The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-04
yrRGiNIA nLAoA noRsE rEoop.
The Predecessor of Famous Confed-
crate Band.

crate Band.
Tho celebrated Black-llorse cavalry
which figured so conspicuously at the ifst
battle OF Bull Rum ON the Confederate
side i'm lS5I. had its origin about lo-0.
At that period the virginia youth, lhu"cu
with the military spirit OF the times ana
In order 10 escape jury and otner uhpleas-
ant civil duties. particularly the youhB
men residing IN the counties OF Kappa
hammock, LOudoun, Fauquicr ana lilhc7
William had their own troops OF caNdiiS.
They were mustered every month NJ the
county-soat. ana, in addition, paraded ON
every holiday Of the ycar-Christm"s'
Fourth OF July, NoW-Ycars Day. and
e2d Of February. Besides. they attended
an the fairs and barbecue IN fact, turn-
Ing out Willingly on the slightest excuse
They were uniformed in the old, heavy
DRAGON style. gilstcning metallic helmets
with long horse-tails flowing from ther
tons. ana these c0rresp0nded &c the c"'F
of tho horses OF tho troop. They wore
a short jacket with two wads pthlnd ~
he centre Of the waist for the sahre-pelt
IN rest upop. The sabre itself was long
and heavy. ana the sheath was Of metal
They always appeared ir white trousers
both winter and summer. the material
Of course. varying with the season. 4heli
boots were high, cavalry pattern anu
from them large spurs Jingled as my
rode along. .o.,,,.
Wnen nrst organized they frequently
mot in competitive drill bo'h u"'
and oornnanv. and ~ that time the horses
Of the several troops were h''
,uished bv a certain color. then, 10 make
~ distinelIiahing mark by which the COM
ronies could be told az a glance the GUS
to,o booan of having each company
,,orees of the same color. but e"ch 'o'"-
,onv Of q different color. thus. the Rap
,,.bsrpoclf's were bays. Loudouh graz
I,rirc. Williams s0rrols, and falqiDei
1,scts THE first officers OF these troops
,yere of the ar.tocratic families OF IoW-
To,,nas MERGERS. Mares. Slaughters' VII
forls. and Fauntleroys'
and launtcrOys. .
am 1874 when General jackson was
President Of the United states ne went
down from Washington 20 fredeIackspuig
10 assist in laying the CONVERSIONS %
the monument then 10 be erecteu ~ .'o
memory OF Mary. the mother or Nasn-
ington-to-day neglected rulh-ailu t'e
Black-Horse Troop went 10 Aqua DI.'N
a. act AS the Presidents escort on the
occasion. The troop was commanded 40
that ume by Captain T. r. FaunueUy,
Fauntorov. brother Of the captain. 70
nucal spirit ran very high at that time
In Virginia. and the troop from Fauquier
county was The only One that would iuIn
out 10 escort the President OF the United
States. The total strength Of the COM
ranv was mustered on thar occasion. ana
they made q handsome appearance on
their jet-black steeds.
Besides. the two Fauntleroys were es-
pocialiy noted for their striking. soldieriy
appearance as well as FOR their social
qualities. Thus they greatly ondearoi
Themselves 10 the old general, and no
highly appreciated the compliment tney
had paid him. They met him 800 Aqua
Creek whore the boat from Washington
landed, and escorted him from mat point
to Fredericksburg and ON his return to
Aqua, and. altogether, were with him
n week or so.
At the Presidents earnest solicitation.
they would have gone with him through
10 tho Capital If that boat bad had sufi-
Client capacity to accommodate the men
and the horses.
President Jackson was so well pleased
With the two officers that after his return
TO Washington DE appointed the captain
q major or dragons in the regular army,
and bis brother o. pursor in The navy.
onel. He resigned when his state seced-
Cd in lH5l, but was never given command
i'm the Confederate service. he died at
the ripe age OF eighty-throe. in lsS3. His
brother. DangCriield. the pursor (now
called paymasieD. served win distinction
until his death. from yellow fever. at
Pensacola navy-yard I'm 1850.
At the breaking out of The civil war the
Black-liorse Troop was commanded by
Captain William II. Payne who became
% famous general Of cavalry in the Con-
fcdcratc army. one day. just after the
assassination OF prosideu. Lincoln. as
General Payne was passing through
Washington as a prisoner Of war, he was
assaulted hy "a furious mob. who. learning
that his name was Payne. thought ne
was that Payne of Florida alias Powell
who was mixed mp in the murder. and
but for tine determined bravery Of the
captain or the escorl OF infantry. whose
name forget. General Payne would have
leru Killed. The gallant captain who
rskcd his life 10 save that Of Payne no,v
resides IN Warrenton. Va. with the gem
"rai, and is beloved by AN for his con-
duct on the occasion referred 90.
ID. Il. CONRAD.
Winchester Va.