The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-24
BLACK HORSE TROOP.
AND NOW THB FAMOUS OR0<xIzA-
TfoS RECEIvED ITS NAME.
svsIs Of the white Horse"-A symbol OF
Heroic Ancestors--A Susgsstion ~ toe
Fitting Memoriai--sscond Article

the Howitzer company They were nc
considerable time eDcarnped sioe .
side. intermingled socially. talked owe
the affairs OF the nation, ana IN ever
respect became Identified as comraoe
engaged In common cause IN vi
meantime the relations between .he mo. NOS
tile armies were becoming nsVre anu A"Vi
strained day by day.
The air was full OF rumors-exaggerate-
accounts OF the enemy's designs and mum
views OF the future was the constan
talk OF the camp The Howitzers AM
their enthusiastic neighbors failed q
listen 10 army gossip or take gloom!
the latter should give them cause 10
such feelings. The men OF the Black
b MGsse AND SeTS har 9r the With Ras
Since they had been in the service they
had never brought in a false alarm
They had the reputation OF being amons
the most vigflant and active OF the cav
airy whose yidettes were now called upon
TO watch an enemy led by officers
experienced In the art OF war. They were
familiar with the country In which they
were operating. and made good use
OF their information. When IL became
necessary to probe the designs OF the
enemy or ind out his numbers and their
position, they did not hesitate to pene-
trate his lines for this purpose. To ef-
feet this II was a common thing for the
men to dismount at a proper dlstance,
and go on foot to the outer lines, from
which they would crawl on all fours into
the haunts OF the enemy's camp ana
listen to his secret consultations on
this account Information coming from
the scouts OF the Black-Horse was al,
ways relied upon. The consequence or
this was that when they were on cuty, the
army felt safe. This sort OF thins nau
lasted 80 long that the troops had be-
come accustomed 10 the situation ana
felt that although a day for action was
certainly coming for the prtsent they
felt assured Of their position: Inc now
-. 81 Forfc ff n nIlief
had settled down 10 such a degree or
inactivity. that their Captain thought II
necessary they should do something more
than execute the daily drill. According
~ early in July he Initiated a series OF
experiments In estimating distances IN
the nelds. by the unpracuced eye. SO
that when the pieces should be caned
into action their chiefs might not be en-
tirely. ignorant Of practical Slinnery. The
detachments were busy In the field, one
fine day executing these manoeuvres, when
rection OF Alexandria, the sullen boom Of
heavy artillery. The captain at once in
terpreted this portentous language.
Eleven distinct reports at slow intervals
announced an important fact. II was
the official salute for a Major General, |
and he at once concluded that the com |
mandcr OF the Federal army had crossed |
over from Washington to Alexandria, |
vance Of that army. The next few days
succeeding this premonitory .growL
were unusually quiet, and the
incident had begun to lose its signh-
The Black-Horse were now watching
the enemy's lines near Falls Church. on
the morning Of the nth OF July. just as
the sun was rising. and while the How
itZers were at breakfast. scout be-
longing to that company was seen APP
preaching In full gallop. His name was
more than ordinary news AS ne passed
on TO his camp. he loudly admonshed our
captain. Ito get out his shooting wag-
ons" for the Yankees were coming. |
that he had seen them. This was enough.
a Black-Horse trooper had said IL, and
therefore. there could be no mistake on
this point. In few moments the whole
Confederate camp was aStir. The troops |
were set in battle array the artillery
behind light field works near their camp
and the infantry disposed for their sup |
port while the cavalry from the re-
hottest out-posts were drawn into their
proper positions.
1t is not proposed to give here a history
of the events which succeeded the ad-
vance of the Federal army under General
Mcdowell. Suffice II TO say, that IN an
hour or more we had ample evidence of
what the scout Of the Black-Horse had
reported Long before the enemy's lines
were seen the roar and din of his drums,
and the rumbling of his artillery wagons
could be heard amid the forests through |
which. he was approaching and through !
which his corps Of sappers and miners
were opening roads for his advance. At |
length the heads of his columns emerged
from the shadows; and as they deplOyed
into line OF battle, the morning sun salut-
ed vast array Of gstening bayOnets and
shining artillery. The scene was magni- |
bcent to look upon, but by no means
pleasing 10 contemplate from the stand
point OF our feeble little band OF South ,
erners. \ double line OF sKrmshers pre-
reded this vast host until the latter were
nj laCc no nna Il. cf kn fad /
rate works. A few cannon shots were | !
launched al the Confederate cavalry who | l
fingered nearest 10 them. In the mean | {
line the HowtZers and their infantry | '
Imports had been patiently awaiting the | s
esult Of all this "pOmp and circumstan- | c
e." The question was whether or not | !
hey were expected to resist this tremen- !
Gus array. They had never before seen '
ne enemy and were ignorant OF the mys-
ries OF strategy Whatever was expected | :
them they were evidently ready to do
Some Of the artillery In their ignorance y
fought the enemy was getting too close, I
nd without awaiting orders, were max +
* preparations to open fire. AT this /
motion, an order came from headquar- | I
RS that the army should eyacuate their I
orks and move off by the road to Cen a
evilie. BY this time the enemy's lines | c
ajestic in strength and brilliant In ar
", were steadily advancing within half
mile of our front. The little army, b
,ol and self-possessed and In perfect or 7
r. began its retreat by the right flank 8
king the turnpike road to Centreville. fl
IS extreme rear had barely Joined the q
dunn, when the enemys sharpshooters L
ere close enough 10 have used their rifles /
It'll serious effect. but they never fired a n
IN. II was inferred that they expected $
capture our entire force. p
The weather was intensely hot and dry. | !,
ouds OF dust marked the way Of the | a
as they moved along the | s.
adeless turnpike. Their line Of march, Of
would appear. afforded tempting tar ol
Z for the enemy's artillery and why W
ey were allowed thus to move quietly p
I without being annoyed by ricochet ~
OTIS cannot be clearly understood. After | +
day Of great anxiety and bodily | vi
fering, with It's TANKS constantly ex- ri
,sed to attack, General Bonham sue aC
eded In getting his army safely to Cen
eville and established them in line OF ra
title on the salubrious crests OF the sur be
unding hills. ba
II would be pleasing task TO repeat or
re the details OF this famous and we'll II
ecuted campaign. which won for the CT
'nfederate commander so much renown. ~
,e intelligent reader must be already "a
lily Informed on this subject. and there ar
re II Is enough TO say that by sending "a
imam 10 Fairfax Courthouse Beaure- We
I'd had entirely succeeded In decoying su
powerful enemy into trap so pre- Tt
red for him that the victories OF the =
h and 2let OF July following, convinced "a
2 North that they had before them oti
Undertaking OF far more serious tn'
ture than they had anticipated ,ho
)uring the late retreat the Confederate Wv va.
VARY had gained additional credit in ~,
dexterous way they had protected the ~
ar ana Hanks OF Bonham's little army uul
ese We're composed entirely of volun w
y companies gathered up from different | -