Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-22
faE pATfLE NEAR NRw xARkff, NAY lsrn.

TIE BATTLE MEAN NEW MAkkEr, hA1 10TH /;
No detailed account of the part taken by tie Cadets
of the Virginia Military Institute, in the battle of the
18th Of May, near New Market has appeared. The |
following extract from the letter Of young gentleman
to his father supplies this important deficiency in The
Record Of Virginia" and will be read with pleasure:
CAMP LEE, May 2bth, 1854.
DEAR FATHER-Almghiy God, in his infinite mercy
and kindness has granted the unspeakabo pleasure
Of announcing to you that passed safely through the
pers and badshps which assaed corps in the bat
tie near New Market on the 10Th instant and am now
etioying good health We left the Virginia Military
Institute on the 18th of May, aud marched ls miles
that day. The next day we reached Gen. EchOls, in
Stanton. Here we encampsd for the night, and the
morning took up the line of march for New Mar
ket. On Saturday we encAmped within IL miles oil New
Market and we're ordered to resume tie march at IL
o'clock that night, to join Gen. lmboden, who
was In line Of battle three miles this side OF New Mar
ket The Yankees reported to be still advancing,
and their scouts a mile this side Of New Market. We
formed Junction with Gen. Imboden at o'clock A. NJ,
and having waledAbree or four hours for the Yankees
to attack u.s. we advanced slowly towards New Marker,
| feeling our way az advanced About IL O'Clock NJ
the cannonading commenced, and continued until Six
o'clock P N. Gen. Inboden promised us the post OF
honor aud placed in the centre, where the deadly
missiles of death fell thicker and faster than elsewhere
We we're first placed between our batteries and that II
| the Yankees as support to our own, We were all IN
ne spirits aad anxious for the copH CT scarcely beev-
ing that we would get into it, after the cannonade
had commenced, having been hitherto 80 often dlsap-
pointed After remaining at this point short time, We
were ordered to advance, and having to cross long
hill exposed to Iaking FIRE from the Yankee battery,
we began to learn, much to regret that Aghling
was not as pleasant as We had anticipated. Cap. Hill
and Private Wise were wounded, and several others
stunned by shell. After having passed this bill we
we're ordered tC lie down in corn field where the mud
was nearly knee Deep Many of us here lost shoes
/ in the mud. After hatng about fifteen minutes, we
were ordered 10 charge Yankee battery IL was then
thai the fire of infantry opened both Sides and con-
tinued in undated fury for neatly hour, when the
| Yankees commenced falling back. We pushed on amid
a shower of musket balls, and on getting within 200
yards of the Yankee battery they opened upon us more
rapidly than eSer showerng upon US grape and CAMS
| ter Here our men fell thick and fast l. was
the most exciting and touching scene that ever
| wi messed. Whilst were advancing, men who had
fallen on the field and who seemed 10 be in the last
aponies of death, would raise themselves from the
| ground and cheer us 10 the couh ct. Tn Sc, a2d
many such scenes sufficient to inspire the most
cowardly with courage. remember well, one poor
fellow who had fallen the field raised himself from
the ground aud taking off his bat waved it above his
head cheering Us on when just at that moment shell
burst few PAGES in front OF us aud killed him instant
ly. The Yankees finding all their efforts to impede
our advance useless compelled to abandon their
pieces and take to fight for safety On reaching ano-
Their hill they made another desperate attempt to drive
US back but with no better We must ell ac-
knowledge, however, the Yankees fought well. At one
time we were within q few yards OF them; and whilst
retreatng they fell back In remarkably good Order
loading aud firing on US with much cooness as they
retreated Their officers here again attempted to rally
them, but without success
We here captured Yankee colonel, who was shot
through the shoulder. When he fell private and cap
tain cam to his assistance. Oae OF the cadets rushed
upon him whilst attempting TO escape. The captain
drew his sword ard was getting the better OF bin,
when another cadet ADVANCED he hen aempte1 10 draw
his pistol when the other cadet him through with
his bayonet l proud to say that cur little battalion
played quite conspicuous part in the hight and conse-
ouently It's loss was greater than that OF any oiher
Our oss was six killed and forlyn wounded When
we cana off the field we were completely exhausted,
havirE that evening double quicked upwards of three
miles IN pursuit OF the Yankees We would have cap
ured their whole force but they crossed the river and
burnt the bridge which put an end TO the pursuit |
often wished that artist could have been present,
that our little group could have been taken just as We
came off the field OF battle with our faces covered with
mud and powder. We presented quite gsotesque aod
fghtu aspect During the heat OF the battle the rain
fell in torrents and were often ordered TO lie down,
when II Q mud and water sould nearly cover US. My
pants aud jacket when entered New Market that night,
were caked over with mud We ve.y kindly treated
hV the citizens throughout the
Market and StAunton, where ladies took US to their
houses and treated US as if their brothers II
reminded me of the first year of the each seemed
veng one with the other which could do the most for
| u.s. Consequently we were inspired with feelings oil
gratitude to them aud very 10th to leave them to
come to Richmond, where We now are. We left Staun.
| ton on Sunday, May 221d, at 10 o'clock A. NJ and
reached Richmond at l o'clock, P. NJ. on Monday,
having travelled all night We passed Bumpass about
day break Every place through which We passed. the
ladies' we're inquiring for the Cadets not thinking for
an instant that we we're "hs Cadets being so dirty
| aud badly dressed. Tney ssemed surprised when We
told them We were the Cadets. We look, nov, mucl
worse than regular Soldiers few Of have had any
clean clothes since we left the Institute. am about
as dirty as can we'll get The most of ua lost our
blankets in the fight aud have to sleep on tie naked
ground with the deep and starstudded vault o. heaven
as our only canopy. We were received by President
Davis a1d were highly complmented by him and Gov
Smith Congress too presented resolutions OF thanks
through their Speaker In fact think they have made
entirely too much noise" 1t is true We fought
WE'LL and in the charge eoIOrs in advance OF all
the Others but to the fighting all stood up to 1t like
i men, equally as well as ourselves.
Ny love to all. lam, as ever, your fond and atsc-
tonate son, !. D. v.
j A SOUTHERN YANKEE Trick The Memphis Bulletin
i late number of which VIC have before u.s. says GER
tain large factor of that city received few days since
II &c ApLa