Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-07-08

tShen TOO mucn. AS soon n he
got a sight of Blazers people he
dashed out of the ranks and fired
off his pistol. This attracted Bla-
zer's attention and gave him notice
of Richards position.
Blazer. always ready for fight.
now came rapidly forward. hating
at stone fence when within
seventy-five yards of Richards.
probably To make 4 gap To pass
through. Richards supposed it was
for the purpose of dismounting his
men and fighting them on foot he
hind the stone wall. My men were
only armed with pistols, Blazer
with carbineS and pistols. Mine
had been trained never to stand
still Ia receive charge but To al
ways go at full speed against the
enemy. Ietthey could not charge
over a stone wall to get at Blazer.
and I'M their position they were de
/ fenselesS against his rifles. The
moment was critical; retrograde
movement under fire. when men
do not understand the reason of il.
IT apt To result i'm confusion and
panic, Richards ordered Harry
Hatcher commanding Company 4.
to fall back short distance over
the hill, ~ rs To force Blazer to
come out of the woods and from
behind the wall into the open.
l1lazer, seeing this movement.
mistOok IL for retreat and dashed
forward through 4 gap i'm the fence.
Tom Richards. commanding Com
panN b. seized the situation nj a
glance. Without waiting orders.
ne charged Blazer Just n he cot
through the gap. This was sur
prise To Blazer; he had mistaken 4
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 on, his
ranks. Harry hatcher charged
with Company \, and soon all was
over with Captain Blazer. His men
gave way and took To flight. At
one point he made fruitleSs effort
t. rally them. hut in vain. They
kept ON in headlong retreat. Pur-
Wear had been captured few hours
leforc, and aS -poa asthc fight be
'c:'n Ice lluocked Il, vn hi guard and
"-'~spr''. .s-ttl-.,one of my men,
= .hnny Foster. came up and gave
3 .Aa ii~tcl. puryear had been
~ oilc treated whilca prisoner
Iva i.i'"ncAant Cole: hc was the
IA. t. h.l, IA the chase. anil Lieu
& n.ni t'"t. was killed. Puryear
Vas 'n'icun - for all the indigni-
tl"S Lr Aa received from him.
Blazer WIS Si,lcndidly mounted.
and his only hope was in the speed
of his horse. sgd Ferguson, Sam
Alexander. Captain Maddux. and
Powell. four of my best men. were
following like hounds on his heels.
and for some time they ran neck
and neck. \ solitary horseman i'm
front WAS plunging the rowels of
his spurs into the TANKS of his
painting Stred. He wore a blue over
coat which concealed his insignia
of rank. SO they did not suspect
who il WAS. At last Syd's fast horse
forged ahead: hc left his compan-
ions far behind. and overlook the
fleeing horScman. Sgd had emptied
already every barrel of his two
slX-shOOterS. Although but a boy
IN years, he was an athlete in
strength. For very few seconds
he and his flying enemy rode side
by side; Blazer crouched and laid
his head ON the neck of his horse.
sgd rose in his stirrups and struck
hima tremendous blow on the head.
The man tumbled to the ground.
sgd never halted 10 find out the
effect of the blow. as there were
still a few bluecoats ahead, and he
was bent on catching them. The
other three men behind sgd passed
the man lying fiat on his face; they
did not stop. for on an occasion of
this sort their motto was 10 %let the
dead bury the dead" and they
thought sgd had killed him. At
last the pursuit was over, and they
started back To where the fight had
commenced. They came upon the
man whom sgd had knocked off
his horse, still lying prone on his !
face hy the way-side, The men
called to him. but received no an
Swer, sgd thought his blow might
have stunned, but could not believe