rebecca] Apr 1, 1862. Winston leaves a little after 8 o’clk. Davis & Henry go with him to the ferry, and return at sunset with four ducks and some oranges.

Apr 2, 1862. Nothing particular.

[Rebecca] Apr 2, 1862. Very warm and the sandflies intolerable. Keep close all day.