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.