New Market Day, 15 May 2009

This is New Market Day at the Virginia Military Institute on 15 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 15 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 15 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

Tags:

• Virginia
• Military
• Institute
• VMI
• New
• Market
• Battle
• Lexington
• VA

[ajhranger06]

i would love to hear the band play Dixie, but he is right it has been deemed politically incorrect even though the song was played by the Confederate Army is was written by black slaves who sang the song when they worked in the North during the winter when crops were unfathomable in the South, I wish these people who complain about a beautiful song would learn the history of it before they deface the song, and this is coming from a Northerner from Massachusettes, VMI Class of '13

[2011VMICadet]

@ajhranger06

When President Lincoln heard the war was finally over, he ordered Dixie to be played, saying that it was "American again." Either way, there is a lot of misunderstanding with Dixie and the Confederate flag, and as much as a good number of cadets would like to, we cannot bring it back due to political and image issues. We are still proud of VMI's service in the war, and I hope that never gets "non-PC" as well.

[georgepickett]

Dixie! Play Dixie!

[2011VMICadet]

@georgepickett

Dixie is not considered "PC" anymore, so we can't play it. Dixie used to be played and the Confederate battle flag was also carried during this ceremony, but neither are allowed anymore. I guess we could do it, but it probably isn't worth it to VMI to risk the political onslaught that would come from doing so.

[DIVEGODKW]

"Died on the Field of Honor SIR!"

[ColonelRHS]

They have made the ceremony so "politically correct" there is no confederate music...and bagpipes???

[TheCitdog]

@MR2ndamendment I guess the difference is that we really don't care what those types of people think. They are going to hate us anyway because of what we stand for. They are the same types who spit on our soldiers when they came back from Vietnam and have the "America is a bully" attitude. They can go directly to hades.

[Mr2ndAmendment]

@TheCitdog

This really isn't helping the stereotype that the South is ignorant. I'm presuming (hoping) that the guy that uploaded this is not a Citadel alum?

The song of Dixie is seen as offensive by many people although it was not meant to be that way. In fact, the hateful association with the song is purely a social construction, formed from years of ignorance and lack of understanding. With that said, just because we don't play the song anymore doesn't mean we don't value our history.

[TheCitdog]

@MR2ndamendment search "cidatel corps day 2010 Dixie" whoever made the video can't spell.

[Mr2ndAmendment]

@TheCitdog

And from what I understand the song has been banned from being played? What's the intel on that?

[Mr2ndAmendment]

@TheCitdog

We hold a parade in honor of our Confederate dead. The ten Cadets that died fighting the Union have permanent tomb markers on our post, we honor and remember then greatly. We make no secret ordeal of the respect and pride we have for those that fought under the banner of Virginia. We reenact the charge at the Battle of New Market every year, the battlefield is where we take our Cadet oath. Playing a song versus embracing its words are two different things. Rah Virginia Mil.

[TheCitdog]

There is one school left in the South with the stones to play 'Dixie'. search for rex54 's channel and hear The Citadel Band play OUR song!

[mobilechief]

@ajhranger06 Listen closely they did, Bless VA and our Brothers and sisters!

[mobilechief]

I do believe Mr. Jackson would be proud as I am!