July 13, 1862.  Winston's 33rd birthday.  I wrote to Ma.  In the afternoon Henry went to Clark's to go aligatoring tomorrow.  No rain.

[Rebecca] July 13, 1862. A pleasant cool day. Write a long letter to Davis. Read letters written during the memorable 1850. H- stays over night at Mrs S-.

[Rebecca Bryant to Davis Bryant] 

                                                                                                Rose Cottage July 13, 1862

My dear Davis,

                Your letter of 20th. June, written at Jacksonville, reached me last Monday, the eighteenth day from date.  I had looked most impatiently for it the Monday before.  We receive our mail now regularly every Monday, but our letters and papers are very ancient when they reach us.

                I recd. a letter from Willie the week after you left which had been lying at Mrs Latham’s ever since the morng. you left, it was written June 1^st. those you saw in Jacksonville were several days later -I am very impatient to hear from him again as he had not then recd. a word from us, but had seen the notice copied from the Sav. Republican of your father's being Mil. Gov. of Fla. and was in a dreadful state of suspense, though he did not credit the report.  A few days after I recd. Willies of the 1st. Winston brought me one from Chauncey Hatch informing me of the Allen’s bringing letters and that the 3r. Regt. wd. probably remain at Mobile a month if not more.  I then wrote again to Willie addressing it to the care of Col. Dilworth as he instructed me to do, if I wrote immediately.  I did not then know of Aunt Julia's published renunciation, but the eveg. of the day my letter went off, I recd. one from her in extenuation of her course, which she thought I would deem too severe.  It seems from that that Willie wrote to her about the same time he wrote to me, but had not seen her publication.  She wrote to him immediately and, I suppose, in the same strain that she wrote me.  If he receives hers before he hears any thing from us contradictory of that statement, it will add greatly to his distress.  In any event he will be deeply mortified by it, and I feel more on his account than my own, because he is so far from us all and has not the consolation of our sympathy, or the means of knowing what we know.  I hope you have written encouragingly, or rather that you have written so particularly about your father's visit to the river that he will be comforted.

                I suppose you must have done so when here or at Jacksonville, because Tivie tells me you saw Aunt J's paragraph while you were here.  I wish I could send you her letter.  It cost her a great deal of suffering to publish her renunciation, but her zeal for the cause she has so warmly espoused led her to believe it necessary.  I shall never cease to regret the step even if she retracts it ‑ It was entirely too hasty and was in any circumstances, uncalled for.  I replied to her letter last week.  She wrote me that almost every one about her knew the strong affection she entertained for her brother and therefore "watched and doubted."  In reply I asked her if she could not for his sake bear to be watched and doubted until she could learn the truth from us ‑ that she knew that she could live down the suspicion, but that the infamy of his mother's renunciation would cling to him long after this cruel war was ended and he was in his grave.  I told her that I presumed she was excited to it by the fanatacism of those around her ‑ that I believed I understood her feelings perfectly, but I feared others would not.  She mentioned that she feared she shd. lose a portion of the love that I and all my children had for her ‑ But I told her that she wd. not, certainly so long as she evinced the loving spirit she did for us, I thanked her again warmly for her kindness to Willie, (she sent him a small sum of money and intended sending more, she had also written to Col D‑ requesting him to let her know immediately if any thing happened to Willie) and I told her that Tivie said you expressed yourself about the matter precisely as I did.  She had been most terribly provoked by an Editor in Thomasville who published the most shameful falsehoods about your father and she went to him accompanied by an influential gentleman friend of hers and told him that if he published any more she would certainly kill him ‑ that although she had renounced her brother politically, no one should censure him falsely and live.  This she says she "regretted, as a christian, but could not recall it, for she meant it."  And she says many christians sustained her in it.  The world generally will not make the distinction she does between renouncing him politically and entirely ‑ because she says it is "forever," in her paragraph.  And if it should come to your father's eye, as it doubtless will or has I do not know what the consequence will be ‑ I sometimes fear he will leave the country altogether and not allow us to know where he goes ‑ I have, at times, the most dreadful apprehensions of its effect upon him and long to be able to say one word of comfort and love ‑ But weeks must pass before I know the result.  My only trust is in Him who can give us all strength to bear our trials if we will ask it in the right spirit.  And we know my dear Davis, that all these events are ordered by Him, and are designed for our future welfare ‑ He cannot err, let us try to profit by the chastisements He sends.  I feel certain that your father would give us satisfactory reasons for the course he has pursued, if he could freely communicate with us, and I wrote this to your Aunt Julia ‑ I also wrote the substance of his letter to you ‑ It is possible she may retract what she has published, since she prefaced her renunciation with the words, "if this be true" ‑ I think she ought to do so, but I fear there are many who saw it who will never know that it was unmerited.

                Winston is now near Jacksonville at Camp Finnegan, he left us a fortnight since ‑ I gave him your address and hope he has written you – I was sorry to learn that Mrs Foster was disappointed in her trip north – I recd. Becca’s letter a week after you left us, a most kind and affectionate one, which I would gladly answer if I knew positively that a reply wd. find her in Jacksonville – as it is, I must content myself for the present by sending her my love and thanks through you – please tell her that her letter afforded me great pleasure and I am very grateful for the expressions of interest and friendship it contained. Chauncey’s letter was also very kind and I wish you wd. thank him for it. Tivie says I must tell you that Rosa is seated on the floor eating watermelon from her little tin‑pan.  We have an abundance of melons and we never cut one but I think of you and Willie, wishing that you could enjoy them with us.  Do you ever get fruit of any kind?  I hope I may hear from Willie tomorrow and perhaps from you ‑ but we have to write our letters and send them to Mr Smith 24 hours before we receive our mail.  Tivie and I were at Mrs Stephens a few days since, and just as we were preparing to leave, Mrs Latham, Carrie & Mr Smith walked in!  Tivie and Mrs S‑ had met them twice before, and Mrs S‑ had been to Mrs L's house to purchase something she had for sale.  Mrs L looks badly.  They are going in a few days to Orange Springs, from there to Waldo and so on to Augusta.  Mr Smith thinks he will go to Jacksonville ‑ I intend to ask him if he does go to take a note to Mrs Maxey and get the daguerotype of Willie from her.  Do you not think Willie will get a furlough next month, if they are to remain in Mobile?  I fear it will be very sickly there later in the season ‑ but we must hope for the best.  I hope tomorrow's mail will bring confirmation of the telegraphic news from Richmond and also of the recognition of the S. Confederacy by France.  I hope to hear very soon from you that you are in good health and have heard something more from "Father."

                Tivie sends much love and hopes it will not be many months before we shall have you, Willie & Winston all here!  Rosa has just given me a kiss to send to you and here you have it ‑ Much love from Henry, George and Mother ‑ Do you not think the War will be ended and our army disbanded by the middle of October?  Even that time seems to be an age to wait for.  But we will try to be patient as the signs of the times are brightening.

                I hope you were not entirely "used up" by your journey back to camp ‑ and I trust you are getting accustomed to the many privations and hardships you have to endure, so that they are in fact more tolerable.

                That God will protect and bless you is my constant prayer

                                                                                                Mother

[Willie Bryant to Rebecca Bryant] 

                                                                                                Mobile Ala. July 13, 1862     

My dear Mother,

                Again have I allowed too long a time to elapse without writing you, & again conscience smitten take up my pen; I have had every reason to suppose that each succeeding day would bring me full intelligence of Father, & waiting in the vain hope, with my mind so full of it, time has slipped imperceptably by, & when now I must write with my mind in a state of much doubt & anxiety.

                I rec’d yr’s of May 26 sent to Mrs Steele, a long time after it was written, but I forgot how long ago, since writing you, however, I feel sure. A letter rec’d from Miss Rebecca lately informs me that some three weeks ago she gave Mr. Allen, who was to return to the regmt. immediately, letters from you, Miss Hattie & Davis to bring me, but strange to say he has no yet made him appearance tho’ he has been expected daily for a very long time. I have rec'd but two letters from Davis, The one he wrote just as he entered the service went to Corinth & did not get here 'till a short time ago, & one written by Miss Rebecca ten days previous, ‑ just as we started from Fla. ‑ did not reach me until two days ago.  These two letters contained accounts of Father's arrival, & tho' they contain nothing to cheer me, would have afforded me much relief from doubt.  A strange fatalety attends all my letters from Fla, & only mine, some rascal is undoubtly at the bottom of some of it & I truly wish that he may suffer double the amount of crushing thoughts & anxieties that I have endured for the past two months.

                I do not know how to write you about Father, my spirit is so weighed down by the sad circumstances attending him, & would not do so did I not feel that I should.  I learn enough from Miss Rebecca’s & Davis' letter to assure me that tho' he is not actively engaged against the South, & the Cause I love dearer than life, still, he is with the enemy in feeling, & hopelessly committed to them, & of course I cannot retain my former feelings of unalloyed affection towards him, but still I revert with satisfaction & pleasure to thoughts of the kind, instructive father he was to me, & the generous, high‑minded, energetic, public‑spirited, & sympathising man to the world, & regret with keen anguish that he has blindly pursued a course against all that he should hold most dear, & which will undoubtedly be a finishing blow to prevent entirely the social enjoyments among his family & friends, which he has so hoped for, for his latter days, & for which he has so untiringly striven to attain for so many years, against innumerable & almost overpowering disappointments & misfortunes; I can see nothing cheering for him in the prospect of the future; ‑ I will add no more! few have suffered more than our family by this unnatural & horrible war, this is a terrible blow, & I would have parted with life, O, so willingly, to have averted it.  I rec'd a letter from Aunt Julia a short time since in which she writes that she would write you next day, but in the state of mind that she was in relative to Father I doubt if it was of much comfort to you; she wrote me most affectionately tho' sadly; I have been waiting to hear from Davis before writing her.  I truly hope that Davis has been able to write you often, & that therefore the few in number which I have written have not been felt so much; but under circumstances not similar I would not have been so negligent.  I wrote Davis a few days since, & also sent him $30‑; I would have sent you money could I have felt it would reach you surely, but in this instance, & once before, I knew Davis would be thoughtful & attend to it; we recd. our $50‑ bounty money a few days ago.  I have always intended to inclose you some stamps & also have always forgotten it, this time I have taken the precaution to direct my envelope & put them in first; you must have had difficulty in mailing your letter's & I wish you had reminded me of it.  I hope to hear soon that Davis has been able to pay you a visit, as he expected.

                Hollis Moody got a discharge for disability, & left us for Jacksonville this morn'g; he has been a messmate of mine ever since I entered the service, & we were transfered from the "J.L.I." to the company I am now in together, so I was sorry to have him go & shall miss him very much.  We still occupy the same camping ground, & with less prospect of being ordered off, as the seat of war is still farther removed from us, & as the probability of an attack on Mobile is not small, we are well situated, but to me it is almost unbearable & some nights I lay awake thinking over my situation, until I become almost desperate; I must have excitement, & something to interest & stimulate me, & under such circumstances I can play a good part, & had not force of circumstances kept me from it, I should have been where I would have been in my proper element, & in a situation more satisfactory to me, & unless something occurs to change my mind as soon as I can get particulars of home affairs straight, I shall exert myself to obtain a transfer to a more active field, unless I see a prospect of our removal; I will inform you tho' before I make a move.  The health of the regmt. is not very good, & I certainly have much to be thankful for in that respect, during all of our moving attendant with bad food, & water & camping places, & while numbers have lain around me sick I have not lost but 3 days from duty, & am now looking far better than ever before in my life, & I think it would do you good to see  my lank cheeks so full now; but I have been much annoyed by rheumatism & it has effected my legs & knees considerably.

                I saw Mr. Pierce a short time ago & recognized him tho’ he tells me it has been 4 yrs since he left Fla; he seemed much pleased at my speaking to him & pressing in his invitations; last Sunday a.m. Hollis & I, - who are two of his old scholars – went to his church, & after service stepped over to the parsonage & were intro- to his wife & sister; I shall go in & spend some evening with them this week; he has the handsomest little church I have seen, & must be very well situated here. I suppose I must get your letter soon, & I feel as I shall welcome it in proportion to the length of time it has taken to reach me. I hope Winston is getting along well & near you, tell him to be vigilant, we won't be obliged to stick this out very much longer.  Much love to Tivie ‑ the dear old lady!  & that blessed little one of hers with those bright eyes, & funny little mouth; she must be very interesting now; much love, & a hearty how‑dye to the boys, no longer the "little boys", & tell them to be manly & industrious; & to you, dearest of mothers, an ocean of love, & a thousand of kisses, from your "soldier boy" who desires to live to prove that he loves you more & more as he becomes able to appreciate you; God bless you all, & grant us peace at last is my prayer ‑ Ever affectionately,

                                                                                                Willie‑

                                                                                                Monday morn'g‑

Just after I had despatched this for the mail Allen arrived bringing me letters & I succeeded in stopping this to add a P.S.  I have rec'd letters from Several tho' all quite old.  I have yours written by Davis & a P.S. added by him at J'vlle & am delighted to know he had been able to visit you ‑ I think with you, that Father is conscientious & hopes to effect some good by his course but he has certainly pursued one injurious to himself & will never be able to make his peace with the South & be able to live among them as he would wish, even Mr. Burritts course is denounced & he is not safe - Jacksonville is a doomed place & I fear for those who have been obliged to remain there, the people in their blind rage cannot see justice & impartiality as they should. I am not surprised.

                I have red’d a letterfrom Hattie, they are all pretty well but in a state of anxiety & alarm. I should hear from Davis again soon.  I hope Father will not return to Fla for the present at least ‑ My letters this morning have raised me from a dull gloomy & desponding state & I now have a comparatively light heart, I am happy in knowing you are so well & comfortable ‑

                Good bye again ‑ With much love

                                                                                                Yrs always affectionately

                                                                                                Willie ‑

                                                                                                Still Later ‑ Tuesday morn'g

I failed to get this in the mail yesterday a.m. & in the p.m. rec'd two more letters, nice long ones from you & Davis ‑ Yrs bore date of June 28 ‑ I am very sorry to know of Winston's removal & tho' I know the principle is a good one still I am sorry in his case, you will not be able to see him so often, but comparatively frequently, no doubt.  I am almost in hysterics thro' joy at rec'g so many good letters at once, seven in one day, & the relief from such a load of anxiety & trouble ‑

                I can add no more now ‑ Henry must write me ‑

                                                                                                "More love"

                                                                                                from yrs in love

                                                                                                Willie‑

July 14, 1862. In the afternoon Georgie & I rode to town to see Sophie Hopkins then went for letters, I did not rec. a line from Winston. Mother one from Willie & Davis. I stopped at Tina’s on my way home, heard the Yankees had taken all of Mrs. Bradley’s negroes. No rain.

[Rebecca] July 14, 1862. Warm but a fine breeze all day. In the afternoon Tivie & George go to town – They bring me letters from Willie & Davis! Both well and write cheerfully. Henry stays overnight to go alligator hunting with Mr Stephens – again – They got none to-day.

July 15, 1862. Wrote to Winston to send by Mr Smith. Henry came home & little Willie with him, a little rain.

[Rebecca] July 15, 1862. A very hot sun but a cool breeze. Henry returns with Willie S- about 8 o’clk A.M. Write a few lines to Mrs Maxey to send by Mr Smith who is to go to Jacksonville and bring a likeness of Willie left in her charge. Read news papers most of the day.