New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-26

balance III his bgbtnB oh "V's ""'" u.s.,
means ~ 20 North as soon aS "'o % peo'e" ou'
Dnr;ro the forenoon of the 26th, Major, Will
bite retnrued with his gang oil thieves, bringing
with them in baas a considerable quantity "
corn ond mcoI and a butcheTed call with the
al in rat an (, ich one OF the men carried 10
Gan,'T hin After dinner the entire party
STAYED north. taking u by-road that did not
veen IN hive been used For great while. Ine
canse of this movement was that Unite nfonsht
intelligence tina: the FedeIdl forces were moving
ND near Ripley, and II was feared We M'ehl NC l
run upon ny a scouting party. -
W. noved Iei-nrrlv, and passed through
U,,,a town called Bookersville, about o'clock,
mile north of which place we nailed. ~
| Lr nreconcerted Arrangements, tne whWe oahe
-; ah,ut eighty men arranged Themselves III l
souaIs each Of which wasaddressed by captain
Jseihers. iu a lengthy string Of orders, ahout 4
where they should stay for tho night, and a.
what hour they should rendezvous. lhefeupoD, |
each squad, under its respective leader, "heele"
oT in different 4 rcctions. ard was gone. THIS
va, m. Grst time | had noticed that there were
other suho.iinaies in the command than TIE Que
already mentioned; and there was much oil lhc
| Mdicrous in the association OF military efaeis
with the ungainiy swk Yardness OF the yariouri!
dressed h ~
v went with White, Leathers, and TWO
Others to o log cabir about bslf mile OIL 10
the right, which was inhabited by single
negrO.inan, q copper -cOlorrd mulatto VINO,
! learned next day, claims to be con Of CALVERT
the Indian who, fifty years ago, Kept the Only
/ ferry on Tennessee river, and MAS the owner OF
> more than ono hundred slaves. Tho negro was
a sinister, sneaking looking fellow. with the
| oogncmcn of Baptiste. At Wihitss request ne
: prepared very acceptable srppe- for US with
bis own hands. After supper ! discovered tom
3 the current conversation. that he Tu ore ot the
chief scouts for the guerrss, and also protested
2 land believe Vas) clarner VI snases ani 3
I curer Of snake bites. Have you got any pets
D about the house to-day" asked White. "Oniy
Z ore this time, sfh," nnswcred tho negro, and
without another word be took OF his hat, when
! he bad not before removed, took out oil IL
! dirty rag, aud then carefully drew forth great
f squirting snake which he held up Tor us to see.
. The familiar way in which lie handled The rep
o tile, made me thrill from head to foot. Winnie
touched it with stick, at which il struck with
i. the quiokncss of lightning, but although tbs
j was repeated several times, IT made 40 attempt
70 bite the negro's hand After while he 70
!. placed it in his nat. putting it down carefully
I with both hands, covered IL up With the rag,
{ and put the hat on bis head agsn.
q We slept on the aoOr that night, and before
sunrise had broasfssted aud returned to the rem
D dergous, whore many Of the men had sre'dy
b arrived. That uay We crossed the EemPhis auu
l. Charleston railroad near Chcwalla Station, and
e changed direction 10 the west stopping for din
II ner at q plantation Just north OF hidIietown,
Il where, being somewhat acquainted with Tue
70 country, my hopes Of escaping hr't began u
e nrise--and went into camp (Wbich consisted
% merely Of picketing the horses, sending scouts
s oas AID sl.t;ng Oh the ground shout Zen lniles
4 north Of Salisbury. and few IN. 20 cast 0i the
d Columbus railroad. could not help thinking
d how near our scouting pa-tics may frequently
DO 10 the cts Of their search, without seeing
It them. have no doubt that the Federal cavai'
~ is oftea within stones throw OF these near
:. nate devils without knowing It. Although II
/ wa now not later than 4 O'Clock, We had sTav'
eled about so milss.
III On tie road that day made some inquiries
n Of Capt Leathers concerning The negro VIII
= whom We had stopped Tho night before sno
3 learned that be il noted character IN N"rtAeri
o Mississippi. ard is looked upon by Genera For
It rest as worry important man. Leathers sac
~ that he cosld go in tho woods any day H'lc
IS by making signs and Luinrning, call all the
d snakes in hearing up Ia bIm-that lac generally
z has from six u dozen about him, ard that nc
st shake can be provoked 10 bite HIM Ills dew 80
Art has often been used t0 extort revelations and
g confessions from PRISONERS and suspecied per-
K sons--thcy being tied and be threatening them
v with his snakes by holding them nearly close
o enough 10 bite thenl until tie required COMICS
O sion Wa made. IL il said THAI he ha never TAIL
l. ed To cure the bite of u snahe, yet Ia one has
: found out anything about the manner IN which
he does il. The whole Of this story was too
o much Tor my crednllty, but OF tse iact that The
, D1u,atto exercises come strange coltIOl over al
9 least one snake, / have MY own eyes ~ wit
{ neas.
: Just as the moon was rising was reused mp
& by q Com.nOtion in camp and heard Willie
o give the order for the p!ckets 10 be called in.
d This indicated another move. and remained
= quiet " hear snd see. Many OF the men were
o already mounted, and by the time the pickets
d came in, the whole command was in the ssdule.
!, l got up, unhitched my mule, aud went 10 some
o trouble TO make my preparations for mounting
: as conspicuous ~ possible In moment more
< tho whole party WAS rapidly disappearing IN
p pairs ard directly stOod alone IN tho dark.
= Afraid 10 again trust my late to the bray OF Il
l mule, | confronted him with the rcins in one
hand aud club in the other determined To
b knock him down II j detected Linn even in
= taking 81 awkward breath. After waiting until
9 the sound Of the horses lee, died away, took
t the saddle from his back, slipped his bride Off
I threw it on the ground, and taking few hasty
4 observations, started through tbs woods on foot
= taking direction that Fad renson To believe
: would lead to road. The roads followed, the
: assistance received from citizens. aud other SUBJ
8 sequent details cannot be related without lay
C ing those who kindly aided me in reaching the
o Federal lines liable 10 be found out by the guer.
8 rillas. Suffice 1t 10 say that l Travelled all
c night slowly and cautiously, gnd next after
s noon (25th) was placed inside the lines near The
p railroad, and was kindly Furnished free pasa