Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-01-21
Narrow Escape of Col, snipes.

isted between The wings and tories, which
occasioned scenes of the most teroclouS
and terrible nature.
One of these appeared TO Col. Snipes
of Marion's brigade:
Col. Snipes was CaroIinian, al re-
markable strength and courage. lie was
equally distinguished for his vindic'lve
haired Of the tories. He had suffered
some domestic injuries in their hands, and
he was one who never permitted himself
10 forgive. His temper was sangulnaIy
in the extreme, and led him, in his treat
ment Of the loyaIlies, 10 such ferocilies as
subjected him, on more than one occasion,
TO the harshest rebuke of his commander.
Ii is not certain al what period in the war
the following occurrence took place, but
it was on one of those occasions when
the partizan militia claimed a sort Of Pc
rodical privilege of abandoning their Gen
eral TO look after their families and do
mestic interests. Awaiting himself of this
privilege, Snipes pursued his way to his
plantation His route was circuIIous
one, but it is probable that he pursued ii
with little caution. He was more dislin-
guished for audacily than prudence. The
Tories fell upon his trail, which they fol-
lowed with lhc keen avidily Of the sleuth-
hound. Snipes reached his plantation in
safety, unconscious of pursuit. Having
examined the homestead and received an
account Of all things done in his absence
from faithful driver, and lulled into Sc
curily by the seeming quiet and silence OF
The neigbborhOod, he retired to rest, and,
after the faligues of the day, soon fell
asleep. From this he was awakened by
the abrupt entrance and CRIES of his driver.
The faithful negro aPprised him in terror.
They were already on the p Isntalion.
His vigilance alone prevented them from
taking his master in bed, Snipcs, starting
up, proposed TO take shelter in the barn,
but the driver pointed 10 the flames al
ready bursting from that building. tie
had barely time to leave the house, COW
cred only by his night shirt, and by the
council of the negro, to fly to the cover
of ,Lick copse of briars and brambles,
within fifty yards of The dwelling, when
the tories surrounded it. The very task
of penetrating this copse so as 10 screen
himself from sight, efi'ectuaIly removed
The torn garment which concealed his ma
kedless. The shirt was torn from his
back by the briars. and the skin shared in
! lis injuries. But, once there, he lay ef-
fectuaIly concealed from sight. Ordinary
comic would scarcely have supposed
that any animal larger Than a rabbit would
have sought or found shelter iu such a re.
gion. The Tories Immediately seized
upon the negro and demanded his master
at the peril of his life. Knowing and fear
ing the courage and The arm Of Snipes
they did not enter the dwelling, but adop-
ted the less vaorOus mode of setting il on
fire, and with pointed muskets, surround
ed it, in waiting for the moment when
their victim should emerge. lie, within
few steps Of them, heard their threats
and expectations, and beheld all their pro.
ceedings. The house was consumed,
and the intense heat of the fire subjected
our partisan. in his place Of retreat, 10
such torture. as none but the most logged
hardihood could have endured without
complaint. The skin was peeled from
his body in many places. and the blsters
were shown long after, to persons who
were still living. But Snipes too well
knew his enemies, and what he had 10
expect at their hands, TO make confession.
He bore patiently the torture, which was
terribly increased. Finding themselves
at fault, the Tories brought forward the
faithful negro, who had thus far saved his
master, and determined TO exioTi from MIN
in the halter. the secret of his hiding
place. But the courage and fidelity Of
the negro proved superior 10 the ierrors of
death. Thrice he was run up TO the tree,
and choked nearly TO stranguIation, but iD
vain. His capab:i,iy 10 endure proved
superior 10 the will Of the Tories 10 in.
flci, and he was at length let down. half
desd,--ss, in lruth ignorant of the secret
which they desired 10 exiort. What were
the ,errors of Snipes in al this trial
What his feelings Of equal gratitude and
apprehension How noble was the fdeI.
ity of the slsVe-based upon that gentle
and affection relationship existing between
himself and master probably from boy
hood Yet this is bot one OF thousand
such attachments, all equally pure and
elevated, and maintained through not dis.
similar perils.
Its stated that there were from fifty 10
sixty people frozen to death within the
State OF Texas during he late cold wes,h.
er.