Sousa's love for horses is reflected in this march dedicated to the mounted troops of a Cleveland National Guard unit. Their exclusive use of black horses was the inspiration for the title. Troop A, once known as the First City Troop of Cleveland, was originally an independent militia group and has had a long, distinguished history since its formation in 1877.

Sousa's most noteworthy association with the troop came in 1898. The Sousa Band, having arrived in Cleveland just as the troop was pr...