Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-10-18
virginia's Black Horse Troop


figured go canapicuousig at the INST oattie
of Bull Run on the Confederate eide, had lie
orlaiu sbout 1880. At that period, tie Vlr'
ainis youth, imbued with the military aplrlt
of the timer, ard 10 order to escape jury and
other unpleasant civil duties. particularly
the young men residing in the counties OF
Rsppabannock, Loudoun, FGuquler and
Pdnce William had their own troops CT cav
aIry. Tbey were mustered every month st
the county seat, and In addition pafaded
on eysry holiday of the year, Christmas, 4.h
of July, New YEARS day. and February I'D.
Besides. they attended all the fairs and bar
bscuss-u fact, turning cua Willingly on
the slightest excuse. They were uniformed
| Ia ihe old heavy dragon style, gli5teni0g,
metelio helmets, with long hOree tails hoW-
lug from the top, and these corresponded TO
the troop. Thoy wore short ickot With
two q ads behind Tor the saheT-het to rest
upon. Ths s.ber itself Was long and heavy
and the sheath was Il ioets! Iatj s!"ays
anpesred In while .ruusers, both winter and
summer-the material, OF course, varying
With the season. Their boots were high,
cavalry pattern, and from them large spurs
ling ed as they RODE a!oug
When first organized. they frequently net
in competitive dEii', both battalion and
company, aud at that time the horses of the
several troops we're not distinguished by q
oertsin color then, to make distinguish
inc mark by which the company ccc ! be
told at glance, The custom began OF hay-
ing each compsuy's horeee Of the same color,
hut each oompsny OF different color; thus
the Rsppshanuock' were bayP, Loudoun's
sreys, Prluce Williams sorrels, and Fau-
ouier's blacks. TIE first officers of these
troops were Of tho stistocratlc families OF
Powells, SINNERS, Rsndolphs, Berkeleys,
Paynef, Mercere, Mars, Slaughter, We!-
| ords, and Fauntieroye.
10 1884, when General Jackson was Pres
ident of the United States, he went down
from Washington to Fredericksburg TO assist
In ayine the corner stone OF The monument
then 10 be erected to the memory Of Mary,
the mother of WashingtoL-.o-day ne
elected ruin-and the Black Horse troup
went to Aqua creek to act as the Pfesi-
dents escort Oh the occasion. The troop
was commanded st the time by
Can't. T. T. Fauntleroy end his quarter
master was Dangerfsld Fauntleroy, q broth
er OF captain. Political party spirit ran
| very high at that time in Virginia, and the
| Black Horse from Fauquier county was the
only ore that would turn out to e5cort the
| President OF The United States. The total
strength of the company was mustered on
| that occasion, and they made handsome
appearance on their jet black ateeds. Be-
sidee, the two Faunteroys were especially
uoted for their striking appearance, as veil
as their social qualities Thus they greatly
endeared themselves to the old general and
ne highly appreciated the compliment they
had paid him. They met him a. Aqua
creek, where the boat from Washington
landei, and escorted him from that point to
Fredericksburg. and on his return TO Aqua
creek, end altogether we're with him week.
At the Presidents earnest soici!ation they
would bave gone with him to the capital, If
the boat had sufficient capacity to sccommo-
date the men and horses.
President Jackson was 80 we'll pleased
with the two officers that. after his return
10 Washington. he appointed the captain
msjcr of dragoons In the regular
ermy aud his brother 6 purser in the
navy. T. T. Fauutleroy ross to the
rsnk of colonel. He resigned when his
State seeded in 1861, but was never given
command ia the Confederate service. He
died ct The Iipe age Of So in 1883 His
brother. Daingeiheld the purser, eerved with
disiiuction until his death from yelow fever
at Pepsacola navy ysrG 10 1850.
At the breaking out of the civil war the
Black Horse troop was commanded b3 Capt.
VIM K. Payne, who became famous gen.
eral of cavalry ip The Confederate army.
One day, just after the assassination OF Pres
ident Lincoln, as Gen. Payne was passing
through Washington as o prisoner of war.
he was assaulted by furious mob. who,
learning TINT bis name was Payne, thought
be was The Payne of Florida who wss mixed
up in the murder, and but for the deter
mined bravery of the captain of the esoort
of infantry, whose name forget. Gen. Payne
would have been killed. The gallaut cap
tain, who sisked his life to save that Of
Payne, now resides Ia Warrenton with the
General. and is baoVed By sll for his con-
duct on the occasion referred to.-Rich Let
ter in atlanta Constitution