The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-10-30
virginia's Black Horse Troop.

| - >~A>~O~e SAO~SO
The celebrated Black Horse cavalry,
which figured so conspicuously ut the
first battle of Bull Run on the Cen
federate side, had its origin in 1880. AT
that period the Virginia youth, imbued
| with the military spirit of the times, and
in order to escape jury and other un-
pleasant civil duties, particularly the
young men residing in the counties OF
Rappahannock, Loudoun, Fauquier and
Prince William, had their own troops OF
cavalry. They were mustered every
month at the county seat, and in addi-
ton paraded on every holiday of the
year. Christmas, 4th of July, New Years
day, and February %. Besides, they at
tended all the fairs and barbecues-in
fact, turning out willingly on the slight
est excuse. They were uniformed in the
old heavy dragon style, glistening, me-
talic helmets, with long horse tails flow
ing from the top, and these correspond
ed to the troop. They wore short jack
ct with two wads behind for the saber-
belt to rest upon. The saber itself was
long and heavy and the sheath was of
metal. They always appeared in white
trousers, both winter and SUMMERTIME
material of course, varying with the sea-
son. Their boots were high, cavalry pat
tern, and from them large spurs jingled
as they rode along.
When first organized. they frequently
~ In, ~ l.
and company, and at that time the hor-
ses of the several troops were not dis
tinguished by certain color; then, to
make distinguishing mark by which
the company could be told at glance,
the custom began of having each com
pany's horses of the same color, but each
company of different color; thus, the
Rappahanock's. were bays, Loudoun's
grey's, Prince Williams sorrels, and Eau
quier's blacks, The first officers of these
troops were of the aristocratic families
of Powells, SINNERS, Randolphs, Berke-
leys, Paynes, MERGERS, Mars, Slaught-
ers, Welfords, and Fauntleroys.
In 1894, when General jackson was
President of the United States, he went
down from Washington to Fredericks-
burg to assist in laying the corner stone
of the monument then to be erected to
the memory Of Mary the mother of Wash
ington-to day neglected ruin--and the
Black Horse troup went to Aqua creek
to act as the Presidents escort on the
oecasion: The traap was commanded at
the time by Capt. 7. T. Fauntleroy, and
his quartermaster was Dangerfield
Fauntleroy, a brother of the Captain
Political party spirit ran very high at
that time in Virginia and the Black
Horse from Fauquier county was the
only one that would turn out to escort
the President of the United States The
total strength of the company was must
cred on that occasion, and they made a
handsome appearance on their jet black
steeds. Besides, the two Fauntleroys
were especially noted fer their striking
appearance, as we'll as their social quail
ties. Thus they greatly endeared them
selves to the old general and he highly
appreciated the compliment they had
paid him. They met him at Aqua creek,
where the boat from Washington landed,
and escorted him from that point to
fredericksburg, and on his return to
Aqua creek, and altogether were with
him week. At the Presidents earnest
solicitation they would have gone with
him to the CAPITOL, II the boat had suffi-
GENT capacity to accommodate the men
and horses.
President Jackson was SO well pleased
with the two officers that, after his re-
turn to Washington, he appointed the
captain q major Of dragons in the neg4-
lar army and his brother q purser in the
navy. t. T. Fauntleroy rose to the rank
of Colonel. He resigned when the State
seeded in 1861, but was never given a
command in the Confederate SERVICE
He died at the ripe age of SO. His broth
or, Dangerfeld, the purser, served with
distinction until his death from yelloW
fever at Pensacola navy yard in 1855.
| At the breaking out of the civil war
the Black Horse troop was commanded
by Capt. VIM. H. Payne, who became q
famous general of cavalry In the Confed-
crate army. One day, just after the as
sassination of President Lincoln, as Gen.
Payne was passing through Washington
as prisoner of war, he was assaulted by
q furious mob, who, learning that his
name was Payne, thpHght be was the
Payne OF Florida who was mixed up In
the murder, and but for the determined
bravery OF the captain of the escort of
infantry, whose name forget, General
Payne would have been killed. The gal
liant captain, who risked his life to save
that Of Payne, now resides in Warren
ton with the General, and is beloved by
all for his conduct on the occasion refer
| red to-Rich. Letter in atlanta Consti-
tutdoR: