May 14, 1862.  George went to Tinas to spend the day. Winston came from camp just before night.  Henry & the others returned from Orange Springs with the two barrels of syrup soon after supper & brought papers & a letter from Davis.

[Rebecca]  May 14, 1862.  Winston returned from camp about 6 P.M. The gunboat was supposed to be below No 10. He brought news of a Confederate victory at Corinth, at Yorktown and that Huntsville in Ala had been re-taken. Henry returns about 8 o’clk from O Springs with mail - A letter from Davis confirms my fears that Willie had left with 3rd. Reg – their distination not known Davis applies for a place in Winston’s company and will be recd.

[Winston Stephens to Davis Bryant]   

                                                                                                Rose Cottage May 14, 1862

Dear Davis

                Henry has just returned from Orange Springs & he brings your letter of the 8th in which you ask me to save you a place in my company.  You are just in time as I lack in the new organization only three men of my limit, & you shall have one of the places – I will enroll your name from the date of your letter & you can remain on special duty with Coln. Hopkins permission, as I have been ordered to report to him We are all well & will be glad to see you back with us. I am sorry you could not be at the organization Lt Shedd will give you the news & the particulars of our excitement. I am at home tonight but go to camp in the morning, but will send this by Burrel before I go as Lt Shedd will start soon.  I hope Willie did get the situation as 2nd Lt & as the Corinth battle has taken place, hope they will not be sent.  I assure you we have been all excitement the past few days & by dame rumor I & my company are all prisoners, but no thanks to the dame, I and my Command are ready to take our Confederate rations.  The women folks were frightened to hear the guns & the rumors but tonight we are all quiet.  Mother is very much distressed from several causes & I will be glad when you come as she will perhaps be better satisfied.  All join me in Love, I remain yours truly,

                                                                                                Winston Stephens

[Willie Bryant to Rebecca Bryant]

                                                                                                Montgomery, Ala. May 14, 1862

My dear Mother,

                Contrary to my expectations we are thus far on our way to Corinth, sure enough, & in about a week I suppose will reach there: I fully expected the fight would be over there before this & that we would not get beyond Georgia.  Our officers & every one else feel sure that our Regiment will not be sent into the field under it's present discipline, & that it will be some time before it is prepared, & we will be used to guard prisoners: I suppose you will be better satisfied with the last arrangement, & as I am still in good health & spirits I hope you will feel easy concerning me until you have greater cause for the contrary.  We commenced our march from Midway (between Tallahassee & Quincy) on last Friday a.m. 9th & marched to Chattahoochee 33 miles; arriving there at 2 o'clk Satd'y p.m. after a toilsome trip; Sunday a.m. we got on 3 Steamers & reached Columbus on Monday at dark; Tuesday a.m. (yesterday) we took the cars for this place & reached here at 10 o'clk last night, where I suppose we will remain till to morrow a.m. tho' the transportation is not sufficient for us anywhere & we arrive & leave at any hour; We were to have remained at Columbus at least 2 nights & a day, but the first morn'g 5 companies had an hours notice to leave at 10; I was much disappointed for I expected to write you & several others long letters from there.

                I have written Aunt Julia; I felt sure up to the last day, that I w'd be able to run up & see them all, but company matters prevented until too late.  At Quincy, I spent an afternoon, took tea, & spent the even'g with Mr. & Mrs. Bouse, had a nice bed & at daylight they sent me in a buggy 5 miles to join the regm't; they are staying with a Mr. Gilbert, a relation of Mrs. B. at a most beautiful, & completely arranged place, & they all received me most cordially; the Fosters had been staying there & they & Mrs. B- had given strong recommendations for me to Mr. G. & his pretty daughter & Mr. G. had met Father in J'ville in 1857.  I truly wish Father could see Mr. G.'s place; it is just such as he has always wished; Mr. G. is a northern man, & has everything northern about him.  The trip up to Columbus was without incident worthy of mention, the Chattahoochee river is very narrow & the banks so high one can see over them only at places: there is nothing to be seen however, no towns immediately on the river, nor even plantation houses.  Columbus is in many respects a very handsome city, containing about 15,000 inhabitants, & the surrounding country is hilly & very northern in appearance, & quite a treat from our low flat woods.  Montgomery is quite a place & very city like & businesslike; I am much pleased with it.  We remain here till early to-morrow a.m.  As soon as I reach the end of my journey I shall write Davis or you where to direct to me; I wrote Davis to write me soon care Mrs. Steele, Anderson So Ca. & hope he will do so you may be sure you shall hear from me as often as possible -Again let me enjoin upon you to have as little fear as possible for me - I am sorry I can do nothing for you, but must leave it all to Davis & Winston.  I shall take the best care of myself.  Goodbye again dear mother.  Much very much love to you all.  Tell the boys to continue to try & be men, & gentlemen.  With true affection

                                                                                                Willie