September 7, 1861. Tina spent the day here. After tea wrote to Winston.

[Octavia Stephens to Winston Stephens] 

                                                                                                Jacksonville Sept 7, 1861

My dear Winston

                I was very glad to receive your nice long letter on Thursday, and glad to hear that you were well for I had felt anxious about you ever since I left.

                Perhaps you had rather see me than this letter, nevertheless notwithstanding I think I will not go this time, as you have given me permission to stay another week.

                Well I began this this morning directly after breakfast so that I would not have to hurry, or have interruptions this afternoon, & when I had written a few lines Tina came and has spent the day with us, after she left I dressed Rosa to go visiting, & myself and now it is getting quite dark, and this must be in the office before nine o’clock to night, so you must excuse all deficiences. I can scarcely see the lines I guess I must go in & get a light, for I am sitting on the front steps.

                I am very sorry for your sake that you are lonely, but I must say I am glad, that I am missed by you, but then the worse people are sometimes the more they are missed.  I hope you will not look for me next Monday, it has rained every day but one since I came down.  I have been out to church twice, to Mrs Reed's once, & across the street once.  Rosa has made more visits than I, she is much admired, she is the prettiest baby I have seen, nearly everyone asks whose baby she is, dont you feel proud? She received a present of a ring this afternoon from Henry Houston, he gave me a small bottle of cologne for you & I.

                Georgie is playing the flute, & Henry is playing with the machine.

                There is a great deal of sickness every where, I hope you all will keep well, we have both been well, Rosa had the colic night before last, from eating potatoe just before night.     

                There was a report here the other day that there was a fleet in sight of Fernandina, & every body, or a great many are beginning to think of leaving, if times get "skcary." Mother may go home with me, but I believe most of the reports are false, storekeepers are even packing up goods.  The men have been drilling right here at the Court House this afternoon, I declare it made me feel dreadfully to think what they were drilling for, you do not know how glad I feel when I think you are not in any company, and I hope & pray you may never be in any.

                I suppose you know all communication is broken off between the North & South, but Mother was fortunate enough to get a letter from Aunts Kate & Mary last week, & they had heard from Father since Mother had, he was better.

                Mother sends love & says you may have me but she will keep Rosa a month.

                I suppose Mr. Gardner did not come last week, as David could not find him on the boat. So you can have the pleasure of Miss Gs company another week if you wish it, don’t run off with her or Mrs. Sams before I get back.

                There is a Sunday boat, but Tina seems to think it will cost more to go on her, then too you have arranged for my passage on the Darlington, so I guess we will leave here on her next Saturday, & I think Capt Brock will let us stay on board. Since writing the last sentence I have been thinking, if I have to go off the boat seems to me it would be cheaper to go up Sunday. I wish you would ask Capt. Brock all about it and write me word next week, I suppose her would charge some more, as he would have to have cooking done for us. I don’t know what to do so please don’t forget to see Capt. B & write me what to do. 

                Well my dear I must close for fear this may be too late for the mail.  Give my love to Ben, and accept lots for yourself from

                                                                                                Your ever affectionate

                                                                                                Wife

P.S. Tell Sarah & all howdye, that Rachael is well, Janes "daddy" came to see Rachael to day.  Big Jane's Sister is well again.

September 6, 1861. In the morning Mrs. Hewitt Mrs. Sadler Miss Swart & Mrs. Flag were here. In the afternoon Mother & I started to make some visits but rain drove us back. After tea Mr. John Hewitt came over he and Davis played chess, we ladies sewed.

September 5, 1861. Davis 22^nd birthday. In the afternoon Mrs. Pullen Miss Kipp & Mrs. Hickman called after tea Davis went out, Mother & I sewed. Received a long letter from Winston.

September 4, 1861. In the afternoon Mother and I went to the “Soldiers relief association” after tea Mrs. Sutton & Mrs. Garnie called.

September 3, 1861. In the afternoon Mother & I went to Mr. Bouses store & to see Mrs. Hewitt Rosa went to Mrs. Reeds & Mrs. Foster. After tea Mother Davis & I went to Mrs. Reed’s had music.

September 2, 1861. Sewed all day. Mrs. Bours called.

September 1, 1861. Went to church in the morning & evening with Mother and the boys. In the afternoon Tina came also Lou Reed & Mary Carr. Willie went to the “Bar” in the morning.

[Winston Stephens to Octavia Stephens]        

                                                                                                Rose Cottage Sept 1, 1861       

My Very Dear Tivie

                You may think very strange of my commencing this letter to day, but the truth is I have been thinking of you until I could not refrain from writing any longer.  I feel quite well & I am happy to say my very extensive family are Do.

                I arrived late on wednesday P.M. and did not have the pleasure of meeting a pair of pouting lips, such as you sometimes present when in the best of humors, but instead, loneliness greeted me on every turn & at last I turned from the house & have since devoted myself to the mill.  It goes quite hard with me as it has been so long since I did such hard work, but I suppose I will get use to it by the time I finish the job, Jane & the two small boys have dug about one third of the ditch.  They will have to pick cotton next week but will perhaps get over in time to work one or more days on the ditch, but that will depend upon the weather as the cotton has opened in last few days more than formerly & if the sun continues to shine it will take them all the time to keep up with it.  Yesterday PM Ben & myself went out to take a set down for Deer & an old gobler ran by me & as a matter of respect to his gobler‑ship I shot him down & to day we had him for dinner & Clark and the boys dined with us, Clark asked me when you had decided to come home and I at first sayed on monday one week & his face relaxed into a smile, but when I corrected myself & sayed two weeks, he remarked what two weeks! & he went right off into a deep study.  I tell you Old Lady I think he feels as I do! Its mity lonesome!  Clark has since writing the above told me that Tina was coming home one week earlyer than you as he exacted that promise of her before she left.  I am sorry on your account as she would be company to you returning.  I have just shot the Sabbath in too as a hawk made an attempt to catch a chicken & caught a ball.  I'l stop until Wednesday.

                                                                                                Wednesday 5 oclock A.M.

Good morning Old Lady

                I suppose you are in bed taking your mornings nap to make up for late going's.  Your affectionate letter with the articles sent came duly to hand also one from Willie, all of which was duly appreciated & the letters perused with no little interest.  I was glad to hear you all had landed safely & that Ma & the Girls met Jessup at the wharf.  I hope a few days rest will recruit Ma's strength.  I had a letter also from Sister on monday & when she wrote all were sick.  her letter was written on the monday before you left.  She sayd every boddy on Blk Creek were sick or had been sick. I fear it is a sickly place I suppose all the news concerning the elite of the neighborhood will be interesting & I will give you what transpired the day after you left. Clark went up to see the Hon. Cone & Mrs. Kirby married & at the appointed time they all got in small boats & went up to the Osgood place to meet the Rev. Mr. Long, but they waited in vain as the Gentleman disappointed them, they went to the Wharf & no Long made his appearance, so they returned home had supper & concluded to wait some other opportunity. Poor Couple I feel sory for them, dont you? Breakfast is ready & you must wait until dinner time for the rest.

                I have just put down the axe and now take up the pen to finish this.  the pen is much the lightest but I think I can trace a line with one about as well as the other. I will now try & answer yours first thing. 1^st I hope you & Tina injoyed Star gazing at Palatka to your intire satisfaction, sorry you could not rest well & that the musquitoes annoyed you so much. Did you mean to say you became acquainted with all the passengers that got on? If you did you had a busy time of it! I am glad you injoyed the last two hours so much as it in a measure compensated for the first part of the trip. Tell Henry I am much obliged for the cuttings &c & you bring them when you come.  that is if you are coming, as Davis says you cant come, or you can send them any way by Rosa & Racheal.  If he will let them come.  I am very much obliged for the kind invitation of Davis & Mother, but I cannot come as you can explain to them, Mr Simmons will be here at work on the mill and nothing could go on as it should without me I would like so very much to be with you & them, but I must fore go the pleasure this time.  Jane is the proudest negroe on the River as she has picked over 30 lbs of cotton pr day this week.  The chickens were left but I send them & you must pay the freight, I am exactly well. Do back. you can buy what you are in need of & if any money left get 1/2 Gal Fluid, you will not have money for Factory thread.  The tax Collector is to be at Welaka on the 16th to collect taxes. I want you to kiss your Mother & Rosa for me & then let them kiss you for me.  Give much love to all.  I have two pigs in a pen in the yard & I want you to make Mother & the boys promise to come up Christmas & help eat them.  I hunted hogs all day Monday & got seven, one of them is large & the rest are my shoats.  I have finished the hardest part of the mill job as I have all but two of the peaces out & the rest will be light work.  I can keep up with the cotton & will not be so bad off for Rachael next week & want you to stay if you wish. Mrs. Sams Col Titus & Lady got here on Monday & Mrs. Sams sayed she had seen you & I understood her to say you were coming home on Monday. Good by my Dear Wife I hope you will keep well & injoy yourself. Mrs. Hopkins is sick with chill & fever your aff husband

                                                                                                Winston