May 11, 1862.  In the morning Tom took Mr. Glisson in the boat to carry orders to Lt Grey, returned in the afternoon with the news of two gunboats at Palatka.  Winston went right over to town to arrange to burn the turpentine if the boat came, returned while we were at supper & started for camp soon after.  12 o'clk Winston returned for spades & with the news that Father was on the Gunboat at Palatka & intended coming for Mother.  W  staid only long enough to write a note to Clark.

[Rebecca] May 11, 1862.  A fine day – Write a long letter to Julia to send to Oge. Springs expecting Burrel to be sent tomorrow - Late in the day Winston receives a message from his Lieut - that two gunboats are at Pilatka.  W. goes to town to place a guard over the turpentine there, returns to tea and leaves soon after for camp - About midnight he returns again for a time - Had heard a report that my husband was at Palatka coming here for his family!  I doubt the truth of it.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens] 

                                                                                                May 11, 1862

My Dear Wife

                Your Father is in Palatka & I dont know how he intends presenting himself but he told several in Palatka, so Lt Peterman says, that he was going to come up to my house for his family.  If he comes under a flag [of truce] (which I think he will) then I will allow him to come but none of the rest shall if I can prevent them.  I want you in the morning to tell the negroes that the boat will perhaps come & tell them to keep out of the way until she goes down the river & manage everything as coolly as you can & break the inteligence to your Mother as you think best, be cool & fear not for me as we have a good place & can keep out of danger.  The boys can let the guns be taken out of the way.