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

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tain Mountjoy. and two of my men.
Braxton and Bedell. were killed.
BraSton was grandson of a signer
OF the Declaration of independence.
and Bredell was son of a wealthy
merchant of st. Louis.
As we hadn't gone hunting sspe-
cially for Blazer. because we could
easily find every day all the peo-
pie we wanted To fight, he had got
ten the impression that my men
avoided meeting him. This was
really the cause of his downfall.
| was great deal vexed about the
affair of Mountioy's which attrib-
uted TO carelessness.
Early army had now withdrawn
from the lower valley. Sheridan
had taken Il defensive attitude and
gone into winter quarters and ac-
tive operations had ceased between
the main armies. | determined
then tn turn my attention tn Blazer
for n season, and not allow him to
become naturalized citizen i'm that
region. My plan was Ia take two
SquadronS over To the valley
under Chapman or Dolly Richards
to cross the ridge at AShby'S Gap.
and | with the other at Smokers
Gap-and to keep up communica-
tons by means of couriers. while
scouts went on ahead To keep us
informed Of Blazers movements.
In this way | intended To camp ON
his trail until we closed i'm on him.
On the day my command got ready
for the expedition was suffering
with 4 severe cold and fever. 80
Chapman was sent one WAY with
ms squadron and Richards i'm an
other direction with the other. In
each squadron there were about
seventy or eighty men. Ii was a
matter of Indifference 10 me which
should come first in contact with
Blazer Ii was hlack-gum against
thunder. but | knew what the re-
suit would he. The men felt lust
aS sure before the fight OF whipping
out Old Blaze. ~ they called him.
as they did after they had done il.
IL Il plain that two such forces as
mime and Blazers could not long
move IN the same sphere. There
was bound 90 be- Il collision and =
wreck. My mca were burning Ia
efface the memories CT th,. two AL
fairs with him and avcnyo the deaf,
of their comrades. They hail nnt
understood the strategic Reason,
that had So long permitted Blazer
to rove through the valley unpun-
iShed. But the reason for tA.t
policy had ceased. Tn, men had
a proper respect for the val,r Of
Blazer. and knew that whenever
the collision came each foeman
might say aS truthfully 10 the 9th
er a Scott apoStrophized Jane,
FitziameS in the contest with Rod
erick Dhu:
/ Now. gallant Saxon. hold thine own
No maiden's hand is round thee thrown.
Two OF the best men of the com
mand, Bob Walker and DR.. Sow
erS, were sent ON in advance To
scout the country and To report if
Blazer was away from camp brows-
ing over the country. The God
desS of Fortune that had 81 long
directed the movements Of Blazer
deserted him that day-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 resolved To cross that poet
zeal stream the daughter of the
stars and To go on sort of
Chevy Chase through the hills Of
LoudOun. The scouts soon discoy-
cred this, and reported to Richards
that Blazer was vending his way
back to the valley. Richards. with
small party, went on in pursuit.
leaving the main body to he brought
up by Lieutenant Harry Hatcher,
Two scouts were sent To Cabletown,
which was known to be a favorite
camping ground of BIazer's. Ii
was here that ! came SO near catch-
ing him 4 few weeks before.
When the scouts got 10 Cabletown
Blazer had not arrived. but pretty
soon his advance came up. and be-
ing dressed In gray. surprised and
captured one Of the scents, John
Puryear. The other ESCAPED, and
reported to Richards the presence
of Blazer, and that the Iong-sought-
for quarry could be brought 10 bay.
In the meantime Rlazap haJ