On May 10, 1864, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Corps of Cadets were ordered to join General John C. Breckinridge's Confederate forces near Staunton, Virginia. After marching nearly 85 miles northward, the Corps arrived at New Market, Virginia on Sunday morning, May 15, 1864.

General Franz Sigel's Union troops were positioned atop Bushong's Hill and raked the Confederate line with cannon and musketry, which created a gap in the line.  Remarkably, the cadets helped close the gap, allowing the Confederate forces to regroup and push back the Union army. Breckenridge forced Sigel and his men to retreat, securing the battlefield for the Confederacy.  Many cadets lost their footwear in the freshly plowed soil that turned to thick mud after several days of rain. That section of the battlefield became known as the “Field of Lost Shoes.”

A New Market Battlefield map was created by Benjamin A. Colonna, a civil engineer and New Market cadet veteran.

To view a list of New Market Cadets:

1. Visit the Historical Rosters Database.
2. Enter New Market into the Keyword Search box.

Official Records

VMI official records about the Battle of New Market include:

• Francis H. Smith outgoing correspondence, May 1864
• VMI Annual Report, 1864
• Lieutenant Colonel Scott Shipp report, 1864
• VMI military orders

Timeline

The following is a timeline of the Battle of New Market. 

1864 May 11: VMI Corps of Cadets left Lexington, Virginia at 7 a.m. and marched 18 miles. The Corps camped near Midway, Virginia.

1864 May 12:  The Corps marched 18 miles and arrived in Staunton, Virginia.

1864 May 13:  The Corps marched 19 miles and camped that night at Mt. Crawford, near Harrisonburg, Virginia.

1864 May 14:  The Corps marched 15 miles and camped at Mt. Tabor, seven miles south of New Market, Virginia.

1864 May 15:  The Corps fought in the Battle of New Market.

1864 May 16-17: The Corps cared for those wounded in battle.

1864 May 20:  The Corps arrived in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

1864 May 21:  The Corps arrived in Staunton, Virginia.

1864 May 23-June 7:  The Corps arrive in Richmond, Virginia and initially camp at the Fairgrounds (Camp Lee) where they were reviewed and addressed by government dignitaries.

1864 May 28: The Corps was transferred to Carter's Farm and assigned to duty under General George Washington Custis Lee who was commanding the Local Defense Troops.

Cadet Deaths

Of the 257 cadets that participated in the battle, the following 10 were killed or died later as a result of their wounds:

• Samuel F. Atwill
  • View the Samuel F. Atwill papers here
• William H. Cabell
• Charles G. Crockett 
• Alva C. Hartsfield
• Luther C. Haynes
• Thomas G. Jefferson
• Henry J. Jones
• William H. McDowell
• Jaqueline Beverly Stanard
  • View the Jaqueline Beverly Stanard papers here
• Joseph C. Wheelwright

Ceremony

The VMI Memorial Parade honors the bravery and sacrifice of all alumni who died on the field of honor. The parade takes place in May near graduation and consists of the Ceremonial Formation and the Ceremony and Review. Visit the VMI website for more information.