Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1891-08-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
a story OF the War.

- SlObY y OI1ltlC WAL
Thofollowing interesting account of the cap
ture of Capt Blazer we take from the Nashville
Christian ADVOCATE. The young ranger, then
in his teens, who knocked Blazer from his
horse aud took him prisonerwas no other than
Rev. 8. g. Ferguson, now the worthy Presid-
ing Elder of this district, NJ, E. Church South.
BE seems to have been as powerful in battle
with the enemies of his country as he is now
in the pulpit with the enemies of his Lord and
Master:
East of the Blue Ridge mountain, In the
State otYirginia, Is n beautiful section of coun-
try embraced within the boundaries of Fauquier
and Loudoun counties, which during the late
war was known as " MosbY's Confederacy," !"
so called because that daring military genius
kept there for more than two years of the war,
in the rear of the lines of the Federal army,
several hundred men. From this section he
made frequent raids into the surrounding conn
ties. often crossing the Blue Ridge and making
attacks upon the Federal forces in the lower
counties of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley
Clarke, Frederick, jefferson and Berkeley.
The scene which we are about to give to the
readers of the AdrocGte took place in Jefferson
beautiful sections of the famous valley. In the
early summer of 1864 there appeared in this
section one hundred picked Federal cavalry
men, mounted on fine horses, and commanded
by man from the Slate of Ohio who was
known as Capt. Blazer He had been given
the special work of watching that portion of
Clarke and Jefferson counties extending along
the Shenandoah river, which sweeps the west
ern base of the Blue Ridge mountain. The
object in assigning him TO this special duty
was that he might keep an eye on Mosby, and
prevent his raids upon the camps and trains
along the highways of travel Like the man
whom he was sent to watch, Blazer was bold,
shrewd and quick TO net, but not the equal OF
the Confederate whose movements he was to
shadow. The men were quite unlike In per-
sonal appearance. The Confederate ranger
was small, not Weighing over 1870 pounds,
quick, wiry in his movements tile Federal
captain was nearly six feet tall, weighing 100
pounds, of compact and powerful build, and
had one cross eye.
Several times during the summer above
named, he surprised portions of Mosby's COM
mand and routed them. 1t was currently re-
ported that Capt. Blazer was to he rewarded
with brigadier-generalship If he captured
Mosby. After several surprises from him the
rangers were ever looking out for him, as they
did not know when or where he would turn up
Several times he crossed the Blue Ridge noun
tain and invaded Loudoun county, aud not un-
frequently caught some of the Confederates
who were out as scouting parties.
The first part of November 1854, found two
companies of MosOy's command in jefferson
county, near the Shenandoah river, and not
far from the little hamlets of Kabictown and
Myerstown. Early in the morning while these
two companies were in piece of woods,
standing by their horses while they were eating
some corn aud fodder, one of the command
who was daring scout, dashed into camp, his
horse painting and wet with sweat, and re-
ported that his companion had been captured,
and he had been saved only by the superior
speed of his horse. Capt Richard, who wac
afterward major of the battalion, and since
the war member of the Court of Appeals of
Kentucky. was In command of the squad, and
he quickly bridled his horse, and rode along
the line while the horses were feeding, and
called to him six men to go with him to ascer-
tain the strength and location of the enemy
They moved as rapidly as prudence would al
low, and had not gone a mile before they saw
of woods just east of the Kabletown church,
Capt. Richard disrnounted from his horse and
crept along the fence to a hill where there was
house, and where he could get better view
of the camp, as well as get information as TO
the strength of the force he was soon to en-
gage in battle.
He soon returned and stated that it was Bla-
zer's command. Capt. Richard and the six
mon with him moved quickly down the hill,
and halted on the bottom land near the river
and sent one man with instructions to Lieuten-
ant H- to come as quickly as he could with
the squadron. In a short while the squadron
moved down on the bottom, and all men were
formed in line. This done, the captain order.
ed Sergeant j. to move down the lire and
pick out the tried and true men and put them
In front, as he wanted quick and decided
charge. The enemy having won a reputation
for grit, this YVES piece of good geueralship
The captain then stated to his men that they
were quite near the camp of the enemy, and
gave orders that no one should speak louder
than a whisper; that he was going to move
directly to the camp and then charge them
and when he approached the camp he Rantss
no one to yen until he yelled, and then he
wanted every man TO yell as loud a. he could
and keep It up, aud rush on the camp With al
speed and power, and force surrender in .
abort time. (What terror the old Confederate
yeII sent into the ranks of the enemy y The
familiar command - Forward !" in low tone
was given, and tho rangers moved on, follow
1 ing the road down the Shenandoah river until
they reached point below the camp Of the
/ enemy. which was q little moro than hall
| mile-y OF them. Here they turned shortly
70 the lett, ascending long bin, then into =
Ipisce Of woods apa acgOss Q Iiiils hollow the