Year: 1866

Just previous to the war, an affair occur.
ed in one of the Red River parishes not
visited by that all-conquering chieftain Ma
poleon Pumkin-head Banks, which had
sufficient of the elements of romance and
tragedy to form the basis Of "stunning''
stage scenes, or of sensational novel of in
definite length


A Confederate lieutenant who had been
severely wounded in one of the skirmishes
that preceded the battle of Mansfield, in
which the puissant Banks won everlasting
renowu by the speed and disorder with
which be affected a retrogade movement,
was taken in an ambulance to the residence
of some friends on plantation several miles
from the theatre of military operations.
During his convaescence he became ac.
quainted with the young and, I suppose,
pretty daughter of a wealthy neighboring
planter, and it was not long before the two
gave evidence of desire to become one,
pledging the usual VOWS of unbounded and
queechless love. promising eternal fidelity,
&c., matters that old fellows of forty or fifty
have forgotten all about; yet it is wonder.
full how some of them, at even more ma.
ture age, can promptly and efficiently 60
through the whole role if occasion chance
to put them to the work


On being made acquainted with the state
of the case, the father of the young lady
demanded an inspection of the young mans
papers, desiring to know how he stood Fl
nancially with the world. Our Lieutenant
could produce abundant testimony of res.
pectability, of good conduct before the enc.
my, &c., but he could show neither title,
deeds to land, certificates of stocks, ready
money, nor other evidence of worldly gear
other than bis neatly fiting gray uniform
and shining sword blade, therefore the old
man, who was of obstinate resolution and
fierce, implacable temper, Andy Johnsoned
the compact between the lovers-he vetoed
it-aud rightly judging that, as there were
but three parties to the affair, .hey might
nullify his decision by two.thirds vote,
be forbade the young mans visits to his
house; the young man went, nevertheless,
and met the apple of his eye and joy of his
heart by moonlight alone. When the OBJ.
durate old gentleman found that his author
ity was defed, he raved furiously, and swore
to watch for the intruding son of Mars, and
shoot him the first time he set his foot upon
his premises. When the young lady, in
great terror, reported this to ber lover, he,
not iorgetful of the storm of lead and iron
he had ofteu faced in battle, laughed at the
idea of being frightened away by an old fel.
low armed with blunderbuss or shotgun,
who had never fired at anything in his life
that could pull trigger in return.


he proposed an immediate elopement,
and the lady, Notwithstanding her persis.
tent declaration that her father would kill
them both, consented, moved thereto more
by love than sense of flial duty. They
fed by night on horseback, not scrupling to
take the two finest horses in the old plan
ter's pasture, crossed Red river and struck
out for the Mississippi over a wretched
road, through pine forest, swamps and cane
breaks. They reached the right bank of
the great river in safety, but the means of
crossing it were not often to be had prompt.
ly, and the passage was not quite so safe as
at present, for Federal gunboats were con.
stantly lowering about, and no one could
tell how suddenly one or half dozen of
them might put in an appearance. During
the flight, the lady had kept constant watch
over her shoulder, and at every straight
stretch in the road, in the terrified expect.
ancy of seeing her wronged parent appear
in pursuit Her nervousness and apprehen.
sions of impending danger were increased
by the delay in crossing the river, and the
event proved that they were not unfounded,
for, even while boat from the opposite
shore was pulling over in answer to the
Lieutenant's signal, the old planter, accom-
panied by one Of his negroes, made his ap-
pearance on horse splashed nth mud and
hecked with sweat and foam. He drew up
within twenty t-enty yards of the fugaoious
pair, and eyed them sternly.