New Market Battlefield State Historical Park (VA)
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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...
New Market Battlefield State Historical Park
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...
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...
New Market Battlefield State Historical Park
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...
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...
Along the fence at the north end of the orchard the cadets came into full view of the Union lines atop Bushong's Hill, seen here...
