May 15, 1864---The Battle of New Market

MAY 15, 1864: 

The Battle of New Market: 

On the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Spotsylvania Court House, the Shenandoah Valley erupts into battle. 

A Union army of 10,000 led by General Franz Sigel attempts to take Staunton, Virginia. 

Among the barely 4,000 Confederates facing Sigel are 250 cadets of the Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.). Some are 15 year old boys, but the Confederacy is that pressed for manpower. 

Daringly, the Confederate Commander, former U.S. Vice-President and Presidential hopeful John C. Breckinridge decides to attack Sigel’s force which is strung out along the New Market Road. His daring almost costs him the day, as his men are mown down. 

With no reserves left, he throws the V.M.I. cadets into the battle line. The boys charge across the open ground which is soaked due to the recent heavy rains. Many of the boys lose their shoes in the muck, but whether it is a function of their brazenness and bravery, or whether the Union troops are reluctant to shoot at boys, or are simply amazed at being attacked by children, the cadets manage to storm the Union line. 

Sigel loses 96 killed, 520 wounded, and 225 missing in the battle, and withdraws from the Valley, leaving it in Rebel hands and frustrating part of Grant’s grand strategy for this point in the war. Breckenridge loses 43 killed, 474 wounded, and 3 missing, including ten cadets killed. 

"The Bonnie Blue Flag" from THE HORSE SOLDIERS (1959)