June 29, 1862. Winston quite unwell but he Rosa & I spent the day at Clark’s, he & C went to the office in the afternoon.

[Rebecca] June 29, 1862. A warm morng. Winston quite unwell but goes with Tivie to pass the day at his brother Clark’s, I write to Julia A – Henry takes letters over to town in the afternoon. Read two excellent sermons of Dr Huntington.

June 30, 1862.  Winston left us for camp in the morning & from there is to go near Jacksonville in a few days with his company.

[Rebecca] June 30, 1862.  Morng. sultry. Winston leaves us about 7 ½ o’clk to go to camp expecting to move down towards Jacksonville in a day or two – A heavy shower comes on about 1 ½ hours after he leaves. Henry goes to town for mail in the afternoon - brings me a letter from Julia which causes me much unhappiness from the allusion to a piece she has published renouncing her brother for his political course!!

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]

                                                                                                Horse Landing June 30, 1862

Dear Wife

                I got a little of the rain in coming down.  I found the camps nearly deserted, but all will be in by tomorrow or next day.  Lt Gray has not arrived.  Mr Smith went up yesterday.  one more Company arrived in Palatka this morning & I think I will start Wednesday morning - Clark had better come in the morning & I will write you by him.  Your Aff husband

                                                                                                Winston

Dear Tivie

                I wish you to send Tom in the log boat in the morning as I wish to send some corn.  send two boys & get Henry to come with him & if necessary Joe can come.

P.S. Lt Gray arrived, no mail.  Telegrams that our forces made the attack near Richmond & the fight was going on, no other news of importance.

June 28, 1862. Rain. Nothing particular.

[Rebecca] June 28, 1862. Cooler – A shower after dinner. Write a long letter to Willie.

June 27, 1862.  Clark came early in the morning expecting to find Winston at home; but did not. Tina & the children came soon after him then Clark, Henry & Lewis started for camp, but met Winston at the river so turned back with him. Rain in the afternoon. Henry went home with Clark to spend the night.

[Rebecca] June 27, 1862. Very warm morng. Mrs Stephens and family come to pass the day. Mr S & Henry start to go to the camp but meet Winston at the river. He has recd. orders to go to the vicinity of Jacksonville and will stay with us a day or two. He brought me letters from C. Hatch and Becca Foster – He confirms the report of our recognition by France.

June 25, 1862. Nothing more than usual.

[Rebecca] June 25, 1862. A very warm day. Sew until nearly sunset and then take a walk with Tivie.

June 26, 1862. The same as usual.

[Rebecca] June 26. 1862. Very warm until late in the afternoon when we have a thunder squall but no rain. The eveg. cool. Boys at home all day.

June 23, 1862.  In the afternoon Tina & I went to town to see Sophie Hopkins met Mrs Latham & Carrie there. Brought home a letter from Willie one from Julie & papers. Carrie wrote me a note after she went home saying France had recognized the Southern Confederacy.

[Rebecca] June 23, 1862. A clear warm morng. but about 12 o’clk a heavy rain comes on which lasts two hours, flooding the house – about 5 o’clk W. Stephens takes the mule to Tivie who returns just before night. She brings me a letter from my dear Willie written at Mobile. Also the intelligence that France has at last recognised the Confederacy. Some late papers very welcome. It is said that France has at last recognized the Southern Confederacy.

June 24, 1862. In the morning Henry & I planted some potatoes slips. No rain.

[Rebecca] June 24, 1862. No rain to-day – Read late newspapers nearly all the morng. Warm afternoon.

June 21, 1862.  Rain.  Ate our first watermelon.  Tina sent for some corn & sent a letter from Winston brought by Clark & Swep.  Clark is discharged from the service.

[Rebecca] June 21. 1862. Morng. damp – after dinner rain comes on and lasts until sunset – To-day we eat our first watermelon.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]

                                                                                                Horse Landing June 21, 1862

Dear Wife

                We are at the old stand, but as usual a rumor came in this morning that one of the companies had arrived & we would go soon, but I will give no credit until I see the order.  Lt Gray has gone to the Springs and will perhaps bring mail & orders or something to be more satisfactory.  I am well & Eyes are better.  Tell Burrel to hurry up the pea planting and tell him to be sure they are thick enough.  I will come up soon!  Clark has just got a discharge & if we have to go off I shall feel something easyer.  No more news.  Swep goes up & perhaps will go to see you.  Love to all & kiss for Rosa.  Your Aff

                                                                                                Winston

June 19, 1862. I worked all day at the beef, tallow etc. A little rain.

[Rebecca] June 19, 1862. A fine morng. Tivie very busy with meat she is trying to save. I commence sewing a hat for Henry. Take a walk after sunset.

June 20, 1862. Rain. Nothing uncommon happened.

[Rebecca] June 20, 1862. A warm morng. Sew all day on the hat. Rain before dinner.

June 18, 1862.  Davis left us directly after breakfast to return to his company.  The boys went fishing in the morning.  Winston left us for his camp late in the afternoon.  Rain in the afternoon.

[Rebecca] June 18, 1862. The morng. clear & warm. Davis leaves us a little before 7 o’clk for his long and tedious journey. A shower in the afternoon. Winston leaves again for came about 5 o’clk P.M.

June 17, 1862. Rain all the afternoon. I wrote to Mary Henry to send by Davis tomorrow.

[Rebecca] June 17, 1862. Cloudy but warm Davis spends the morng. at the office. Winston at home. H & G go fishing. Davis writes all the afternoon. A very heavy rain. After tea Davis adds a page to my letter to Willie.

June 16, 1862.  Rain most of the day.  Winston came home in the afternoon from a scout to Blk Creek, in a hard rain.  Rosa had fever.

[Rebecca] June 16, 1862. Showery in the morng. heavy rain after dinner. Sewing for Davis. About 6 o’clk P.M. Winston arrives. A cool wet evening. Rosa has fever.

June 15, 1862. In the afternoon Davis & I rode to town. I went to see Sophie H- & met Carrie Latham there. We stopped at Tina’s sometime on our way home & had a watermelon. Showers.

[Rebecca] June 15, 1862. Rainy morng. – Write to Willie and begin a letter to Wm. In the afternoon Tivie & Davis ride over to town. A cool evening.

[Willie Bryant to Davis Bryant] 

                                                                                                Mobile, Ala. June 15, 1862

Dear Davis,

                I learned thro’ a letter from Miss Eliza Jones to Doc that you had joined Harrisons guerrilla company, & are stationed near Callahan, & immediately wrote to you to send by Allen who was going directly to Jacksonville last Monday. Unfortunately Allen got left, & Col. Dilworth whom I given the letter to to hand Allen went off to Georgia with it. I wrote him immediately however requesting him to mail it, & I hope you may receive it before this reaches you, nevertheless I will remention some things in it.

                The Mobile papers copied a paragraph from the Savannah Rep. a short time since mentioning the expedition of the Yankees up the St. Johns & their being fired into by Stephen's co. & that J.W. Bryant, Federal governor of Fla. was with them; letters too from Fla. have stated that Father was with the Yankees; I of course feel sure that Father has taken advantage of an opportunity offered by their gunboats to get home & the fact of his being on board being known has given rise to this story; but the matter is of course so since I have been without any letters all this time, & until now have heard nothing to relieve or cheer me, but young Scott recd. a letter from his mother at Jacksonville saying that Father had come to Jvlle & been refused permission to land & that he had afterward gone up the river & the boat fired into & he had then rtd. to J'ville; I truly hope I may sometime or other get a letter giving a true & full statement of the matter & that I may be able to vindicate his character; I have spoken to almost all whose opinion I cared a straw for & none of them believed the statement to be correct, but Father is so widely known & the report has had such an extensive circulation that it will at least injure his reputation; I wrote the folks at Thomasville soon after I saw the account.  It does seen as if Father is doomed to be tortured to death by misfortunes of every kind.  I have written Mother several letters since leaving Fla. also several to Miss Rebecca, & one to Bostwick. Yesterday Capt. S. recd. a letter from his wife dated but 4 days back, in which she says that she recd. a letter for me from you & knowing I would be anxious to get it had forwd. it on to Cornith, exactly in opposition to my wishes & her promise, & not feeling sure that we were there enough to write Capt. S. of course I never recd. the letter & don’t know that I ever shall, it is provoking I’ll swear! But what has become of other letters to me, for surely there must have been some? I am low spirited & gloomy beyond measure, & have been so for some time, & unless I can find some way to rouse myself & be interested, I don't know what in thunder I will turn into, but I feel that if I could only get some good letters I should be able to cheer up some.

                Miss Eliza no!  Henry Clark writes that both you & George Gilchrist joined "Bob Harrison," & as you are both together I feel sure you are more pleasantly situated than you could be otherwise, I hope so at least, but I am anxious to know how you manage for pay & provisions, & what guarantee you have; you know you can't afford to fight for nothing, for you have no income, nor anything to face back upon.  It is 6 weeks since I left Fla. but I'll swear it seems 6 months, every day of it!

                I think it probably that you have rec’d intelligence of our regmt. & of me also thro’ Miss R. Boswick, or some way: but this much I will tell you now, & more if after recvg a letter from you I find out to the contrary. Thro' the means of the Gov. of Alabama we have been stopped & retained in this state, & attached to the "Army of Mobile," & will be, I suppose 'till Mobile is attacked or the danger over; we are very well situated 2 1/2 miles from the center of the city, & the ration list is pretty good, but the duties are pretty tough for this warm weather; I ought to be very well satisfied to remain here, but I am tired of the monotony of this d__d camp life, have no social associations which I really enjoy, & I want to be where there is something to encourage & stimulate a man; I'll swear I pine for it, & it is playing the devil with my disposition; I must have active employment & the excitement to live, & I wonder that I have not sought after it in an artificial way, but my morals have been better since leaving Fla. than ever before; temptations have of course been more numerable, but I have not felt the inclination to yield.

                I wrote you in my note I refer to, of my meeting Stockton in town the other day, he recvd. me most cordially & expressed the wish to see more of me, & appeared anxious to have me go on board the gunboat, on which he has some situation, to see him; I have not been yet but shall go soon; in the course of our conversation I refered to the paragraph in the paper relative to Father, he said that he had seen it, & at the time remarked to some gentlemen present that he could not believe the statement to be true, for he had traveled with that gentleman & knew what his sentiments are; I told him what I felt sure to be the facts of the case & that I would let him know the full particulars when I recd. them.

                It is supposed that an expedition is fitting out at New Orleans against Mobile, which is very probable, if so they must come along soon; Mobile is well fortified, & if the people will stick to it, the Yankees will have a hard time of it, if they succeed; there is one thing I feel sure of, should they get the city they will find many to receive them, & the low class is so numerous they will be furnished with much to "blow" about: back from the water Mobile is a very handsome city, & in times of peace must be a place of very extensive business; most of the streets are narrow & not very handsome, in the business portion, but back where the dwelling houses are, are shady, broad, & in good order; there are some very handsome residences, & every where there is much taste & neatness displayed in Architecture, & a great deal of attention given to shrubbery & flowers: the ladies are pretty, but have very genteel manners & appearance: they are as numerous as blackbirds, & late in the afternoon walk out in crowds; but I am surprised to hear so little music; there is quite a pretty little park in the best of order, which is a great resort & very pleasant.  The ladies here are very kind to soldiers.  I have attended church twice, but the walk is too long & hot to go often.  I must undoubtedly hear from you soon & will write again, for the present good bye.  Remember me to George.

                                                                                                Yrs Always affectionately

                                                                                                Willie

June 14, 1862. In the afternoon Davis & Georgie went fishing caught quite a number of fish. Had one good shower.

[Rebecca] June 14, 1862. Showery and sunny by turns. Henry has no fever. Davis and George fish after dinner and bring home 19.

June 13, 1862. Henry had fever in the morning Davis went hunting killed one squirrel, he & Geo went fishing after dinner – George fell overboard, & came home with seven fish. Light showers in the morn.

[Rebecca] June 13, 1862. A pleasant day. Davis goes hunting after breakfast, kills only squirrels, returns about 10 o’clk and after dinner goes fishing with George – Henry has fever all the morng. but is quite bright after dinner.

June 12, 1862. Tina & all her children spent the day with us and while at dinner Davis ccame, & brought me a note from Winston.

[Rebecca] June 12, 1862.  A fine day.  Mrs Stephens and family pass the day here.  While at dinner Davis gives us a delightful surprise!  He brings a letter from Willie written on 14th May at Montgomery Ala. on his way to Corinth which he expects to reach in a week.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]

                                                                                                Horse Landing June 12, 1862

My dear Wife

                I am not going to Augustine but to Blk Creek and will be back in seven days.  We go on our horses, I purchased one this morning.  I send you an article cut from Savannah paper, written by your Aunt Julia.  You can see what a true Woman can do when necessary.  I glory in such material but I can feel for your Mother and all the family - but a Traitor should be spurned no matter what the ties.  You shall hear from me as soon as I come back.  Your Loving husband

                                                                                                Winston Stephens

Savannah Republican         Friday May 30, 1862

Mr. Editor

                In your last issue, I see a communication under the head of "Florida News" in which it remarks that, "J. W. Bryant, formerly a lawyer of Jacksonville, and subsequently editor of the Cuban Messenger, now Federal Military Governor of Florida was on one of the gunboats."  If this be true, I desire to state that an old white haired mother, now over three score years and ten, of whom he was the pride and idol in former times, and sisters, who once loved him with the fondest devotion, now utterly denounce him forever!  At such a crisis the offending "right eye" shall be utterly plucked out, the right hand cut off though it should cost our life.  The family that would have but clung the more closely to him in our hour of adversity, repudiate him now, and with him, the dark shadow of infamy he would cast!  There is a higher principle than human love of life honor and liberty.  On that principle, we will sacrifice not only life but all the hopes that make life dear.

                For the sake of his relations, I desire to state that he has two more sons, and an only son-in-law, fighting in the Confederate service.  They will, if such a thing be possible, atone for his deriliction.

                                                                                                Justice

Thomasville, May 27, 1862.

June 11, 1862.  Winston left for camp in the afternoon.

[Rebecca] June 11, 1862. Still cool. George improving. Henry at Mrs Stephens’ for two days to shoot squirrels at the Point. Winston leaves this afternoon for camp, expecting to go on a scout in the neighborhood of St. Augustine where the Federals are destroying crops and killing beef –

June 10, 1862.  Winston came home from camp in the morning, still looks fraile & with a sore finger.  Georgie missed his fever.  Henry & little Willie went fishing in the morning & caught 19 fish & went in the afternoon & caught 15 which Henry carried over to Tinas.  In the afternoon I sent Jane & Jess to Tina with a peck of peas.

[Rebecca] June 10 1862. Clear and cool. George much better no fever. About 8 o’clk am. Winston arrives from camp to stay until tomorrow P.M. He is much improved in health.

June 9 1862. Received a note from Winston with the news of the victory of the Confederates at Richmond. Also that Willie was in Alabama had not gone to Cornith. Davis at Calahan. Georgie has his fourth fever. No rain but cloudy all day.

[Rebecca] June 9, 1862.  A fine cool morng. George felt badly, partly I think from the effect of medicine. He has some fever about noon. The afternoon very windy and cold. A letter comes from Winston reporting a fight at Richmond which lasted 3 days, the Confederates drove the Federals back 3 miles with a loss of 75,000!  Our loss about 15,000.  The contest to be renewed when they had buried the dead.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]

                                                                                Camp Horse Landing June 9^th 1862

Dear Wife

                Swep has just arrived & brings glorious news though we have heavy los on bout side, the fight at Richmond lasted three days & we lost 15 thousand & The enemy 75 thousand. We drove them back three miles but it was thought the fight would be renewed in a few days. The Gallant 2^nd Fla went into the fight with 420 men & came out with only 202 – los 218. It is sayd they fought as Floradians should – I know several that were lost, some of them intimate friends – Tell Mother that the 3^rd Reg was stoped in Ala as they were not wanted at Corinth. Davis is at Calahan & was well a short time since. I will come up in a few days – Mr Dean is in a hurry – good bye & love to all

                                                                                Yours aff

                                                                                                Winston

June 8, 1862. Rain. Wrote to Winston, Mother received a letter from Aunt Julia saying Willie had gone to Cornith to join Gen Beaurigard. In the afternoon I went to town to see Sofie Hopkins who is very sick, & stopped at Tina’s a few minutes.

[Rebecca] June 8, 1862.  Just as I rose this morng. a long letter from Julia is brought in.  She had heard from our dear Willie on his way to Corinth to join Beauregard!  May God protect him!  Julia is working manfully for the soldiers - Heaven bless her!  George's fever comes on about 11 o'clk and keeps him in the bed the rest of the day.  I write a long & sad letter to Julia to send to Winston's camp this morng.  Henry goes over to Mrs Stephens' to stay all night and kill squirrels at the point tomorrow morng.  A Sunday past without any instructive reading!

[Octavia Stephens to Winston Stephens]

                                                                                                Rose Cottage June 8, 1862

My dear Husband

                I was very glad to get your note, as I could not see you, and although I did not expect you I could not help hoping you would come.  You must be careful of yourself.  I was afraid that all this damp weather would put you back & perhaps I would hear that you were down again.  I do hope you are not going to have a bone felon.  I intend sending you some alcohol & tobacco which is excellent in stopping them if not too far advanced.  But I fear yours is, but there is no harm in trying & I hope you will.  you did not say how long you had it.  you ought to keep the tobacco wet with the alcohol.  I hope you will come up in a few days or that I can hear from you, for I shall be so anxious to know about you.

                Georgie has had two fevers.  & Sarah is sick or has been, perhaps she'll be up tomorrow, the rest all well.  Have we not had some nice rains?  I think the corn looks much better, oh I tell you we will make lots of eatables.  What do you think I did, I staid with Tina two days and a night.  Mother spent the first day with us.  we had a cosy time of it, we sat up that night only until nearly one talking of old times, we looked for Clark all day Friday. Mother’s letter was from Aunt Julia, she says that Willie Had gone to Cornith to join Beauregard. He did not go to Thomasville, as he was ordered off suddenly. it is strange no letters come from either Willie or Davis, dont you think there can be some at Palatka?  Before you come ask Henry Hopkins if he dont know something about Davis, & make him tell all he does know.

                I suppose you have heard that a man has been up here carrying off turpentine which he says he bought of Gardner, he says he is English.

                We heard the Gunboats were in the river again, & dreaded to have Monday come, but some men stopped here on Friday & contradicted it, so I don’t know what to believe. you did not tell me any news.  I think the tables have turned, I now write the longest letters.  I think the next one I will just write about our health and nothing else.  I suppose if Charleston had been taken we would have heard of it before this. I was in hopes I would see Clark & see if I could learn anything from him. I missed him when he came & asked them to come over to day. but they declined. If it does not rain this afternoon I intend going to see Sofie Hopkins, & I may stop at Clark’s. I dare say you’ll think it nonsensical in my going as probably I can do no good, but I am going anyhow.

                Mother is very low spirited this morning, she just sits down and thinks worse than I have ever seen her.  I dont see any prospect of peace being made in June.  I don't believe I will write you any more this time, for I guess you are tired now of nothing.  Do come up by the middle of the week, it seems two weeks now since you left.  Rosa has just given me a hug and a kiss for you.  Mr Bright has not brought the beef yet & we are about out.  I hope you will bring the deer you promised to kill for me.  All join in love to you, wish to see you.

                                                                                                Affectionately

                                                                                                Tivie

June 6, 1862. Very warm had a cosy day with Tina. Henry brought the horse for me toward night, & he staid to kill squirrels tomorrow.

[Rebecca] June 6, 1862. Very warm. Occupied with household matters most of the morng. Five men stop for water and contradict the report of gunboats being in the river. Tivie returns at sunset. Henry stays all night at Mrs. Stephens’. Mosquitoes troublesome.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]

                                                                                                Horse Landing June 6, 1862

My Dear Wife

                As Clark goes up this P.M. I write you a few lines to inform you of my general health &c. I am growing stronger but have but little of the rose about my face and to walk a few miles I blow like an old horse.  The Dr thinks to walk every day will do me good, but to day I took more than I should have done, as I walked about five miles in all in going & coming from a bee tree, it had about five buckets of honey & now Clark is out taking another & several of the boys have cut trees besides.  We have plenty of honey.  I have a rising on my right fore finger & I fear it will be a bone felon.  I cant tell you when I will come up but some time next week.  Lt Gray will return tomorrow or Sunday & if any letters come I will send them up.  health in camps good.  Your old Man will be well & strong again one of these days - Kiss Rosa as I forgot her when I left.  Love to all.  Your aff

                                                                                                Winston

June 7, 1862. Received a note from Winston Clark brot it last night & Tina sent it. Henry came home in the afternoon & little Willie with him to stay a few days. Rain.

[Rebecca] June 7, 1862. I awake before day with troubled thoughts and forebodings. Soon after breakfast George has symptons of a chill – and has considerable fever for some hours. In the afternoon he is bright again.

June 5, 1862. Very warm. Mother Rosa & I went to Tina’s to spend the day. Mother returned in the eve. Rosa & I staid. One shower.

[Rebecca} June 5, 1862. A warm morning. Tivie myself and Rosa pass the day with Mrs. Stephens and Tivie concludes to remain until tomorrow afternoon. As I retire to rest gloomy thoughts of the absent oppress me, until I fall asleep.

June 4, 1862. Showery, the boys went fishing.

[Rebecca] June 4, 1862. Showery all day. Late in the afternoon the boys go fishing and bring home a fine miss.

June 2, 1862. Henry returned from camp this morning, as the rain prevented his return last night. Rain in the afternoon and night.

[Rebecca] June 2, 1862. A fine morning. Henry & negroes return about 6 ½ o’clk. The Federals have left St. Augustine it is said. Henry & Geo. go fishing after dinner and are caught in a heavy rain. They come home drenched.

June 3, 1862. Rain most all day. The boys went fishing caught 4 fish.

[Rebecca] June 3, 1862. It has rained in the night and still continues to rain. Sew steadily all day – Between 4 & 5 o’clk P.M. it looks brighter and the boys go fishing. They bring home quite a nice string of brim & perch.

June 1, 1862. Winston left for camp in the afternoon. Henry went too.

[Rebecca] June 1, 1862.  Morning extremely warm, at 4 1/2 o'clk Winston & Henry with two negroes leave for the camp. They had been gone little more than an hour when a heavy shower came the rain continued until nearly sunset and the boys remain all night.