My Rain-Drenched Trip To Virginia -- Part Seven -- The Virginia Museum Of The Civil War, New Market, VA

New Market National Battlefield Visitor's Center.
The original gravestones of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)
cadets who died on the battlefield can be see at the entrance.

Well folks, at last we come to the final, but certainly not the least important stop on my return from my rainy trip through Virginia -- the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, the site of the Battle of New Market, Virginia (Sunday, May 15, 1864).

The battlefield itself and the wonderful visitor's center and museum largely serve as a shrine to probably one of the most well-known acts of military heroism during the War Between The States: the charge of the Virginia Military Institute cadets -- the only battle in American history where an entire college student body fought to a victory.

The VMI cadets had been called to service during the first of the three Shenandoah Valley Campaigns of 1864 to defend the valley from Union army incursions. The VMI cadets consisted of an infantry battalion of 247 cadets and a two-gun artillery section commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Scott Shipp. These cadets were all young men and boys, the youngest of which were only 15 years old!

The cadets were initially placed into reserve at the start of the battle by Confederate Major General John C. Breckinridge, but after a gap opened up in the Confederate lines, Breckinridge reluctantly ordered the VMI cadet battalion to fill the gap.

While the cadet battalion was moving forward towards the Bushong Farm's orchard, Colonel Shipp was wounded and was replaced by Captain Henry A. Wise. While crossing a field near Bushong's orchard, several VMI cadets lost their shoes in the muddy field, which led to the field being forever known as the "Field of Lost Shoes."

The cadets faced a Union artillery battery and took part in the charge against the Union position at about 3:00 PM that afternoon, leading the Confederate charge and capturing one of the cannons. The battle itself was a Confederate victory, with a high cost of life on both sides: Union casualties totaled 841 for the battle: 96 killed, 520 wounded, and 225 captured or missing; while the Confederates lost 43 killed, including 10 cadets; 474 wounded, and 3 missing.

Of the 247 VMI cadets that took part in the battle, forty-seven were wounded in the battle -- then of which died on the field, or of wounds during the final charge.  

When one comes to the visitor's center itself, you can see the original headstones of some of the the VMI cadets who died in the field, or after the battle in the field hospital, on display just outside of the visitor center. Six of the actual graves of the cadets killed that day are at the Virginia Military Institute under more modern grave markers.

The following are the photos I took from my visit to the museum and the New Market battlefield.

"Put The Boys In..." By Don Troiani.

The Institute Will Be Heard From Today -- The VMI cadets
at the Battle of New Market by Don Prechtel (1984).

Beautiful stained glass window designed by Israeli-born
artist Ami Shamir.
The flowing lines represent the Shenandoah River.

A scale model of the monument Virginia Mourning Her Dead on display
inside the museum at the visitor's center.
The actual monument is on display at the Virginia Military Institute in
Lexington, Virginia where six of the ten fallen VMI cadets from the battle
are buried beneath the tribute monument.
The monument was sculpted by Moses Jacob Ezekiel, VMI Class of 1866,
who was a veteran of the battle.

The Field of Lost Shoes.
The site of the famous charge by the VMI Cadets at the
Battle of New Market on Sunday, May 15, 1864.

The New Market Day ceremony is an annual observance held at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia in front of the Virginia Mourning Her Dead memorial to the New Market Corps. The names of all of the cadets in the Corps of 1864 are inscribed on the monument, and six of the ten cadets who died in the battle are buried at this site.

The remarkable ceremony features the roll call of the names of the cadets who lost their lives at the Battle of New Market, a custom that began in 1887. When the name of each cadet who died is called out, a representative from the same company in the modern Corps answers, "Died on the Field of Honor, Sir." A 3-volley salute is conducted by a cadet honor guard, followed by "Taps" played over the parade ground. To culminate this ceremony, the entire Corps passes Virginia Mourning Her Dead in review.

It is out of deep respect for their memory that I dedicate this post, and will list their names, ranks, and class years:

Cadet Corporal Samual F. Atwill, Company A, Class of 1866 (Sophomore).
Cadet Private Thomas Garland Jefferson, Company B, Class of 1867 (Freshman).
Cadet First Sergeant William H. Cabell, Company D, Class of 1865 (Junior).
Cadet Private Henry Jenner Jones, Company D, Class of 1867 (Freshman).
Cadet Private Charles Gay Crockett, Company D, Class of 1867 (Freshman).
Cadet Private William Hugh McDowell, Company B, Class of 1867 (Freshman).
Cadet Private Alva Curtis Hartsfield, Company D, Class of 1866 (Sophomore).
Cadet Private Jaqueline "Jack" Beverly Stanard, Company B, Class of 1867 (Freshman).
Cadet Private Luther Cary Haynes, Company B, Class of 1867 (Freshman).
Cadet Private Joseph Christopher Wheelwright, Company C, Class of 1867 (Freshman).

Cadet Private Thomas G. Jefferson, Co. B,
Freshman Class of 1867, VMI.
KIA at the Battle of New Market.
He was only 17 years old.

Its on that somber note that I began my drive back to South Carolina and my rain-drenched visit to Virginia came to an end. Thank y'all for taking this journey with me.