Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-01-28
TIE BATTLE OF NEW MARKET.

in the constitutional conver ton on
Friday lat Col. F. L. Smith, Of this
city, was given permission to incorpor-
ste 10 t le proceedings of that body his
views lavoring an appropriation to the
Virginia Military Instituts. Col.
Sm ( a paid q beautiful tri0uts to the
ins 1t lte, and to its noble work, to its Of
ficers and cadets and to tle soldiers OF
tne SoLt1, and gave the following
graphic sccou' OF t1e part taken 10
the battle OF New Market by the V. Nj.
/. Cadet Corps:
Perhaps st this point / may be pa
doDed for a personal "reminiscences OF
the Virginia Military Instit ate. 1t was
IN the spriug OF 1864 when the req war
cloud was sweeping over our devoted
land. Being sorely pressed by the
enemy, Gen. Breckenridge felt obliged
to call out the battalion of cadets to bis
assistance in t5e Valley Of Virginia,
aud thtt company Of patriot lads eager
ly responded to the summons.
Some little me since by the courtesy
OF friend l saw the play OF Cyreno de
Bergerso. Irt-ntly following the
Iread of the story 1t reached the poir t
where at the dissttrou sege of Arras,
a company OF Gascon cadets to who %
had been assigned tae place OF honor
and pot of danger, bad fallen under
the attack OF their adverssriss, save
their commander, who, himself des-
pert t,ly wounded, with banner 10 one
nand and sword in the other, just
before be fell. pointed to bis dead aud
dying comrades, exclaiming with pride
and emotion, "These, these are the
cadets OF Gascoigne," The words touch
a hidden chord and awoke it into life.
The brilliant scene faded from my
view, and oblivious to surroundings the
euchantress Memory transported me
to May IA, 1864 to stone or brick
church in the Valley Of Virginia, be-
tween Hsrrisonburg and Newmarket,
where, ss q member OF Company A OF
the Battalion OF Cadets from the Vir-
giniA Military Institute ct Lexington, f,
/ had gone to sleep. The ret le OF ac-
coutrements and moving feet awakened
me, to find the battalion 10 progress OF
formst on outside of the church. The
hour was midnight.
There was iron discipline 10 that
command. The line being formed and
the battalion brought to q "psrade
rest" it looked like a solid body 10.
stead OF 30 many independeI units.
A veil of clouds was drawn across { ne
arch OF heaven while the lesping flames
O the camp fires cast fai tlstic shadows
which chased each other iLt) the
gloom beyond; the moaning OF toe
wlnds, the sobbing logs upon the fires
and the falling rain were tle only her.
slds of the drama which was to be
enacted 80 soon upon the theatre Of war
Capt. Frank Prett IN, professor, COM
manding B Company, was under these
conditions inv ID to invoke divine
blessing upon the organization. There
were some there destined to die befoit
the morrow's sun should run Its course
but they knew it not, nor did othsrs
There were others there to llpguisf
upon beds Of suffering and paio, from
wounds to be received before the twi
light came, but they knew IL not, nor
did others. But ell we're ready to die
soldiers death and to fill a patriots
grave.
As the words Of prayer fell from tn
soldier-christai lips and, asoended T.
Heaven, thoughts OF home and love
ones came thronging upon the youths
Faces OF playmate, brother and gentl
sister, OF tae dignitied father who's
great concern was the happiness an
welfare OF his off,pring, OF the devote
mother, npon whose bosom bis hes
had been Graded 10 infancy, and g
whose kUee be had first lisped th
Lords prayer, came troopiDg befor
him one after the other. Bot tb
mothers face fingered longest aud last
Alb, those mot t5ers. Then saints upo
earth, most Of them now saints l
Heaven. Hark seem to hear thei
voices chanting 10 the angelic choir.
1t was q scene to which no huma
pen could do justice.
The scene changes and with ligh
| swinging step the corps advances t
meet the enemy. 10 the Distance can b
seen semicircle OF osmpfires. and th
6rst thought is: that theadventure Is
be q night attack, bot marching OF
marching ever from midnight to dswr
those brightly burning fires seem .
ways TO recede. AS day breaks th
whole army can be seen stretched slon
the Valley turnpike; the sound {
horses feet can be heard approachin
from the rear, q moment more, and
brilliant cavslcsde is abreast the co
ump, IL takes no second glance to ia
upon the chief, { Ill, striking 10 appes
ance with all ofthe grace. fire and beaut
of the soutnrop, General John
Breckenridge, commanding the lit
army is beside the cadets. They saluI
him with q rouslng cheer. Uupholdir
his sloved hand, be said: Young ge
tlemen, l an glad TO see you 10 sut
| fiue spirit 1is morning, but ss we o.
near the enemy, think it would
best to preserve silence" The lines
bat lie are formed. In depression 0
tween two ranges of hills, near Ne
Market 10 Shenandoah county, Z
cadet bait ,liou is hsltsd, to strip !
the fight. Heverescks and olankt
are removed and plsced In pilss, sl
the young athlete stands foit3, for
trial Of itisnsta VITA mRtsrs nanhoo