No NPS? No Problem—New Market

Day Ten in a series coinciding with the federal government shutdown

Situated about 20 minutes north of Harrisonburg, Virginia is the small town of New Market. Here on May 15, 1864, Confederates under Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge engaged a Union force commanded by Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel. In a day-long battle, Breckinridge was able to break the Union lines and Sigel fled the field.

There are several sites throughout New Market to visit that are related to the battle. Located on the western side of Interstate 81 is the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, “Field of Lost Shoes” and the Bushong Farm. In town, one should visit the cemetery at St. Mathew’s Lutheran Church. A number of Confederates who were killed during the battle are buried here. In the center of the cemetery is a Confederate monument that was dedicated on May 12, 1898. Driving north out of town on Route 11, indviduals can stop at the 54th Pennsylvania monument.

For more information on visiting New Market see:

http://www2.vmi.edu/museum/nm/

For more information on the battle see:

Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, May 1864 by Charles R. Knight. Savas Beatie, 2010.