Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-08-03

mand, Bob Walker and DIR. Sewers,
| were sent on in advance to scout the
country and TO report if Blazer was
away from camp browsing over the
country, The Goddess of Fortune
that had so long directed the move
ments of Blazer deserted him that
day-he added his own to the exper-
ience of others, that tempted Fate
will leave the loftiest STAR The
Shenandoah river could not bound
his ambition, and he resolved to
cross that poetical sire am the
daughter of the stars and to 90
on sort of Chevy Chase through
the hills of Loudoun. The scouts
soon discovered this, and reported to
Richards that Blazer was vending
his wav back to the valley. Richards,
with a small party, went on in pur-
suit, leaving the main body to be
brought up by Lieutenant Harry
Hatcher. Two scouts we're sent TO
Kabletown, which was known to be n
favorite camping ground of Blazers.
When the scouts got to Kabletown
Blazer had not arrived, but pretty
soon his advance came up, and being
dressed in gray, surprised and cap
tured one of the scouts, John Pur-
year. The other escaped, and re-
ported to Richards the presence of
Blazer, and that the long-sought-for
quarry could be brought to bay.
In the meantime Blazer had
learned that Richards command was
in the neighborhood. He was COM
bative 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 he knew Blazer was coming,
woods. His intention was 10 burst
on him from the woods when he got
near, so as TO prevent Blazers men
from dismounting and using their
Spencer carbineS from behind the
stone fences. The two thunder
clouds were rapidly drifting togeth-
er; the collision came, the electric
bolt burst, and one vanished forever.
Richards excellent plan WAS maTred
by whiskey, of which one of his men
had taken too much. AS soon as he
got sight of Blazers people he
dashed out of the ranks and fired off
his pistol. This attracted Blazer
attention and gave him notice of
Richardss' position.
Blazer, always ready for fight,
now came rapidly forward, halting at
a stone fence when within seventy
five yards of Richards, probably to
make n gap to pass through. Rich
ards supposed it was for the purpose
of dismounting his men and fighting
them on foot behind the stone wall.
Ny men were only armed with pis-
tolls, Blazers with carbines and pis-
tolls. Mine had been trained never
to stand still to receive charge, but
to always go at full speed against the
enemy. Yet they could not charge
over q stone wall to get at Blazer,
and in their position they were de-
feuceless against his rifles. The mo-
ment was critical; aretrograde move
ment under fire, when men do not
understand the reason of it, is apt to
result in confusion and panic, Rich
ards ordered Harry Hatcher, COM
manding Company A, to fall back n
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 move
ment, mistook it for q retreat, and
dashed forward through gap in the
fence. Tom Richards, commanding
Company b, ssized the situation at a
glance. Without waiting for orders,
he charged Blazer just as he got
through the gap. This was a sur
prise to Blazer; he had mistaken a
feigned retreat for a flight. Before
he could recover from his surprise
Tom Richards and his men, with their
deadly revolvers, were upon him, and
rapidly thinning out his ranks. Har-
~ Hatcher charged with CompanyA,
and soon all was over with Captain
Blazer. His men gave way and took
to flight. AT one point he made
fruitless effort TO rally them, but in
vain. They kept on in headlong
retreat. Puryear had been captured
q few hours before, and as soon as
the fight began he knocked down his
guard and escaped. just then one
of my men, Johnny Foster, came up
and gave him pistol. Puryear had
been very badly treated while pris-
oner by Lieutenant Cole; he was
the last to halt in the chase, and
Lieutenant Cole was killed. Puryear
was Unidentified for all the indignities
he had received from him.
Blazer was spIendidly mounted,
and his only hope was in the speed of
his horse. sgd Ferguson, Sam Alex
ander, Cab. Maddux, and Powell,
four of my best men, were following
like hounds on his heels, and for
some time they ran neck and neck.
A solitary horseman in front was
pIunging the rowels of his spurs INTO
the fanks of his painting steed. He
wore a blue overcoat. which con-
ceaIed his insignia of rank, so they
did not suspect who it was. At last
Syd's fine horse forged ahead; he
left his companions far behind, and