The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-12-06
A BRILLIANT EXPLOIT BY MOsBY'S
MEN.

Go,ture ofn Guerilla Hunter.-One Captain
Rlazer a man remarkable for skill aud courage,
was some time since, detailed from the infantry OF
the Yankee army to operate as guerrilla hunter
in Northern Virginia He.was given lieutenant
and eighty picked mounted men, armed with
Spencer carbines, and directed to devote himself
especially to the capture of Mosby's men. In the
course of several months by ndefatigabe scoutiL g,
he has managed to pick up number OF detached
squads and Individual member Of Colonel Mosby S
command, and has made for himself creditable
reputation for energy and vigilance, both In the
Valley and in Northern Virginia east of the Blue
Ridge But, hitherto, it has never been his for
tune to encounter an enemy equal TO himself in
numbers Of late, he has been expressing himself
as painting to encounter some lnnEmerable, unllm-
tied numbers Of guerillas. The fufllment of his
wish, as will be seen, was not long delayed.
Last Friday, Captain 2. A Richards, command
ing companies 4 and i, first squadron of Mosby's
command, made an expedition into Clarke to hunt
up and to do battle with the doughty Blazer, if the
latter SO willed it. On reaching the neighborhood
of Cabletown, seven miles west Of Smokers gap,
scouts reported Blazer and bis force advancing from
the direction Of Winchester Captain Richards
drew up his men in line of battle and awaited his
approach. Blazer beralded his advent with a
shower Of bullets from the Spencer carbines and
then rushed down upon troops. Captain
Richards instead Of awaiting his onset, determined
to meet him in full career; and when the enemy
was fifty yards distant, gave the order for his
to charge 1t has since been ascertained that
Blazer believed himself attacking greatly inferior
force, who would fly before his first onslaught. He
discovered his error too late to him from its
consequences. The opposing squadrons rushed
together with crash. There was a momentary
struggle, an uproar Of shouts and the report Of
firearms. Blazers men gave way before the valor
Of our troops and attempted to themselves byi
flight. On one side of the road was wood; on
the other, fence, enclosing fields The fusitives
made for gap in this fence; number were shot
down before reaching it; others succeeded III reach
ing the field, holly pursued by our men. A pur-
suit and running fight was kept up for four miles,
our men never hating until Blazers organization
was destroy d-himself and his men either killed,
captured or dispersed in the woods. The whole
affair lasted not more than twenty minules. In
this brief time, Captain Richards had captured
Blazer and thirty of his men, killed outright thirty
others, among whom was his lieutenant, and scat
tered the few remaining members Of his troops to
the winds. Blazer admits that he was beaten and
broken up in a fair fight.
The strangest part Of this story is the small loss
sustained by our men. We had one man killed |
and FIVE slightly wounded. The latter are believed
to have been shot by our in the excitement Of
the charge and the pursuit.
Captain Blazer and eighteen Of his command ar
rived in this city ia charge of priVates John A. |
Payne and Harry Shand, company b. Mosbys |
command. The rest Of the Yankees captured in !
this fight were too badly wounded to be removed |
from the neighborhood Of the battle field
Captain Richards force numbered one hundred |
men; Blazers eighty odd-Richmond Dispatch.