Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-09-11

Inc presiding genus Oh THIS
temple was, | suppose, chris
tened by his parents "Jim," but
was known to- the soldiers as
"Snnfower." His hair was red,
his face was red, his eyes were
red and he wore a red shirt.
He was decidedly a red man,
but withaI a staunch rebel, who
was willing to shareEh his all with
our boys, and who thought him
self well paid for any service
by our good will and friendship.
His love for us was only equal
ed by his intense hatred for the
"blue-bellied deyils," as he al
ways called them. Rel
The first. thing on arriving,
was an inquiry as to whether
or not any yanks were in the
neighborhood. Sunflower assur-
ed us he had not seen or heard
of any thateday, and we then
produced our canteens and re-
quested that they be filled, but
were told that he was busy in
filling his still for a "doubling," "
or last run of liquor through the
still, but to help ourselves to the
|still-beer, and as sooE as he1got
leisure we should be attended to.
Casting a glance or two down
the road to'see il that was clear,
we entered the house and being
furnished with a piece Of reed
each, were soon engaged in that
mysterious process yclept"s
ing still-beer." a9iaa903 J .8zf
How long we we're thus en-
gaged L haze no idea, but We
were reused from our dreams
OF bliss by Sunfiower rushing in
with, 9By Hokeyl boys, the hol-
|lers full ofbluetbellies. and they
are too close TO run to yer crit
ters." -. .a0.yY f5fa .,t5,gs48
Hero was a dilemma with ap-
parently ono choice, whiclflper-
force We must take; but our
rcd friend was equal to the
emergency, he whispered: eyer
fellows gitsup on that malt scat
ioP and lie low, while / make a
smoke that'll hide you, and make
them git purity soon; you must
stand if, it's your only chance"
So il. seemed and without FUR
ther ado1up we went. iaesll
Now his scaffold was nothing
more norless than a lot Of loose
puncheons laid ssthe beams
just over the still, on which the
malt (sour corn) was dried pre-
paratory to grinding, SO, you
can imagine what a nice berth
We had in the hot, damp corn
and the clouds of smoke which
seemed to grow denscr every
second. rs5.,rl,, 81 S,sf
The yanks soon poured into
the house to the number of thir-
ty or forty. In answer to their
oft repeated questions, if any|
rebels had been around, Sun
flower at last drawled out:
"Yaas, two's been here this
morning. '''e's
My heart gave aequick jump,
and each hand grasped a"nayy.'''
Would he betray us? Ifsso, my
first ball should crash throughl
his skull, and then we would
sell out as dear as we could, for
capture by that crowd (they
were Stokes renegade Tennes-
seeans) meant death.
"Where are they? How long?
Which way did they go?" rang
from side to side. SunfiowerI
gave the chunks spiteful kick,
and with as much contempt in
his tone as he could show, re-
piled: '5gs 80 '7,''is''''. '......,.,,., '.'
"You'ens think you're mighty
derned smart. Them two fell
lcrs left here not half an hour
ago, gwine right down the
branch the way you'ens come
Il'll,bet q gallon O. whisky to a
gill O. buttermilk they're by in
the laurel bush, waitin' for you
to come back; they're Morgau's'
men and they're afoot, buntin'I
hosscs; they want 'em bad, and
I'm mighty mistaken if they
don't git 'cm, tco. They've got
two pistils and one o. them six
shootin' guns apiece, and they'll
keep the yfiies off 'em in emmy
crowd they TICKLE. ZEE there
was any road away from the
place I'd advise you to take it,
but there ain'.:."
The order to mount was hur-
riedly obeyed and soon the par
ty rode slowly down the hollow
with their arms at a ready.
As soon ais they were out of
hearing Suuflower checrily sang
OUT -
"Come down, boys, eff you
amt roasted, and git Q gool
drink of whisky, for | know you
need it."'s .,sans
1t took no second invitation
Ito get us down. H. was
wet with perspiration and swore
he had lost twenty-five pounds.
\ As for me, l felt so glad that /