History: Battle of New Market

In the spring of 1864, Union General Ulysses S. Grant began a grand strategy designed to force the Confederacy into submission and end the war. Key to this was control of the agriculturally rich Shenandoah Valley, so he ordered General Franz Sigel and his army of 10,000 to capture the Valley.

Upon receiving word that Sigel had entered the Valley, Confederate General John C. Breckinridge pulled together all available forces to repulse the threat. The cadets of the Virginia Military Institute were called up from Lexington, marching 80 miles in four days, to join Breckinridge’s army of 4,500 veterans.

In a pouring rain the two armies met in battle at New Market on May 15, 1864. The Confederates advanced first, after brushing aside Union skirmishers located west of town. The rebel infantry line came within rifle range of a Union line positioned along a ridge at a farm owned by Jacob and Sara Bushong. The Confederate line reached a split rail fence on Bushong’s farm but was pinned there. Receiving massed fire from the Federal muskets and artillery, the center of the Confederate line gave way. Noting the opportunity, Union troops attacked, hoping to take the field and win the day. Breckenridge knew he must quickly fill the large gap in the center of his line or abandon the field. “Send the cadets in,” Breckinridge ordered, “and may God forgive me…” The 257 VMI cadets stepped into the gap along the fence just as Union troops started their attack. They met the Union charge and turned it back as the entire Confederate line pushed forward over the rainsoaked wheat field. This field would be dubbed the “Field of Lost Shoes” because of the many shoes that were lost that day in its mud.

Suddenly the Federal line broke and Confederates swept through the routed Union line insuring victory. General Sigel and his army began a rapid retreat north from the field and the Valley, to the delight of General Breckinridge’s army and the exuberant VMI cadets.

The battle was not without its cost to the VMI Cadet Corps. Ten cadets were killed outright or died later of wounds. Another 45 cadets were wounded in the fight. However, on the Bushong farm, they won immortality.

by Gregory Starbuck