Blazer’s Scouts at Kabletown

A tribute to the brave

By C.C. Gaylord

The following is an account of a battle fought between Capt. Richard Blazer’s Independent Union Scouts and a detachment of Col. J. S. Mosby’s Partisan Rangers.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league through,
All in the Valley of Death
Rode Sixty-two.
“Forward, my noble scouts!
Charge for the Rebs!” he shouts.
Into the Valley of Death
Rode Sixty-two.

“Forward, my noble scouts!”
Is there a man who doubts?
Not though the soldier knew
They were out-numbered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Boldly rode Sixty-two
Against three hundred.

Rebel to right of them,
Rebel to left of them,
Rebel in front of them
Their pistols drew;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode, and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode Sixty-two.

Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the Rebels there,
Charging an army
With such a few.
Plunged in the rifle smoke
Right through the Rebs they broke;
Confed and Ranger
Reeled from the sabre-stroke
Battered and blue.
Then they rode back, but not,
Not Sixty-two.

Rebel to right of them,
Rebel to left of them,
Rebel behind them
Volleyed and slew;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came back through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Of Sixty-two.

When can their glory fade?
Oh, the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour that noble crew!
Honour the Sixty-two
Against three hundred.