Internationally acclaimed artist Amy Brandon Sadle accidentally came upon a true and fascinating story when she happened upon details of a member of the Hunter family, who are related to her husband, Jack.

For six years, she searched throughout the United States, always returning to Natchez to fill in the details of this interesting character.

The result is her new book, “Hunter Hall,” a novel based on the true Civil War story, which she describes as including “history of the 58th Colored Troops, a dramatic love story, the occupation of Natchez and, in addition, the early politics of Kansas and history of Nebraska.”

Sadle will be in Natchez Saturday to sign copies of her book, 1 to 3 p.m., at Cover to Cover Books & More, 401 Main St.

Sadle was born in Iowa and now lives in Syracuse, Neb. Her artwork, especially watercolor and woodcut prints, is included in museum, university and archive collections throughout the country, including the collection at the Statue of Liberty.

With her many years of research, Amy wove the tiny scraps of colorful information into a historic novel called “Hunter Hall.”

The story follows the family from Scotland to the Colonies in the 1600s, then through the Revolution to the founding of the State of Mississippi.

The keystone of the story is William H. Hunter, an abolitionist from Illinois, who enters the Civil War in 1861. This Union veteran of numerous battles is moved by circumstances to occupied Natchez in 1864.

The soldier’s ancestors helped establish Natchez and were second-generation planter-slave owners.

Moving from private to captain in a matter of weeks, William becomes the white officer of the 58th Colored Troops — learning the truth about slavery.

In Natchez, he discovers a Confederate widow smuggling medicine, and witnesses the tragedy the citizens of Natchez face. After the war he and the widow marry and he eventually writes love poetry about her that is published in New York.

The remainder of the postwar story winds through, Iowa, Kansas and finally Lincoln, Neb., where he dies in 1901 with William Jennings Bryan at his bedside.