The Washington herald., 1914-11-22

Blazers command was effected by a
practically equal number OF the enemy.
1t was a short, fierce encounter, savage
in some of its details, and illustrating as
a whole the desperate character of the
warfare that was now being waged be-
tween the Rangers and the Federals.
During the grand operations in the
valley Gen. Sheridan had not undertaken
to send a large force against Mosby, but
had assigned Capt. Blazer, who belonged
to the Ninety-first Ohio Infantry. to the
task of riding against the Rangers.
Blazer was a hardy fighter. He picked
lO5 similar men from Gen. George Crook 5
army corps They were chiefly West Vir-
ginians With these he secured the
country between Winchester and the
fords of the Shenandoah.
Mosby's command had grown in
strength, however. until it mustered
about 800 men. From his base east Of the
Blue Ridge Mountains the Ranger chief
sent bands OF about 100 mr n. each by diff
ferent routes, into the valley. As each
band was equal in strength to Blazers
command. none avoided a meeting with
the Federal scouts. At times however,
the commands were split into smaller de-
tachments
Blazer had twice engaged such detach-
ments to the discontinue of the Rangers.
This led Mosby to order two of his COM
panies. under Capt. A. c. Richards, ito
hunt Blazer up and go through him.
Each Side Sought Fight.
Richards command numbered 10 men.
They rode across the Blue Ridge on No
vember II, by Smokers Gap. Crossing
the Shenandoah at their old crossing
place, Castlemans Ferry, they camped
for the night in the woods on the old
Castleman estate.
Two scouts sent out to find the enemy
discovered them, early in the morning of
November IS near Kabletown, a few
miles down the river toward Harpers
Ferry. They numbered 1G5 men.
One of the scouts, Lieut.. John W. Pur-
year. was captured. The other, named
McDonough, escaped through taking
timely alarm and riding hard in a fog.
1t was well for him he was not captured,
as he was a desperate with an old record
against him, and hanging would have
been his portion If he had been captured
The capture of Puryear developed one
of the ugly phases Of this kind of war
fare. The Federals attempted to force
him to divulge the whereabouts of his
command. He refused. They put a rope
around his neck and drew him up to the
limb of a tree. When he was near
strangling they let him down, and again
questioned him. Again he refused the de-
SlreQ information. Inc process was re-
peated several times Finally he was re-
leased from the torture
When McDonough brought news Of the
proximity of Blazers scouts, the Rangers
took the saddle and rode northward to
find their enemies. Near Kabletown they
came upon a camp that appeared to have
been but recently and temporarily aban-
doned.
The Fedearls, in fact, had moved out
hastily in search Of the Rangers and
were then but a short distance on A
couple of cavalrymen riding across a field
betrayed the direction they had taken.
Slain After Surrender.
The Ranger captain now planned an at
tack. Dividing his force, he concealed
one company. and with the other took
the open, to draw the Federals into pur-
suit Of him.
The plan worked well The Federals
promptly attacked, charging the exposed
company. As they did SO the concealed
company charged them in flank.
In the beginning Of the fight the Fed
erals had the advantage, as they were
armed with seven-shooting Spencer car
bines, while their opponents had only
pistols. The Rangers forced the fighting
to close quarters, and a desperate hand
to-hand struggle ensued.
In this the treatment Of the captured
Ranger Puryear had bloody sequel. At
the beginning Of the charge Puryear
struck down his guard, seized his pistol