Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-10
CONFEDERATE CADETS.
MILITARY INSTITUTE BOYS AT THE
BATTLE OF NEW MARKET.


Great Many Confederate Officers
Heroic and Victorious Charg. of Mere
Boyr-Esont Of Federal Veterans.
When the civil war broke out there was
an Institution situated in Lexington. Va,
which was at that time the only DIS
tinctively military academy in the south
II had been organized in 1889 by the state
Of Virginia upon the basis Of the closest
possible resemblance to- the United States
Military aca.icny at West Point. and
growing steadily in the public esteem, il
lad sent out, prior to the opening Of the
war. 200 graduates When the great con
flct Became imminent and certain the
superintendent Of Tie Virginia niEtaEy
institute vgiih the most Of its officers.
among whom was the then unknown MAJ.
Thomas J. Jackson, resigned their aca-
dernic positions and were assigned 10 duty
in the provisional army Of Virginia
when the state seeded the s3gacious eye
Of the president Of the Confedcracy fore
saw the necessity that there should be kept
in active operation some institution which
should supply the southern armies with
trained officers. as WAS done for the Fed
eral armies By West Point: and the officers
0. the school were, for the most part, or
dered back and directed to reopen the
institute. Only one prof need be adj
duccd as to the efficiency with which this
appointed task was d.. charged by the
school When the war cloaed Gne-tenth
II the Confederate aFmic- had been under
the command Of pupils 4 the institute,
embracing three major generals, thirty
brigadier generals, sixty coionels, nifty
lieutenant colonies, thirty majors, l25
captains and over 200 lieutenants.
In 1864 the section OF tie valley Of Viz
gnia In which the institute was situated
was threatened by the army Of Gen. Franz
Sigel, and the superintendent Of the insti-
tut. was ordered by Gen Breckenridge in
command OF the Valley district, to march
the cadets to his assistance The corps
embraced two hundred ard fifty boys,and
on the 18th Of May, 1864 left Lexington
with a section Of artillery to act as II re-
serve for Gen. Breckenridge, If posi-
bic, to be used freely in battle, If neces-
sary. On Sunday, the 18th May, the
forces Of Gen. Breckenridge met the
army Of Gen Sigei, near the village Of
New Market. The exigencies Of the con
nict soon convinced Gen. Breckenridge
that the cadets must be sent forward.
They were ordered to the front, and
charging IN superb order upon Federal
battery and its Infantry support, captured
the battery and won the glory OF the Fed
eral defeat OF the two hundred and
twenty five who made this charge fifty
six fell, dead or wounded. This gallant
charge by u battalion OF mere boys las
been made the theme of "a most stirring
and vivid sketch by the Hon John ;.
W.e of Virginia.
A few weeks after the battle Of New
Market Dr. Hunter Mcclure, formerly
chief medical director OF "Stonewall"
Jacksons army corps and the surgeon
y no attended him after his fatal wound
at Charlottesville, made an official visit
OF inspection TO the hospitals established
in IIarrisouburg, Va, for the care Of the
wounded sent irom the field Of New Mar
ket. Among the convalescent he found
a United States colonel Of volunteers. who
had been seriously injured in the recent
fight. DR.. Mcclure expressed to this
officer his regret that the impoverished
condition Of the southern service and the
total want OF hospital stores had made it
impossible to make the wounded prisoners
more comfortable, adding that the
Confederate wounded were equally strait
ened The officer replied that he had re-
ceiyed every needed attention and had
been treated with marked Kindness. lie
then said. in substance, rs foi.o
Doctor, | would hardly seem to be a
fit object for congratulations, wounded as
I am and n prisoner; yet do congratu
late myself that ! was pre- ent ut tie
battle of New Market You are surprised,
will exulain myself had, before HE
war began, been something of reader,
and especially interested in military lis
tory, ant had formed very district
conception of the manner in which Dis
cplined troops might be expected to g.
have on he field of battle, But in all NY
observation during the three years Of the
war had seen nothing that correspondent
with my expectations. | had been It'll
some Of our nest troops in battle and |
had seen the choicest Confederate troops.
On both sides had witnessed the fight
ing of brave and heroic men. but nothing
answering to my ideal OF war, had
never looked on the perfect union Of
morale and discipline until | saw il in
that petty fight at New Market
Nv hen that battle opened | was with
my regiment in a strong position which /
had selected for them behind the crest Of
n hill, on the front side of which was the
field Of wheat through which the Catjet
battalion charged. | had made my men
lie down and do not think the Coufed
crate TROOPS knew We We're there | saw
I've cadets form in line of hattie and adj
vance. As soon as they moved forward
the battery which my regiment was sup
porting opcucd on them with grape and
canister Ihcy closed the zap torn in
their ranks aud cauic On touching elbow,
as If they we're on drill and we practiciug
upon them with blank cartridges. AS
they approached Us we opened with
muSkctry at close range, but they came
straight on In moment found myself
on the ground with this wound When |
raised ySolt mp tie cadet line WAS pass
ing uVer NE ground on which my leei-
ment had STOOD. My men were not
towards, toy were IS good soldiers rs
any of otr volunteer troolo- But one
might a. well have attempted to stop
homls hell with his bare hand as to arrest
tie charge Of those regulars with my
troops. am glad | WAS there, for then |
saw war lanes iienderson smith in
Philadelphia Times.