The Battle of New Market was the result of General Ulysses S. Grant's desire, late in the Civil War, to gain control of the Confederacy's breadbasket...the Shenandoah Valley. In spring 1864 Union Major General Franz Sigel's army of 10,000 began there trek south to subdue the valley. Opposing them was a much smaller Confederate force of about 5,000 under the command of General John C. Breckenridge. Among the rebel force was a regiment of cadets from the nearby Virginia Military Institute. The battle took place on on a stormy day; May 15, 1864. Reluctant to use the cadets as cannon fodder, General Breckenridge at first held them back. It soon became clear however that, to break the Union lines, the cadets must be put in...
The following series of photos sets you in the footsteps of the cadets as they marched into battle that day...
The following series of photos sets you in the footsteps of the cadets as they marched into battle that day...
11:00 AM, May 15, 1864 - The battle was joined near the site of the current visitors center. Here, Confederate soldiers began their attack against the Union lines to the north...
The Confederate objective was the center of the Union lines atop Bushong's Hill (just out of the shot to the left). The VMI cadets advanced across this field towards the Bushong Farm...
12:30 PM, May 15, 1864 - The town of New Market lies about a mile east of the battlefield and was cleared of Union forces by this time. The Union troops fell back to a stronger position atop Bushong's Hill...
The advancing infantry (cadet's included) were supported by a four gun battery marked by the cannon in this photo...
The advancing cadet's began to come under small arms fire as they approached the Bushong Farm. Here the cadets split briefly with each half passing the home to the right and left side before reforming on the opposite side...
Bushong Farm - The Bushong Farm was established in 1791 by Henry Bushong. It was later inhereted by his son, Jacob. By the time of the Civil War the farm encompassed 260 acres and included the main house and barn, the original farmhouse, a summer kitchen, an ice house, meat & loom house, blacksmith shop, wheelwright shop, and a hen house (all of which have been restored)...
The main house, built in 1825 by Jacob & Sarah Bushong. The cadets had to divide their ranks to pass the house while the nervous residents waited out the battle in the cellar...
Some of the Bushong Farmstead buildings. from left to right are the original 1818 farmhouse, the oven, the summer kitchen, and the ice house...
Located just to the north of the farmstead is this orchard where, in 1864, the VMI cadet's reformed their lines under withering Union fire from the nearby hill. The cadets were urged to move forward to the relative safety of a rail fence at the far side of the orchard...
As the cadets crossed the orchard they began to take casualties. One of the first was their commanding officer, Col. Scott Shipp, who fell wounded...
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