The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-07-02
miscellaneous.
BLAZERS FIGHT.

They had not understood the stra-
tegic reasons that had SO long permit
ted Blazer to rove through the valley
unpublished. But the reason for that
policy had ceased The men had Il
proper respect for the valor of Blazer,
and knew that whenever the collision
came each foerlan might say as truth
fully to the other as Scott describes
James FItZj james in the contest with
Roderick Dmu:
Now, gallant Saxon, held thine own,
No maiden s hand is round thee thrown.
Two of the best men of the company,
Ron Walker and Dr. Sewers, were
sent Oh III advance to scout the coun-
try and TO report ii Blazer was away
from camp, browsing over the country.
The Goddess of Fortune that had so
long directed the movements OF Blazer
deserted him that dav-he added his
own to the experience Of others, that
tempted Fate will leave the loftiest
star" The Shenandoah river could
not bound his ambition, and he re-
solved TO cross that poetical stream
the daughter OF the stars and to 90
on IL sorU of Chevy Chase through tile
hills of Loudoun. The scouts soon
discovered this, and reported to Rich
ards that Blazer was vending his way
back to the valley. Richards, with
IL small party, went on in persuit,
leaving the main body to be brought
up by Lieutenant Harry Hatcher.
Two scouts were sent to kabletown,
which was known TO be a favOrite
camping ground of Blazers. 1t was
here that | came SO bear catching him
IL few weeks before. When the scouts
got to kabletown Blazer had not ar
rived, but pretty soon his advance
came up, and being dressed in gray,
surprised and captured one of the
scouts, John Puryear. The others es-
capped, and reported to Richards the
presence of Blazer, and that the long
sought-tor quarry could be brought to
bay.
In the meantime Blazer had learned
that Richards command was in the
neigh borhood. He was combative
fellow, and Immediately started out
to find the enemy. About the same
time Richards started by another
route to charge into Blazers camp at
kabletown. His scouts soon reported
that Blazer was hunting the tiger
He and Blazer had been travelling
around in a circle trying to find each
other, and it would not take them
long to do it. So Richards halted his
men near the road along which lie
knew Blazer was coming, but conceal
ed them behind i skirt of woods His
intention was to burst on him from
the woods when he got near, so as to
prevent Blazers men from diSInount-
ing and using their Spencer carbineS
from behind the stone fences. The
. nlnnl.y i'll diff
ing together; the collision came, the
electric bolt burst, and one vanished
forever Richards excellent plan was
| married by whiskey, Of which one of
his men had taken too much. As soon
as he got a sight of Blazers people he
dashed out OF the ranks and fired off
his pistol. This attracted Blazers at
tention and gave him notice of Rich
ards position.
| Blazer, always ready for fight, now
came rapidly forward, halting at Il
stone fence when within seventy-iive
| yards of Richards, probably TO make
gap to pass through. Richards sup
posed it was for the purpose of dis
| mounting his men and fighting them
on foot behind the stone wall. My
| men were only armed with pistols,
| Blazers with carbines and pistols.
| Mine had been trained never to stand
still to receive a charge, but to always
| 90 at full speed against the enemy.
| Yet they could not charge over a stone
wall to get at Blazer, and III their po-
sition they were defenceless against
his rifles. The moment was critical; Il
retrograde movement under fire, when
men do not understand the reason of
it, is apt to result in confusion and
panic Richards ordered Harry
| Hatcher. commanding Company A,
to fall back a short distance over the
hill, so as to force Blazer to come out
of the woods and from behind the
wall into the open.
Blazer, seeing this movement, mis-
took it for Il retreat, and dashed for
ward through Il gap in the fence
Tom Richards, commanding Company
b, seized the situation at II glance.
Without waiting for orders, he charg-
ed Blazer Just as he got through the
gap. This was Il surprise to Blazer
he had mistaken a feigred retreat foI
a flight Before he could recover his
surprise Tom Richards and his men
with their deadly revolvers, were upon
him, and rapidly thinning out hi:
ranks. Harry Hatcher charged witt
Company A, and soon all was ovel
with Captain Blazer. His men gave
way and took to flight. AT one poin'
he made fruitless effort to rally them
but in vain. They kept on in Il head
long retreat. Puvyear had been cap
tured q few hours before, and as soCl
as the fight began he knocked down
his guard and escaped. Just then ont
of my men, Johnny Foster, came Vi
and gave him pistol. Pu.year Ia,
been very badly treated while Il pris
oner by Il Lieutenant Cole; he was tin
last to halt i'll the Chase and Lieuteu
ant Cole was killed. Puryear was in
f IDENTIFIED tor all the indignities il
| had received from him.
Blazer was spleudidly mounted, ant
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