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Unit
Activities:
There is an
amazing diversity of things we do with our horses - drills,
reenactments, tacticals, public demonstrations, running at the heads,
ceremonies, competitions, and acting.
Drill:
A
drill session, 2001
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The
unit drills (practices) approximately once per month. Usually held at either a member's place, on site prior to an event,
at the Manassas Battlefield National Park or at Buckland
Farm off Rt 29 in Fauquier County. Generally, a drill
lasts 2-3 hours and is devoted first to formation riding
(riding in fours, twos, practicing turns, wheels, etc.) and
second, depending on the location, a "conditioning" trail
ride or "running
at the heads"
(more on this later). Uniforms are optional but period tack
is encouraged
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Reenactments:
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The Black Horse engages the 5th NY Zouaves, Manassas 140th Anniversary
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Whether
there are 15,000 or 1,500 participants, most Civil War
reenactments are three-day, two-night affairs. We have the
luxury of being in a fixed location and, depending on event
regulations, set up a "heavy" camp - a unit wall tent, individual tents, flys (big
awnings), period chairs, and a set of iron cooking hardware.
The rule of thumb is that modern conveniences such as a
cooler can be used but must be stowed out of sight under a
piece of canvas or period wool blanket. Event organizers
provide hay, firewood and water. Horses, when not being
ridden are tucked away in the shade on a picket line. While
the reenactments involve probably the least amount of riding
(a few hours a day), they involve the most excitement -
flags, fifes and drums, bugles, cannons, carbines, pistols,
infantry, muskets, and big crowds. Here we form up with
other Confederate cavalry units and move with 10 times the
number of riders.
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Tacticals:
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Also
three-day, two-night events but, this time, we pack only
what can be carried on our horses or ourselves. Unit
equipment is limited to a coffee pot, picket line, and one
iron skillet. Event organizers provide hay, water and period
food at waypoints. No spectators but lots of creeping
scouting around in the woods looking for and confronting the
enemy.
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Public
Demonstrations:
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Bringing history to the public
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This
is where we show our stuff up close as cavalrymen for the
GAP (great American public). A "demo" is the same as a
reenactment but without the enemy - just lots of spectator
umbrellas and strollers. In a "demo", we perform in "fours"
the basic turns, wheels, obliques, dismounted fighting with
carbine, saber drill, and saber charge, and then (if
possible) approach the GAP for conversation and horse
petting. We've performed demos at the
Virginia Gold Cup (Great Meadows), Goose Creek Bridge (part
of the Hunt Country Stable Tour) Sully Plantation (Fairfax County Park Authority) and in July and August at the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Occasionally, we'll act as guides for trail rides through
the battlefield.
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Running
at the Heads:
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This
is a great test of your skills as a horseman. "Running at
the heads", means trotting or cantering down a line of fixed
targets shooting at balloons (usually six) with your pistol
and attacking stuffed bags with your saber. Experience has
shown that most horses do better against the pistol targets
than the saber targets. New members start at the heads by
introducing the horse to the targets - a walk-by with your
right forefinger doing the "shooting", for example. As you
and your horse gain more confidence and speed, the heads can
be so much fun, that you have to remind yourself to give
your horse a breather - they're the ones doing all the
work!
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