A Thousand Words a Battle: New Market

The Battle of New Market
May 15, 1864

The Battle of New Market, fought on May 15, 1864, pitted Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel’s small Union army against a scrambled-together Confederate force led by Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge for control of the Shenandoah Valley. Five days before the combat, Breckinridge had summoned cadets from Virginia Military Institute to act as reserves. One eighteen-year-old cadet, John Clarke Howard, later wrote about his experiences, giving a glimpse of the battle that turned boys into soldiers in a trial by combat.

We were marched northward to the Valley road near at hand, attaining which, we filed to the right and proceeded eastward. I never saw a darker night, if it be correct to speak of seeing when there nothing that could be seen. There was a file in front of me, another in the rear, and on right and left I touched elbows with two others, but they were as invisible as if miles away. . . .

Arriving near New Market, the Corps of Cadets—257 strong that day—formed as a reserve line and first came under fire during their advance down Shirley’s Hill.

Next came the order for the second line of battle to advance, and we marched with it. Having seen the experience of the first line, I knew it was practically certain it would be repeated in the case of the second. As we were nearing the summit of the ridge, I wondered—for boys, and men, too, sometimes, will have absurd thoughts—I wondered if, from my position on the almost extreme right, I looked down the battalion I was any more likely to get hit than if I looked in front. . . .

We now marched on down the hill in front, which was a right steep one. There was a road at the bottom, and just beyond the road a fence. Crossing this fence we were halted and ordered to take off blankets and everything else, except gun and equipment. This looked like business, stripping fro the fight, and we began to think our work was really cut out for us. “Attention, Battalion! Forward!” This was the beginning of that long-ascending field, the main theater of the fight. . . .

Near the Bushong Farm, the thin Confederate battle lines struggled to hold. To strengthen and unite the line, Breckinridge gave the fateful order, sending the cadets into battle.

Men were falling, but, “each stepping where his comrade stood,” the integrity of the corps was kept. I was nearly at the extreme right and could see the entire length of the battalion, and again and again I wondered how it was able to keep its formation so well. I know now, though I did not then, how much drill and the habit of obedience had to do with that parade ground line. . . .

We were in the culminating struggle for victory or defeat. Men were falling in no infrequency. In this vicinity it was that Cabell, Jones, Crockett, and McDowell were killed Macon, Randolph, Jefferson, White, severely wounded. Of the less severely wounded in the battalion, a number, declining to leave, retained their places in the ranks. Our gallant foes were straining every nerve to stop the Southern advance. The Cadet Battalion was inspired by the training of the Virginia Military Institute in the first duty of a soldier—obedience. They were habituated to obey as commanded, and it was especially its duty to carry the backing of the parade ground into the fierce interlocking of decisive warfare. This closing resistance of the foe was terrible at the time, and terrible recall. . . .

A crisis had been reached: the fire was too hot for irresponsive action, and retreat or advance was the alternative. We considered a retreat no part of the game, and “forward” was the order. . . .

And now once more forward. The first thing to do was climb the fence, which impressed itself on me so indelibly as never to have been forgotten. It was an ordinary rail fence, probably about four feet high, but as I surmounted the topmost rail I felt at least fen feet up in the air and the special object of hostile aim. But in clearing this obstruction I was leaving all thought of individuality behind. What I saw and hear, the surrounding conditions in which I was to be a participant, left no room for attention to insignificant personality. . . .

The shot-torn standard of the Corps floated triumphantly, upheld in Evan’s gallant grasp and backed and protected by its not less dauntless guard, while the cadet ranks pressed forward in close, cheering charge. The late terrific fire of the Federal troops had been a farewell salute apparently, preliminary to retreat. . . .

As I gazed along our lines for the last time that bloody day, what were my thoughts and emotions? I do not know, but I knew the battle was past and over, and the record of the Cadet Battalion made—that to the call to the test of fire the Virginia Military Institute had answered “Here.”[1]

— Sarah Kay Bierle

Part of a series.

[1] John Clark Howard, “Recollections of New Market,” Confederate Veteran Magazine, Vol. 34. (1929) Pages 57-59.