I’m here in Jones County, Mississippi, to breathe in the historical vapors left by Newton Knight, a poor white farmer who led an extraordinary rebellion during the Civil War. One of them is titled Sal Batree, after the place he wants to show me.
At first I mistook him for a preacher, but he’s a retired electronic engineer who writes self-published novels about the rapture and apocalypse. A tall white man with a deep Southern drawl, Gavin has a stern presence, gracious manners and intense brooding eyes. Gavin leads me through the woods to one of the old swamp hide-outs. With two rat terriers trotting at his heels, and a long wooden staff in his hand, J.R.
