The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-08-09

w hlch, being reduced to the liardco
vernacular, means " Break ranks
March %
Ereunt Snakc-1 Hunters, on the run,
with grand advertisement of whoops,
and squcals, intorspersed with life-like
limitations of birds and beasts.
Once, when the Snake-Huntcrs were
detailed to guard some stores between
Paramount and Beverly, two elaborate
gentlemen from Philadelphia, who were
making a tour of that country, had the
good fortune to witness their very
original style of drill, and at the close
of the performance invited Captain
Baggs. to take drink in neghboring
rumery AS the tin-cups were laid out
one Of them expressed his as.ouisLmcnt,
not to say admiration, Of his peculiar
style of dismissng, which looked to
him very much like a stampede" and
was curious to know where in the world
they were all gone to, and how the
Captain expected to get them back if he
should want them in a hurry. Bags
replied that the process YVES rather diff
icu!t to explain, but 6. if they'd jest let
that 'ere rum wait a minute he'd show
EN- wEereupon, going to the door,
he fred three barrels of his revolver
The echo of the third report was still
lingering among the cliffs when every
blessed Snakc-Hunter burst mo the bar
room with a whole menagcrie of roars
and squcals and hec-haws, and without
question or apology called for tin-cups.
The demonstration Of Cap ain Baggs'
style Of % falling in" cost the elaborate
gentlemen from Philadelphia five dollars.
On one occasion, Bags made his way
in Floyd's camp, near Gaulcy Bridge,
disguised as Quaker-his suit of
home made peans surmountcd by the
regulation broad-brim, whose orthodoxy
was a;tcs ed by small Confederate flag.
On passing the pickles, his unnis;akable
innocence being countorsign enough, he
asked to be conducted to the General,
to whom he had important information
to communicate. On being admitted to
headquarters, he informed Floyd that
party Of Union men were organizing in
the neighborhood, for the purpose Of an
noying his troops and killing off pickets
that he had obtained complete knowl-
edge Of their strength and places of
rendezvous, for the purpose of catching
the m in trap-and that he had been
arrcs ed and compelled 10 take an oath
Of secrecy.
Floyd listened to him with confidence,
and pos inlrnnd m cohd ont +broo oo,,
panics, who SURF r sed the Union party,
and captured most of thcm-mcanlm Inc,
giving his Quaker fried pass through
his lines, of which the latter availed him
self without loss Of time.
But the cream of the story (Which,
you will please to observe, is the Snake
Hunters own, and not to be sworn to by
any one but hlmself) is to be found IN
he fact that the " Union party" in
question was in truth a guerrilla band,
mastering by authority of Floyd him
self.
Capt. Bags style of punishment,
like his drill, was peculiarly his own.-
lie knocked down the refractory Snake
Hunter wi h his fist, and mauled him to
his hearts content. He was once tried
for cruelty to one of his own men while
under arrest, but acquitted.
Baggs, if still alive, is sturdy, good
looking, staggering, hard-swearing fell
low, Of about six feet two inches, and
quite young
The "Jessie Scouts,' of whom you
have hror1 ond rn,d en- ,nucb rocon,b ~
the Snake-H Hunters, in their ccccntrici-
ties, their qualifications, and the nature
Of their business but the "Scouts :"
are mostly from the West (Kansas and
Missouri,) and arc mounted while the
Snake Hunters were almost exclusively
Yirginian, and operate on foot. When
last heard from, the Snake Hunters were
in the Shenandoah Valley. Apropos of
scouts Garnctt was encamped at Bel
ington, on Laurel Hill, between Fair
mount and Beverly, Lieut.. Col. Dickey,
Of the 18th Ohio, assumed the dress Of
catjle-drover, and entered his camp,
where he contracted with Garnett for
considerable supplies of beef, to be de-
llvcred at stated intervals. 1t is said
that he spent two or three days there,
experimenting the killing and dressing,
and at the same time taking noes of
Garnetts force and condition, of the
number, caliber, and position Of his
guns, the quality of his small arms, as
veil as a complete diagram of the camp.
He then procured his pass, and returned
to his own lines, where he made min
ute report to Gen. Morris.
One of the most noted guides of this
region is Jacob Baker, formerly herds
man and cattlc-dealer, | believe; and
more recen. ly a "boss" of iron furnaces.
lie is said to have rendered most impor-
tant services to our several armies in
Westarn Virginia.
Cure For FUfs.-Bathc the hand having
warts in warm water, dry with soft towel,
and touch the top Of each wart only with
aqualortis knitting needle or anything
having a small point will answer 10 take up
a small drop sufficient for each wart. In n