The woods, orchards, houses and other cultural features are by frank j. May 15, 1864 a good description of the battle by one who was there. The cadets, numbering 257, were organized into a battalion of. Students from the virginia military institute fought alongside the confederate army and forced union general franz sigel and his army out of the shenandoah valley. May 15, 2014 the modest confederate victory at new market was one of the souths last in the valley. Vicinity of town of new market, near intersection of i81 and rte. The battle of new market, fought on may 15, 1864, was part of union. Because of the corps placement in the battle, of 43 confederate battle deaths, 10 were cadets. Clipping found in staunton spectator in staunton, virginia on may 24, 1864. Usct casualties of usct units at the battle of new market. The battle of new market 1864 this weeks game saw us play the another scenario from the glory hallelujah.
Shows troop and artillery positions, roads, drainage, vegetation, and relief by contour lines and hachures. Battle of new market reenactment, new market, virginia. The battle of new market was one of the last major confederate victories in the shenandoah valley and was the only instance in american history where a student bodythe vmi corps of cadetsparticipated in a pitched battle. The places where certain ones fell are from lifelong residents of new market, who were there on the day of the battle, and from j. Confederate casualties totaled 43 killed, 474 wounded and 3 missing or captured for a total of 520 amazingly, the percentage of casualties for both sides amounted to percent. Valley thunder is the first fulllength account in nearly four decades to examine the sweeping combat at new market on may 15, 1864 the battle that opened the pivotal 1864 shenandoah valley campaign. The battle of new market, fought on may 15, 1864, was part of union general franz sigels attempt to sweep the shenandoah valley of confederate troops in conjunction with general ulysses s. New market battlefield military museum tripadvisor. Their charge in the face of the obstacles interposing was one of the grand features of the days operation. Like the young men of 1864 who were called upon to make the supreme sacrifice, successive generations of vmi cadets have faced their own new markets, whether on battlefields around the world, or. The battle of new market american battlefield trust. The battle of new market was one of the last major confederate victories in the shenandoah valley and was the only instance in american history where a.
The cadets, numbering 257, were organized into a battalion of four companies of infantry and one section of artillery. Experience civil war soldier life as you visit ongoing demonstrations and living history presentations prior to. Those engaged at the battle of new market heights were those of paines division drapers, duncans, and holmans brigades. It is the site of the oldest annual battle reenactment in the nation. The battle of chaffins farm and new market heights, also known as laurel hill and combats at forts harrison, johnson, and gilmer, was fought in virginia on september 2930, 1864, as part of the siege of petersburg in the american civil war. Battle lines extended from shenandoah on west to smith creek on east. Battle of new market simple english wikipedia, the free. The battle of new market, va may 15, 1864 by john d. A sanguinary battle took place on the 15th may, near new market, resulting in a signal victory by the confederate forces, the capture of a battery of artillery, many small arms, horses and prisoners. Breckinridge, fourteenth vicepresident of the united states and current confederate major general, had. Two hundred fiftyseven cadets were on the field, organized into a battalion of four companies of infantry and one section of artillery.
Grants overland campaign during the american civil war 18611865. The participation of the cadets of vmi has given the battle of new market a place. The battle of new market official records and battle description. C ome and join us for the 156th anniversary battle of new market reenactment held on our original battlefield property. Augustus moor to take an improvised brigade to new market, where on the 14th they forced confederate troops under brig. The new market battlefield military museum is the showcase of civil war history especially in this area. The battle of new market united states army center of.
The oldest american civil war reenactment still held on the original site. The american battlefield trusts battle of new market page includes battle maps, history articles, recommended books, and the latest preservation news for this. Breckinridge, in desperation, ordered the 257 cadets of the virginia military institute in lexington to join the fight in the hills to the north with about 4,000 other soldiers against the 6,000 union army troops of. American battlefield trusts map of the battle of new market. They never halted or faltered, though their ranks were. Breckinridge with a small 4,000 man army reinforced by the corps of cadets of the virginia military institute. Perhaps no small engagement is better known than the battle of new market. May 15, 1864 the battle of new market, virginia was fought during the spring 1864 valley campaign of the american civil war. In march 1864, president abraham lincoln elevated major general ulysses s. Total union casualties amounted to 96 killed, 520 wounded and 225 missing or captured, for a total of 841. Battle of new market vmi archives virginia military.
Frederick fred battle east new market frederick fred w. The battle of new market was the first of a series of engagements in the summer and fall of 1864 that destroyed confederate power in the shenandoah valley during the american civil war, and waged between two provisional field organizations hastily assembled by their respective commanders days before contact. The map in the book was a tad on the spare size, so a bit of research online came up with the following excellent. Action extended from shirleys hill in the south to rudes hill in the north. At a crucial point, a key union battery was withdrawn from the line to replenish its ammunition, leaving a weakness that breckinridge was quick to exploit. Breckinridge with a small 4,000 man army reinforced by the. May 06, 2014 vmi will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle of new market may 15, continuing a long tradition of honoring the cadets who fought in the battle. Grant to lieutenant general and gave him command of all union armies. Ten cadets were killed in battle or died later from the effects of their wounds. The battle of new market 155th anniversary reenactment. The battle of new market heights is described in signage with greater detail about three miles to the south in the deep bottom county park where the army of the james launched its attack on 28 september 1864. The battle of new market was fought on may 15, 1864, in virginia during the valley campaigns of 1864 in the american civil war.
November 20, 2019 antiquities sir francis bacon wrote, antiquities are history defaced or remnants that have escaped the shipwreck of timeantiquities are the wrecks of history, wherein the memory of things is almost lost. And the cost of that triumph was enormous for the cadets. Having previously directed forces in the western theater, he decided to give operational command of the armies in this region to major general william t. T he virginia museum of the civil war vmcw interprets the 1864 battle of new market with emphasis on the role of virginia military institute cadets and the civil war in virginia. At new market on the 15th, sigel was attacked by a makeshift confederate army of about 4,100 men commanded by maj. It seemed a nice size for a midweek game and without too many units per side. Fought on a rainy sunday in virginias shenandoah valley, the battle pitted a small divisionsized confederate force which included 257 cadets from virginia military institute commanded by major general john cabel breckinridge against a larger union force under major general franz sigel. For vmi, the new market legacy is more than the record of a particular civil war battle. Frederick battle obituary east new market, md the daily times. On the retreat of general lee from gettysburg, in july, 1863, he was not pursued by the federal army into the shenandoah valley. Imboden, brigadiergeneral, late of the confederate army. The battle of new market reenactment is a unique historical experience taking place on the original 1864 battlefield. Grant had ordered general franz sigel to take his army into the shenandoah valley and clear it of confederate forces.
The new market heights dispatch of the new york heralds thomas m. Part of the virginia military institute museum system which includes the vmcw, v. The enemy were pursued to mount jackson, where the further pursuit was arrested by their burning the bridge behind them. The battle of new market essential civil war curriculum. Moving to stop him was confederate general and former vice president john c.
The battle of new market official records and battle. It was waged between two provisional field organizations hastily assembled by their respective commanders days before contact. May 16, 2020 c ome and join us for the 156th anniversary battle of new market reenactment held on our original battlefield property. On may 15, 1864, new market was the site of the battle of new market a battle in the valley campaigns of 1864 in the american civil war. The vmcw is accredited by the american alliance of museums. The battle of new market was an american civil war battle fought on may 15, 1864 over control of the shenandoah valley in virginia. The places where certain ones fell are from lifelong residents of new market. Rather, it is a lesson in duty, bravery, and commitment. The cadets were integral to the confederate victory at new market and this event marks.
This talk was a part of symposium on forgotten battles of the civil war hosted by the emerging. The battle of new market was the first of a series of engagements place in the summer and fall of 1864 that destroyed confederate power in the shenandoah valley. Franz sigel to move up the shenandoah valley along the valley pike with 10,000 men to destroy the railroad and canal complex at lynchburg. Confederate success in the face of greater odds seemed to be a repetition of the days. The marker was placed at the initiative of the black military history institute. Battle of new market vmi archives virginia military institute. This battle, which is famous for its charge by the vmi cadet corps, prolonged the civil war by about an additional year as it protected the confederate bread basket, the shenandoah valley in virginia. The enemy were pursued to mount jackson, where the further pursuit was. It is part of the new market battlefield state historical park. The battle of new market was the first of a series of engagements taking place in the summer and fall of 1864 that destroyed confederate power in the shenandoah valley. Virginia military institute, the west point of the south as it was called, where.
Bushong, the best living authority, confirmed by mr. Jun 11, 2015 for vmi, the new market legacy is more than the record of a particular civil war battle. Davis the battle of new market is a paperback, and is 249 pages long. The battle of new market virginiathe vmi corps of cadets fought as a unit at the battle of new market, virginia, on may 15, 1864. The american battlefield trusts battle of new market page includes battle maps, history articles, recommended books, and the latest preservation news for this 1864 civil war battle in the shenandoah valley.
Experience civil war soldier life as you visit ongoing demonstrations and living history presentations prior to and after the battle each day. Mississippi was now in union hands, sherman was marching to the sea, grant was advancing toward richmond, butler left fort monroe to get between richmond and petersburg, and sigel and crook were active in the shenandoah. The museum itself is known as virginia museum of the civil war. In 1864, union forces were pressing the confederacy from many directions.
The battle was part of the union army valley campaigns of 1864. Imboden gave you the reb side, now read sigels yank side. The battle of new market virginia the vmi corps of cadets fought as a unit at the battle of new market, virginia, on may 15, 1864. One of the oldest continual reenactments in the nation. Vmi will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle of new market may 15, continuing a long tradition of honoring the cadets who fought in the battle. The modest confederate victory at new market was one of the souths last in the valley. The vmi corps of cadets fought as a unit at the battle of new market, virginia, on may 15, 1864. Since these three brigades were held in reserve during the afternoon assaults on fort gilmer, it can be assumed that the majority of their casualties occurred in the morning of 29 september, at the battle of new market.
1586 348 156 392 484 1529 529 308 367 1065 146 21 501 475 28 1218 1336 806 1001 691 287 567 1128 1621 1564 1116 134 1578 1222 1362 1536 1357 1026 665 459 1110 159 739 753 874 1399 1392