May 13, 1862. Winston came at daylight after being on the river all night. Clark came to breakfast after breakfast he & W left for camp again & Henry Burrel & Tom left for Orange Springs for syrup, about 9 o’clk heard 5 or 6 heavy guns, thought the company & boat fighting but heard no more until after dinner some men came here on their way to the company & said they were certain they were fighting. Then Tina came over & we were all alarmed until Capt Canova passed & said the company were at their camp & no fighting. Afterwards heard 3 cannon but thought to be near Pilatka.

[Rebecca] May 13, 1862. Winston comes home at day light and is off again soon after breakfast. I write letters to Wm [her husband, called William by the family] and to Davis to send by his express to Jacksonville. Henry leaves for Orange Springs in a boat with Burrell & Tom – After dinner we are much excited by hearing cannon, but hear about sunset that there has been no fighting. Mrs S. here in the P.M.

[Rebecca Bryant to Davis Bryant] 

                                                                                                May 13, 1862

My dear Davis

                Winston is to send an express to Jacksonville in a short time and I avail myself of the oppy. to write you a scrawl.

                I wrote by way Orange Springs a week ago, but don’t know if it reached you – I addressed you at Jacksonville, but was doubtful if you were there. Yesterday eveg. I was surprised beyond expression to receive a letter from yr father, written at Buffalo Bluff.  Only think of his being so near us and not able to come to see us for a half hour!  The steamer got aground or they wd. have come up.  But if they had the St. John's Rangers would probably have fired on them so perhaps it is "all for the best." Winston sent a message from camp to tell us all to go from home with the negroes for a few hours – Tivie and the rest of us bundled off in the wagon with blankets &c – thinking we might have to stay in the woods over night – but hearing nothing and finding the gunboat had not passed above the Bluff we returned at sunset – and found Nelson here with a letter to me, inclosing one to Tivie - your father writes that he saw you at Jacksonville and therefore I send this by Sergt. Shed, who will remain there over night and if you will write a few lines I shall get it safely.  I want to know what you have determined upon, whether Willie has gone out of the State with his company, and where and how we are to write to him.  Tell me the substance of your interview with yr father –He says he expects to return in about a month – I send a letter addressed according to his instructions to Col. Ed. Hopkins by this oppy. to be forwarded to him at Fernandina.

                He writes that he saw Col. H- and others under flag of truce at Jacksonville – He says he “expects to see E. Fla. very soon in quiet and industrial pursuits.” In Tivie’s letter he writes that he is engaged in the restoration of peace generally and especially in E. Fla. He says the gunboats that may come up the river will do no injury unless they are fired upon.  My great fear is that they will be - but I must hope that I shall be able to see him under flag of truce, if he returns.  My time is up - God bless you -

                                                                                                Mother

Winston is here now but going to camp immediately.  He has been up and down the river three or four times since Sunday A.M.