Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-01-17
DELAWARE, OHIO, JANUARY II, 1862.
Adventure Of a snnke Hunter.

/ Adventure Of Snake Hunter.
A correspondent of the Wheeling Intelligen
Ger gives the following:
/ Capt Baggs was crippled with the rhcuma
tism, and the Surgeon of Col. T'yIcr's regimen
advised him TO go home awhile TO recruit hi
health. The Captain left Us with the Colonel
While gone the Colonel sent for me TO know
if l could get over to Floyd's advance, an,
see what their force was, &c, ut the same tint
cautioning me to be careful. | told the Col
onel that that was what was there for; al
the same time | asked him if he would not lei
Sam Drake accompany ME. He said for mt
to 10 as l wished, but to be carelul.-
sam sdys:-"CummIngs are we going in
! this uGiform?'
told him we had better try fhe farmers
disguise, for that was the best in the noun
tains.
We started up the Gaulcy river, and as we
were then ABOVE the bridge, we knew we must
cross the river. Here we were III dilemma.
| told Sam TO come on, something would turn
up so we could get over. We kept on our
way, now climbing up The rugged steep of the
overhanging rocks of the mountains the Gau-
ley flows through, then again diverging into a
narrow valley. We crept along the base OF
the mountains for fear of surprise. We had
got up the river as far as we cared about ven
turing on that side, and We stopped to hold q
council Of war.
Down, SAM 1 said, "do you hear that
noisc?'
We both got down in the bushes and lis
tened. Some fellow was going down the river
in dug out, singing Dixie. We crept to the
river shore and here we saw the fellow whom
knew 10 be Secesh, padding along at his
case, singing his favorite song.
remarked TO Sam, "I'll change that tune
to Yankee Doodle
Sam cautioned me against firing, but tolG
him there was no danger, as we must be some
six miles from their camp.
'I1l have that dug-out at any rate; SO here
goes"
l took good aim, and Dixie was husbed, and
old 'Secesh tumbled into the river.
"Well, Cummings" said Sam, "that was a
good shot"
Never mind, Sam, yen get TIE canoe and
III watch for more Of them"
Sam got the boatsand VIC crossed the river.
was somewhat at my wits end to know
how was to get into their camp l hadn't
made up my mind when the pickcts hailed
u.s.
"TIalt thcrel Which way?"
had my old Alit lock horse-p;stol pointed
at Sam, aud said this was a Yankee prisoner
had brought along. aid wanted him put in
Jail, for he had been the terror of the neigh
borhood siHce them tarnal Yankees had come
out there; that he had killed several loyal men
and wanted him dealt with accordingly
This was sufficient for passport, SO we went
OH in.
delivered Sam up, had him put in the guard
house, loafed around camp awhile, waiting for
something TO turn up 50 | could relieve Sam.
x Rebel Capt.named George w. Siull, came
along, and asked me where L lived. l tod hilpl
lived on tic Peters creek road.
''IIow far from the Yankees Camp?" he
asked.
a bout five miles,
'Are you well acquainted With the country
therc?" 4t
l told him very well. lie said: I'm -.l
''Yov arc the man | want. have been look
ing for you for some time"
| then told him had friend in his jail for
getting drunk and raising Il fuss, and wanted
him TO go along. He went to the guard-house
and took Sam out to go with me. lie then dc
tailed eight men ont of his company to go on
Il scouting expedition.
We all started for reconnaissance of the
Yankee camp; went down the river with the ri
hes the captain had given us, until we came to
where We had left the dug-out. After three
of US had got in onc of the chaps said:
"Charie, don't this look like the boat
Alex. Taylor started scouting in this morn
ing"
told him that beat belonged to old Bill
Hendricks, that lived down the river coup'e
of miles. They were satisfied. ferrird them
all over. We travelled along until we were
descending high bluff, when Sam noticed a
smoke.
had posted the boys before I left TO look
out for me when came, no matter who was
with ME.
We advanced cautiously to where the fire
was they asked us who had camped there Il
told them the Yankee Snake Hunters, and that
they were prisoners.
just then the Snake Hunters raised all
around at charge bayonet. The "Rebcls''
acknowledged that they had been sold, so we
marched them off to the guard-house, and
subsequently they were sent TO Columbus,
Ohio.