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Based on experiences from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, it has been proven that insurgencies are very difficult to defeat, particularly if the insurgents have the support of the local population. Countering such insurgencies requires individuals with unique skills, using resources from intelligence data to good relations with hostile territories. A notable example of this is the American counterinsurgency formed from a group known as Blazer’s Scouts, an often overlooked company of Ohio Confederate manhunters.
Lieutenant Richard Blazer and his Scouts were a group of war heroes who demonstrated crucial skills in unconventional warfare. They moved silently in the rugged terrain of West Virginia’s Appalachia, tracking and combating insurgents deep within Southern lines. Despite a somewhat disheveled appearance and quirks in his command style, Blazer proved to be a reliable leader, always quickly ready for action and committed to his men.
A crucial factor that made this unit successful was their ability to recruit excellent marksmen and skilled woodsmen, forming an elite unit of various Ohio Infantry Regiments known as the Legion of Honor. This unit was later referred to as the Blazer’s Independent Scouts.
Among their many encounters, one notable incident regards a band of Confederate guerrillas known as Thurmond’s Rangers, who had been causing trouble for the Union Army in West Virginia. These incidents served as training and made Blazer’s Scouts proficient in hunting guerrilla warriors such as John S. Mosby and his Rangers.
Apart from their combat skills, Blazer’s Scouts also understood the importance of intelligence gathering. They would question locals to acquire small pieces of information, which when pieced together, could provide significant insights. This in-field detective work and swift decision-making were vital in their missions.
The full story of Blazer’s Scouts, as well as the rest of the tales featuring Lincoln’s special forces hunting Confederate leaders, would be covered in detail in the upcoming book, “The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations.” This book will highlight the drama of the irregular guerrilla warfare that changed the course of the Civil War and helped create modern U.S. special operations in World War II.
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