They specialized in anti-guerrilla warfare, counterinsurgency, dragoon style sudden attacks, hit-and-run, reconnaissance and scouting for gathering intelligence in enemy areas, and tracking targets hunt.

They were first commanded by Captain John W. Spencer of the 9th West Virginia Infantry, but he soon was replaced by two lieutenants from Ohio regiments, the 12th and 91st.

After engaging in several operations to negate the Confederate partisans, the scouts were disbanded only two months after being formed, although they did take the field briefly in December.

They used the superior firepower of their Spencer repeating rifles effectively, and initially thwarted Confederate efforts in the region.

However, on November 18, 1864, at Kabletown, West Virginia, Mosby was able to defeat Blazer's Scouts, inflicting 42 casualties, almost half of the Union force.