The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-11-07
STORY OF The WAR.

STORY OF The WAR.
was lying in my bunk smoking
when | first met Sunny Andrews"
We were quartered in q confscated
restaurant on the shore of Lake
Ponchartraln in the spring OF 1864.
My room looked out on the lake.
Absorbed in my smoke and contem-
plation OF the bare-legged creole
scOopng up an occasional crab in a
dip net, did not notice the stranger
until a knapsack and rife were
thrown on the bunk and fresh voice
exclaimed: I'm ordered to report to
you for quarters, sergeant. He was
hand some youth OF Is years, above
the medium height; with good square
shoulders, a bright, dark blue eye, q
profuslon OF wavy fair hair and a
clear pink and white complexion.
Crawled from under my netting and
asked his name. My name is Ed.
Andrews, but all the boys call me
Sunny" was the reply.
Further inquiry elected that he was
member OF my own company, and
had been away for some time on de-
tail. From the orderly sergeant l
learned that sunny" This sunny
temperament had given him this ap-
pelIation) was the son OF poor down.
east clergyman, that his mother to
whom had been devotedly attached,
was dead, and that in speech and &C
ton he was as pure as a little child.
"And," continued the sergeant,
"there isn't any man in this regiment
that has got the stuff in him that
Sunny Andrews has. Why, at Port
Hudson when he wanted to go up OF
down the line he would hop up on tie
breatworks and trot along with the
Johnnies popping at him not more
than POO yards Off.
My acquaintance with Sunny
ripened rapidly into friendship. Thu
lines Of discipline were relaxed in Oul
little detachment, where we had but
asinsle commissioned officer. Together
we spent hours in fishing on the lake
from a two-ton centre board, captur
ed from a reckless blockade runner.
On one OF these excursions we lay an,
chored on the middle bar. 1t was a
terribly oppressive day. There was
not breath OF air stirring. No luck
came to us. 1t was too uncomfort
able for conversation, and | dozed ir
the stern sheets. | was aroused by
my companion saying, Come, ser
geant, We must get out Of this" A
leaden bank was moving up the
heavens, and fitful breeze was stir.
ring the surface OF the lake. We were
setting sail when sunny" cried
"there's a blockade runner and she is
ours" Less than half mile away
was craft, the image of our own
lacking to get the benefit otthe breeze
Speedily we started in pursuit. The
strange craft took alarm at once, and
pursuer and pursued were headed fol-
the dim line of the Louisiana shore
1t was soon evident that our craft
was the superior sailor. A series O.
short tackS, however, made with won,
derful dexterity, kept the stranger
beyond our reach until the dense
growth OF the swampy shore was less
than halt 8 mile away. Her crew
consisted OF two persons, one a fe
male, and we saw that her figure was
straight as an arrow, and caught the
clear-cut profile of a beautiful head
from which a ripping mass of JET
black hair blew out. The barred arm
was white as marble, but the GRASP
on the tiller was firm, and she execut
ed her companions command with
the GOODNESS OF a veteran. The vino
died for an instant and then blew
hard and sharp from the nortl
straight into the heart of the purple
ish blackneSs OF the coming storm
The helm Of the chase was put ur
hard, her sail was thrown into the
wind and she stood square across oul
bows, Lying in the bow Sunny
Andrews cooked his rifle. Simultane
ously the man disappeared from
sight but the girl clung to her pos
without tremor of fear. Sunny
laid down his rifle and turned to M
with Il look that made him doublN
handsome. Something new anC
strange had entered into his life. Al
the eagerness of pursuit was on hin
as we stood about and dashed on il
the wake OF the speeding craft. TIL
latter struck the mouth of marrow
bayou not 10 lengths ahead, and a
we entered the channel "Sunny" drop
ped the sail. The desperate smugele
sprang 10 the stern unheeding hi
der. At that instant the tempest wa
upon us. 1t cut through the tree
with giant strength, it caught tn
hoisted sail; the jib boom struck tn
smuggler with the force OF catapult
and the boat, saved from overturnin
by the catching of it's masts amon
the trees, was dashed against tn
bank. Our boat was also driver
ashore, and i'll an instant Sunny
was on board the prize. The cir
lay in q faint, her hand still clencheC
on the tiller, but the body of tn
smuggler struck overheard, had sun
beneath the troubled waters. "Sun
ny" lifted the girl ashore and soon re
stored her to consciousness. She ask
ed no questions, We brought an avn
!: ing from the boat to protect her from
the storm while we secured the boats
We knew that we must hasten, TO
the storms fill the swamps with It'd
; forced from the lake, and night, be
, fore its time, was coming on apace
We therefore started without delay
Sunny" acting as our fair prisoner
escort, and managed to reach tn
,, picket post in safety, though we wer
drenched to the skin and had man
: narrow escapes from falling trees an
swollen streams on the way. TIL
: station at White house was only
nisr with one building unon it cor