Culver Military Academy
Culver Educational Foundation
Black Horse Troop Culver Military Academy
Part of the Black Horse Troop first appeared in the Inaugural parade for President McKinnely
he was first elected in 1896. The photo is the 80 horse honor guard of the 1 stCleveland
Calvary Troop A as in appeared in the Inaugural parade.
It is said that Major Leigh R. Gignilliat upon seeing the photographs of the Mc Kinley's Inaugural Parade his eye
only caught and was attracted to the photographs of the 80 horse honor guard. Also after reading a copy of Mc Kinnley's
letter to Captain W. E. Burdick of the 1 st Cleveland Calvary; he visioned such a troop at Culver and the
publicity it could generate for the academy.
The 1 stCleveland Calvary and been purchesed by J. B. Perkins just for the Inaugural parade of 1896 and after this
appearance the entire troop was placed up for sale at ten thousand dollars or $125 per horse. Henry H. Harrison budgeted $2,500 for the purchase
of a horse troop. The equestrian director H. E. Cook went to Cleveland to purchase as many horses as the budgted money would
allow. Cook with the assistance of J. B. Perkins evaluated each horse and subjected each of them to a severe testing as to
soundness, disposition, and training. The choosen by Cook were all black, 5 - 7 years old and fifteen hands high or more.
Culver Academy purchased the first 16 mounts of its
Black Horse Troop in March 1897 from Troop A from the First City Cavalry of Cleveland - an 80 horse troop - at the budgeted price
thatcame to $156.25 per horse. They were transported to Culver via the railroad and were off-loaded from the Academy's rail spur
north of the campus. The cadets being given a half-day off greeted the horse, the band playing and a gun-fire salute greeted the new
arrivals.
Three months later [May 1897] the Culver black Horse Troop served as Honor Guard for Governor James Mount;
its first formal appearance in Richmond, Indiana, at the annual encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The orginial Riding hall was built in 1897-8. The hall was the largest of its kind in America.
The hall was 104 feet wide and 212 feet long; a mommoth amphiltheater, sufficient to manuever 60 horses . The dome of the
arched roof towered to 60 feet above the floor. The tower raised 100 feet above the lake providing a unique
picturesque view of the countryside. Found in the biography on Henry Harrison Culver is:
Riding hall was built which was finer than those built by
the national government for its cavalry posts or at West Point, and probably without
a superior in the world. This remarkable building, one hundred and four by two
hundred and twelve feet, of brick and stone, with great steel trussed roof, of
ornate architecture and incorporating every essential of the complete riding arena,
was erected at a cost of $50,000
Next came the Spanish American War victory parade in 1898; and then as honor guard for Admiral George Dewey in
St. Louis in 1900. The Black Horse Troop was also featured at the Louisiana Exposition in 1903. Also the
jubilee parade in Chicago; and on various other public occasions. The World's Fair in St. Louis.
In 1913 the Culver Black Horse troop was invited to the first inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson;
as an escort for former Indiana governor and then Vice President Thomas Marshall.
Later in 1913 the Black Horse Troop was invited to entertain the people in Logansport during a grand show
sponsored by the Logansport Elk. Forty Culver boys with their 40 black horses were invited to come to
Logansport to perform in an extravaganza for the public. They remained there for three days. The boys
camped at Riverside Park and the horses were stabled at the baseball park under the grand stand.
1916 - October 22 the riding hall burnt that housed the Black Horse Troop and 66 of the horses died in that fire
[another account says 1915 and that 80 horses died]. Plans were announced for construction of a new 104 by 212 Riding
Hall to house 136 mounts.
Then again in 1917 also. Thus began the seed for tradition for the troop.
In 1921 the Black Horse Troop went to Indianapolis and rode around unit around Monument Circle for the
parade honoring General Foch.
Here is a 1924 Company E. Banner
1932 - November 2 – Culver Black Horse Troop escorts President Hoover in Indianapolis.
Sometime before 1962 - the Academy pirchased the Dillon property on the northeast corner of St. Rd. 10 & 17 where 2 barns, a windmill and a hog lot was. It became the pasture for the Black Horse Troop.
The final railroad trip for the Black Horse Troop came in January of 1965, from the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at LaPaz.
Thus the Black Horse Troop has had the honor of appearing in more inaugural parades
than any other private or public high school contingent. To date they have participated in 14.
Besides the honors of the Inaugural parades They have had the honor of escorting
Queen Elizabeth II of England, the King and Queen of Denmark and the late Emperor
Hirohito of Japan during several royal visits to the United States.
More Pictures of the academy Black horse troop and the activities related to the
troop and the riding hall are here
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