Rose Cottage Chronicles: Civil War Letters of the Bryant-Stephens Families of North Florida

As fresh and poignant today as when they were written, these touching letters capture the heart of everyday life during the Civil War.

Set both at home in Florida and on the front, the letters were written by two generations of families whose members included radical secessionists, moderates, and even a few unionists.

The domestic letters, written mostly by mothers and daughters, describe their emotions in dealing with Yankee invaders and slaves and offer a rare picture of the expanded role of women as farm managers. From the military camps, soldiers write about Abe Lincoln, "coloured troops," and deadly battles.

Especially, though, the letters tell a love story between Winston Stephens and Tivie Bryant, whose brief married life was interrupted by the war.

Arch Fredric Blakey, retired military historian, has written several books and numerous articles on the Civil War and Florida history. He lives near Bell, Florida.

Ann Smith Lainhart, a descendant of the Bryant-Stephens families, is a professional genealogist. She lives in Peabody, Massachusetts.

Winston Bryant Stephens Jr., also a descendant of the Bryant-Stephens families, is a retired businessman in Jupiter, Florida.