The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-24

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The truth is, the bold riders OF IN;
region. had for many years enjoyed
reputation for knighty qualities skilf'
horsemanship and a love OF adventure
The writer well recollects the lnteres
with which he once witnessed, at
Famous watering place the Fauqui'
springs. the traditional tastes OF some Q
these very gentlemen in their successe
at the friendly and picturesque joust
then so fashionable at that place c Hlnym'
these were the Ashbys. the Jones oree', -
Paynes, and others. Inc ,r me :,
the sturdy race OF Browns. whose Hr
ginal finding. we are told. was IN w
old English county OF Berks, ana VIM
a t ILL., IN d part ,S 0 n Vale Of the White
horse" a name due 70 the pfesei,po 49,. o'
an ancient relic. the figure OF a hors ~
| carved out from Gin OF chaLn, !.
cemmemcration OF Grea ~ az q thorson1
| wears ago by which tne power OF TIE
| Danes in England was forever destroyer.
II was represe9tdR. i'gby 81 sme whose
| sturdy career at that famous school
| has been made the theme OF n classic
| among modern Biographical sketches,
aaS nIuc esl ssha manhood no y'''''''' VI
| Nv a curious coincidence. several Of
the officers Of the Black Iorse troop are
known 10 be directly descended from
some Of the Saxon-knights, whose stan
dard was the banner OF the white
Horse" at the time their clans under
Hengist and Horsa. landed upon the
shores OF England, and contributed TO
the defeat OF the Danes. One would,
therefore, conclude that our modern
troop OF Virginia hOrsemen would have
chosen the pale device OF their heroic
ancestors. rather than the ouSky u,ie'
now so well known to history. The ques-
tion has been frequently asked, how TINS
name originated, and therefore requires
explanation. An impression at hrst
prevailed that all the animals IN the
discovered that II would have been Inn
% ssible 10 procure 50 many horses or
this color in all tfat country. Others
thought II was derived from some sort
OF insignia or badge OF this dismal hue,
suggestive of the military policy to be
observed by the fierce riders OF the corps,
should they ever be called into service
This also was mistake. For some
wears before the civil war actually be-
gan. a small band OF patriotic gentle
men Of Fauquier county had been OBJ
serving the drift Of public sentiment in
the North. upon the slavery question:
II appeared 10 them that the continued
agitation OF this exciting subject. both
I'm the halls Of the National Legislature
and among the people. must eventually
end in war between the states. They
were. at that time. so far In advance
Of their contemporaries that they opened
a correspondence on the subject, with |
state dgnitaries and others, recon- |
Tending The policy Of enSendering and |
a military spirit over the |
IF raising military company. 1t was !
he idea of the leaders in this early local |
that a cavalry company |
would best suit the taste Of their com |
nunity and that the flag or device should |
,e the figure Of horse. The question |
hen came up as to the color of the |
nimal. Under the circumstances mar
ated above. the banner Of the White
how nIA tod hut
IS the chief movers were the open and
ocided advocates Of the negro slave
ystem as It then existed, and as one
Z them was a conscientious believer IN
he policy Of re-Opening the slave trade
was mutually agreed that II would
q more consistent with their opinions
nd purposes. TO name their new COM
any the "Black- Horse Troop"
This then was the origin Of the unique
tie bestowed upon cavalry company
D organized in 1855. in a lawyers Office
t Warrenton. and which was destined
he future one war va ' Mr. io' John Scott
-ho had been one Of the chief actors in
ne scheme. was elected captain, Rob
TT Randolph was made first lieutenant,
harles. Gordon second lieutenant, and
ompany vas now ready for service
hen it should be called upon. In due
me the anticipations of our ardent
Dung Nirgfnians were realized. The pro-
|
un in the extreme South. 1t Will be
ecOllected that many people believed
hat Virginia would never leave the
MON. Captain Scott was one Of these,
'Ould at least he slow in joining the |
Outhern COnfederacy. he resigned the
)mmand Of his troop in February, 1861
nd offered his services to President
ON the following 18th Of April. how
'er, Virginia decided to join her sister |
ates of the South. and the news had
arcely reached Fauquier county when
e Black-Horse troop, under Lieutenant
made a dash to capture Har-
RS Ferry. In this attempt they failed,
It continued to linger near this I'M
,rtant post until ordered back to Eau
Ter springs, by the Governor, to COM
etc their organization. preparatory TO
ing mustered into service. To do this
r to Captain Scott. In the meantime
gentleman Of as much modesty as
crit had enlisted as a private In the
mpany. When the election came on, he
On. and the vote OF the men being
united, It was found that William II.
iyne had been chosen commander OF
e troop. Soon after this captain Payne
az ordered to Mana ssas, and from that
ace to Fairfax Courthouse, where the
owitzers first met the Black Horse
ooD,N AS narrated in our former article.
We have seen how the company served
mac under Bonham how ii formed a
TT Of the cavarly escort on the retreat
the lines at Buil Run. how its reDutd-
N had impressed the Federals and how
ey had an almost supersttious terror :
it's prowess. This was now to be in
eased in the future operations at Man
ss8s. From the activity and ubiqutous
bits of the corps. its numerical strength Z
d been greatly magnihed by the enemy. d
lie significance of its uncommon and | g
ggestive name had much IMPRESSED me | a
agnatons Of his troops. The conse- s
ence was whenever a ru'nOr Depatrp-
the Federal hosts that the Black 5
'rse was on move, they experienced a '
IRE than ordinary regard for their per- o
ial safety. w NAT added mucn to the II
mic among the Federal troops at the "
-nassaS defeat, was the Idea prevailed
ongst them that the semi-civiized Il
lthern rebels would murder the last ore o.
them should they fall into the hands Il
The later The back horse cor,s g
therefore considered by them to be n
'-eminentIy prone TO cruelty, and was p
DOrtiOnately dreaded Hence when the
ieral hosts began their hasty retreat -,
Ions OF this terrible corps Of relentless u
erS rose up TO fright their souls, and III
to the spreading panic. .,
was much regretted by the Confede- u
e authorities that they had so small a ~
y of cavalry at the first Manassas -
tie The enemy could not have gotten y,
so well had the contrary been the case ~
s was abundantly shown by the efi- ~
ICY OF those present. Besides the COM y
les enumerated in another uart Of
article, other troops had Joined the
~ Wnen the Confederate lines had been l
lDilshed at Bull Run; and when the
eat Dccaa id Joined in the ardent pur- AS