Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-03
Story of a Famous Army, Or
ganlzation Now in Hawaii.
Bright Achievements
in History'S Halls

Schofield Barrack5, and first in the
hearts OF every wagon soldier that
has ever served with the organiza-
ton, is Battery F, First Field Artil-
lery, the famous Black Horse Bat
terry OF the United States Army
Foreign services have their crack
regiments, squadrons and batteries,
Of cavalry and artillery, designated
and famed for some distinctive mark
ing OF the mounts, and in the United
States Army there was a time not
so long back when many regiments
OF cavalry had Gray Horse Troop.
Eut grays are taboo now, and Bat
terry F stands out distinctive, and
alone, with its coal Hack horses at
tached to gun and timber
Linked with the most sacred ira
ditions of the service is the Black
Horse Battery, for IL was originally
Tie cadet battery at West Point, and
was there organized for service in
the civil war.
This battery is one of three bat
teries of the Second Battalion of the
First Field Artillery which are now
stationed at Schofield Barracks. AS
a matter OF uniformity OF appearance
as well as sentiment, this organiZa-
ton has been horsed for many years
with black animals, thereby gaining
the name of 'afhe Black Horse Bat
terry" by which 1t is known to its
members and admirers. 1t was the
first light battery to be stationed on
Hawaiian soil and arrived In this
island November Is 1910.
A Gallant Record.
The history of this battery shows
that IL formed part OF the Fifth Reg
imentA of Artillery organized ION May
4, 1861, in conformity with a procla-
nation of the president. AT the very
start II was equipped as field bat
terry.
Orders No. 8. Headquarters U. s.
Military academy, dated January q.
1861, directed Lieutenant Charles
Griffin OF the tactical department to
form a light battery of four pieces
with six horses to the piece. Enough
men to make the command 20 strong
were transferred from the Dragon
and Artillery detachmenss then sta
toned at West Point
On January 81. 1861, the command
left West Point for Washington,
where IL, remained until July 4, 1861,
when il was assigned as Battery ID,
a fifth Artillery. At this time Lieu
tenant Griffin received his captaincy
and retained command of the battery
which he had formed.
This same day. July. 4. 1861, the
battery proceeded to Arlington and
thence by short marches to Fairfax,
and the battlefield of Bull Run, where
il found itself posted opposite the
enemy's left. There it aided in
.silencing the opposing batteries and
caused the enemy's lines to fall back,
pursued by the Union infantry.
Later in the afternoon it advanced
in the first attack to position pre-
viously occupied by the Confederates,
when it was suddenly charged from
an adjoining wood by body of in
fantry and cavalry who, at first, were
supposed to be Federals. The sup
ports-troops-gave way. leaving the
battery unaided at critical time.
Though giving a most excellent ac-
count of itself, the battery was un-
able to stop the enemy, every can
noner being cut down and large
number of horses killed. Notwith
standing the efforts of the officers to
rally the supports. some of the guns
were captured. Tha. day the battery
lost 81 men in killed and wounded
as well as 55 horses. Captain Griffin
received especial mention for the
handsome manner in which be
handled his battery on that unfortun
ate occasion.
Through the War.
At Camp Greble, near Harrisburg
Pa, the battery was recognized, re
cruited and re-supplied, the state o
Pennsylvania furnishing most of tn,
recruits.
In the advance toward Richmont
under Mcclellan. after the evacuation
of Yorktown the battery sustained
its part in various engagements. no
tably in Porter's flank movement T.
Hanover court house.
The battery was then armed wit
Sin. ordnance rifles This organiza
ton remained part of the army of TIL
Potomac throughout the rebellion an
took part in the following battles ur
der the commanders named:
Captain Charles Griffin-First Blu
Run, July, 1861: Hanover Cour
House, May, 1862; Mechanicsvillt
June, 1862: Gaines Mill, June. 1862
Malvern Hill, July, 1862.
Lieutenant Charles f. Hazlett-
Manassas. August, 1862; Antietan
September. 1862; sharpsburg. Sci
TENDER. 1867; Fredericksburg. De
cember. 1862; Charlottesville, Ma.
1868; Gettysburg, July, 1863.
Lieutenant Benjamin F. Ritter