New Market Day, 14 May 2009

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2011VMICadet
July 16, 2009

This is New Market Day at the Virginia Military Institute on 14 May 2009, the anniversary of the battle that took place in 1864. The Battle of New Market marks the only time in United States his...

This is New Market Day at the Virginia Military Institute on 14 May 2009, the anniversary of the battle that took place in 1864.

The Battle of New Market marks the only time in United States history in which a whole school body fought in a pitched battle as a single unit. The Virginia Military Institute, founded in 1839, marched 84 miles in four days from Lexington, VA to New Market, VA to support the Confederate Army against attack from the Union Army. General Grant of the Union Army ordered General Franz Sigel to move into the Shenandoah valley, starting the Valley Campaigns of 1864. General Breckinridge ordered a counter movement to this threat, and ordered the Cadets at the Virginia Military Institute to march to his army and provide support for it.

A small channel between the Shenandoah River and the Blue Ridge Mountains was the only way to bring an army into the valley, and both armies met at New Market, at the entrance to the valley.

The Cadets arrived on 14 May 1864 and were intended for reserve purposes, but the battle started taking a turn for the worse, and Breckinridge's officers pleaded with him to put the Cadets in the fight. Breckinridge refused at first, the Cadets aged from 14 to 21 and he did not want to expose the young, untested boys to combat. Breckinridge finally decided to put VMI into the onslaught after the center of his line fell due to severe canister and rifle fire. Breckinridge said, "Put the Boys in, and may God forgive me for the order."

The Cadets marched forward in a rank and file formation to the field of battle, similar to a pass and review drill ceremony instead of a swift combat pace at double time. This lack of battle experience costed the Cadets dearly due to long range artillery fire. As soon as the Cadets made it to the front line, the Corps hopped the fence and charged forward into volleys of concentrated cansiter and rifle fire. It is said that General Sigel's troops at first thought that the Corps of Cadets were mercinaries due to the uniformed appearance and discipline of the Corps. Whether or not that is true, what is true is that the Union line began to panic. General Sigel started barking orders in his native German language, and his men were routed and began retreating as the VMI Cadets lead the charge up the muddy field.

The field had just been plowed, and the severe rain storm prior to and during the battle caused many Cadets to lose their shoes in the mud. The field picked up the name "the Field of Lost Shoes" because of this unusual circumstance.

The Cadets made it to the top of the hill, waving the VMI flag on top of a captured Union artillery piece. General Breckinridge quickly rode to the top of the hill and addressed the Corps, "Well done Virginians, well done men!"

I find it interesting that General Breckinridge refered to the Cadets as "boys" before they entered the battle, then after defeating the Union and winning the battle he recognized them as "men."

This great victory did not come without sacrifice. The Corps of Cadets lost 10 Cadets on the Field of Honor, or as result of the actions of that day. Many more were wounded in the fight, and the Corps of Cadets was ordered to Richmond to serve as drill instructors to train Confederate soldiers. Grant did not forget about VMI's responsiblity for the New Market victory, and ordered General Hunter in 1865 to march to Lexington, VA and shell the VMI Barracks. The Barracks was rebuilt off the ruins after the war with Congressional funds lobbyed for by one of Hunter's artillery Captains who felt shame and regret for aiding in the destruction of the Institute. Cannon balls are still stuck in the walls of the Barracks even to this day, you can find this near Daniel's Courtyard.

At VMI, every 14 May, we hold a memorial service for the 10 Cadets that died on the Field of Honor. Eight of those Cadets are burried at the Institute, but all 10 have markers behind the "Virginia Mourning Her Dead" statue in front of Nichols Engineering Hall.

We hold a Parade for these Cadets, in which role is taken for the 10 that lost their life in the battle. A 21 gun salute is administered for the Cadets, Taps and Amazing Grace are played with the bugle and bag pipes. The Corps then marches down Letcher Avenue, and this is the only parade in which the Corps does this.

Category: Travel & Events

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Virginia Military Institute VMI New Market Battle Lexington VA

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