Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I doubt many people, outside Civil War nuts like myself, would be interested in this book. But it is a wonderful first-person slice of north Florida history. Since it was important for me, see my reasons below, I gave it a high rating; but the typical reader might find it difficult to read the entire collection of letters. However, the editors do a fairly good job of footnoting to provide additional information related to the letters.
I also learned much, including why two of Octavia's brothers decide to earn money hunting alligators for their oil. With no knowledge of what alligator oil was used for, I had to google it. The editor's didn't provide a footnote for that.
Winston Stephens was 12 years older than Octavia Bryant, who was only 15 years old when he first proposed to her. However, her parents made her wait until she was 18 before getting married. If 15 sounds young, then read "Mothers of the South," a book covering southern tenant farmers in the 1930s, when girls that age, and even younger, were getting married.
Ocatavia's father was a Unionist, and had to flee Florida when the war began. Meanwhile his wife, daughter and sons were pro-secessionists. All four of his sons fought for the Confederacy at some point or for the entire war.
Winston Stephens joined and then led a company of home guard cavalry in Florida. It eventually became part of the 2nd Florida Cavalry, CSA. He was well respected by his men. Even though he stayed in Florida, he was away from home and Octavia for long periods of time. He was away when his new-born, second daughter died 41 days after birth. He never lived to see his son and namesake, who was born prematurely several days after his death in a skirmish outside Jacksonville.
The letters in this book are a mix of everyday life: joy, suffering, despair, hope, farming plans, missing loved ones, coping, etc.; and the news of the war: skirmishes, major battles, civilians fleeing from possible enemy troop movements, initial support for the Confederate cause and then eventual regret due to the heartache of lost ones and other suffering caused by the war..
I made my first acquaintance with Winston and Octavia Stephens when developing a Web site for the Battle of Olustee, Florida's largest Civil War battle.
Captain Stephens' company played a role in that battle and the letters between him and Octavia present a very different view than we are often led to believe by "The Lost Cause."
I read the book to further acquaint myself with both of them, and to expand the personal information and letters which I have on the Web site.
To view three pages devoted to Winston and Octavia Stephens, including photographs, begin with the first page at battleofolustee.org/letters/wstephens1.html .
I also learned much, including why two of Octavia's brothers decide to earn money hunting alligators for their oil. With no knowledge of what alligator oil was used for, I had to google it. The editor's didn't provide a footnote for that.
Winston Stephens was 12 years older than Octavia Bryant, who was only 15 years old when he first proposed to her. However, her parents made her wait until she was 18 before getting married. If 15 sounds young, then read "Mothers of the South," a book covering southern tenant farmers in the 1930s, when girls that age, and even younger, were getting married.
Ocatavia's father was a Unionist, and had to flee Florida when the war began. Meanwhile his wife, daughter and sons were pro-secessionists. All four of his sons fought for the Confederacy at some point or for the entire war.
Winston Stephens joined and then led a company of home guard cavalry in Florida. It eventually became part of the 2nd Florida Cavalry, CSA. He was well respected by his men. Even though he stayed in Florida, he was away from home and Octavia for long periods of time. He was away when his new-born, second daughter died 41 days after birth. He never lived to see his son and namesake, who was born prematurely several days after his death in a skirmish outside Jacksonville.
The letters in this book are a mix of everyday life: joy, suffering, despair, hope, farming plans, missing loved ones, coping, etc.; and the news of the war: skirmishes, major battles, civilians fleeing from possible enemy troop movements, initial support for the Confederate cause and then eventual regret due to the heartache of lost ones and other suffering caused by the war..
I made my first acquaintance with Winston and Octavia Stephens when developing a Web site for the Battle of Olustee, Florida's largest Civil War battle.
Captain Stephens' company played a role in that battle and the letters between him and Octavia present a very different view than we are often led to believe by "The Lost Cause."
I read the book to further acquaint myself with both of them, and to expand the personal information and letters which I have on the Web site.
To view three pages devoted to Winston and Octavia Stephens, including photographs, begin with the first page at battleofolustee.org/letters/wstephens1.html .
