The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-02
DARING BLACK HORSE TROOP.
A Gallant Band Of Soldiers During Inc
Late War.
WON LAURELS FOR THEIR EXPLOITS.
The Strange Ubiquiiy and strstegein VI
the Little Legion with Whom Dan
ger Was Watchword and Sig
nal for Action.


company OF cavalry known as the Di"0A
Horse Troop, which won such DrlsH' 'aU
rels for it's daring exploits and the 'a'u-
able information and aid it rendered the
Confederate commanders in some oil INC
greatest engagements OF the civil war
In many respects 1t was remai haDie
body OF men, composed, as IL Was,
handsome. strapping. debonar 'ii5'i'a',.,
admirably horsed and equipped ia ""o'o
natures the spirit OF chiyairy NaS az
u abiding trait that marked the night Vi
their banner from the outbreak 10 INV
close Of the war. go,
They welded their sabres IKE tne cui-
rassiers OF Old. and used their p''O
with the truth and nerve oil 80
marksmen. They SD famiharizeu I'm
selves with the country IN "hi'Jl 'ne'
operated that they kept the enemy con-
,ir,aIl, snect,lafing on their movements
by checkmating them at every point III
the game OF war. and achieved sucn
prestige by their strange uoiquuy ana
strataeem that the name OF their hl''
legion became a watchword for danger
and a signal for action with inc oiiloi,
troops. The Black Horse was
L In 1s5g lust two years before the war
broke out. and first figured az harper
Ferry. in the John Brown rald'
Colonel John Scott Of Marrentoh' va
was its first captain. and gave the roop
it's name. Colonel Scott, VINO mas ''''l ca
from active life. was for many yehls d
conspicoUs figure in that secuoh u '''
STATE as Commonwealth Atlorncy' 49,
is wen known as the author OF ne 10
prfnclpIe " "A Life Of Mosby,' and other
|
the gallant Bob Randolph. OF the ois-
tlnguished family of that name VIII vas
afterwards promoted.
on the ism Of May. 1861. the following
officers OF the Black Horse were sworn
in: william y Payna. captain koDert
Randolph. G. H. Gordon. A. ID. Payne
ueutenants: william Smith. James H.
| Childs Robert Mitchell Richard Lewis
sergcants: wellington Million. Madison =.
Tyler. George y. shumate y. 4. Clopton,
corporals William Johnson, buglrr' ana
William z. Gaskns quartermaster. Ehey
were subsequently Incorporated INTO the
! Fourth Virginia Regiment, ana permis-
sion was given 20 recruit II Tor hit-
| talon. The first sustained march or the
Black Horse was 10 Hapcrs Ferry. X
| afterwards advanced 10 Manassas ana
Fairfax Courthouse. ~ work az the battle
| OF Bull Run was so graphically reported
hv the Union troops that further comment
Is unnecessary. The company numbered
| over one hundred men. and its fine APP
pearance had begun TO attract the at
| tention Of the great cavalry leaders under
! Lee. and Il WIS appointed 20 serve as
| body-guard TO General Joseph r. John
ston.
DEEDS OF BRAVE SOLDIERS
The families OF Fauquler and adjoining
counties, from each OF which two or moro
members OF tho Black Horse had been
recruited, were the Carriers. Childses. COL
berts. Downmans Diggses, Edmonds,
| Fants. Greens. Gordons. Gaskinses,
Georges. Iielms, Iupt0ns. Hamiltons
| Kciths, Lowises, Lees. LomaXcs, Lathams,
| Martins. Paynes. Rectors. Scots, Smiths
| Stublings Taiaferros, and Napes. Other
| families were represented by Lawrence
| Ashton, William Bowen, J. y. Barbour
| William Fickln. Il. A. Grey. Alexander
| Hunter. Robert Hart. George l.. Holland.
STROLLER Jones. r. y Pitcher John Robin
son. James Rector W a. Smoot. VIII
| liam Splman. ". B. Skinker. William
IL. Triplott, Madison Tyler. Johnsie
Longue j ". T0Wson W. y. Thorn,
| Melville Withcrs. and others.
In its operations until the army began
town, tho Black Horse. being familiar
with the counties OF Prince William.
Fauquicr. and Culpeper, through which
the army was about TO cross, and having
tt complete knowledge Of the roads. water
courses, and points suitable for camping
was of great value On furnishing guides
for which purpose large details were made
from IL.
In that famous charge at the battle
OF Williamsburg with all the cOlor-hcar-
srs and buglers al the head of the col
umns. with not sabre or pistol drawn
in the whole regiment. and impeded by a
dense wood. where they had run into the
mouth Of McClel'an's army OF $1,000
strong, Tie sable p.umes OF the Black
Horse waved. and when Colonel Wickham
was pierced through the body General.
then MAJOR, William ". Payne. took COM
mand. and was himself next day badly
wounded. Details were at that time made
from the Black Horse 10 carry dispatches
between the general commanding and Fort
McGruder. Judge James keith. OF the
present Court Of Appeals or Virginia
then a private IN the company. is said 10
have made many marvellous escapes. and
greatly distinguished himself
General Lorgstreet, wishing men for
picket-duty after failing 10 secure a guide
from that section OF the country. was
much annoyed. when General Stuart re-
marked that h6 always counted on the
Black Horse 30 emergencies. send 10
f." Stuart said, and you VIII be fur
nished with guide 90 any point in Nir-
GINA" II 30 happened that some OF the
men had atsnded William and Mary
College as students. and knew the roads
as well as their own in FauquIer. The
Black Horse took part in the raid around
Mcclellan simply FOR observation, and 10
IS a miracle that they were not all cap
tured
No hitorian has yet been born Who could
follow the Black Horse 10 the role ~
played IN the Seven-pays' tight. General
Lee, lcar1irg that Burnside had moved
boy sea- from North Carolina 20 reinforce
General Pope. as Mcclellan was az Frede-
ricksburg. sent General Stuart, with his
brigade OF which the Black Horse formed
part. TO make a reconnaissance IN that
| direction. The Black Horse saw some
very actiye service. and gained informa-
| ton that proved valuable 10 the army.
| They afterwards helped 70 drive Pope
across the Rappahannock. and now. being
| in that part Of the state, IN which many
| of them were reared. the troop was called
upon 70 furnish guides 70 the different
| commanders, and in the armys future
movements upon General Pope was OF
great service.
StoneNall Jackson soon discovered what
good STUFF the Black Horse was composed
| OF. and detailed the company To act as
his haaIorar-.-s "a guides and cOurierS