The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-21
The Story of the Charge Of the Cadet
Battalion at New rlarket,
Hay is, 1904.
Under VIRGINIA FLAG THEY WON VICTORY
Eager for Opportunity Enemy His They Went
Up Under the Brave Ship in Storm Of Canister
and Though r1any Fell They Saved the Day
and 8
tory's Brightest Page.

1t is a record unexampled in history.
this story of some two hundred ana TWEEN
ty-hve boys. under eighteen, participating
in sangunary and hard-fought battle,
where the service they rendered was SO
timely and effective that 1t materially
contributed to the fortunes OF the DAY.
In the month of May. lS64. three pa. 1
were fought on the soil of Virginia. Two
were on the eastern side of the Blue
Ridge Mountains and one In the famous
Valley of the Shenandoah. where sun
walked the wrath Of Stonewall JACKSON
dead at charlottesville the May pre-
vious. The gigantic CONNECTS OF tne W.
derness and Spotsylvatnia Courthouse,
Nav 5th to 18th and May Sth to 18th, which
fiji SO large space on the canvas o,
ono of the worlds greatest wars, Woula
Inevitably throw into the shade the srlaii
battle in the Valley, but for the roman
tic circumstance that on the Contede.a.e
aide It was partly fought by the cadets
of the Virginia Military Institute. 1et
the battle of New Market was In Itself
no insigniflcant factor In the defense OF
Virginia and the protection Of the Con-
federate capital.
The Federal General Slgel, VINO had
established himself at Winchester IN
April. had force of about 5000 Infantry,
$500 cavalry and three or four field bat
3teres and was making ready tor LOT
ward movement, To meet him, GeneIal
Imboden Of the Confederate cavalry, VINO
was in camp in Rockingham county, owe,
seventy miles from Winchester. advanced
with a force of 1892 men and 100 scouts,
who operated In Slgel's front and rear.
The PRESERVES" of Rockingham and Au-
r,,sta counties, about 1000 men, were nou-
fed to be ready at moments warning
to 1oin Imboden, and the same order was
sent to Lexington, In Rockbridge county.
to the commandment of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute. Imboden's sklllful tactics
gained him q respite Of several days,
which enabled General BreckinrldSe 20
reach him from Southwest Virginia with
took command, and the battle of New
Market was fought on the 18th OF May.
The scene OF the conflict, n little village
with a population Of one thousand SOUS,
nestled between the mountains ana the
river, in Shenandoah county. Its undu.
lating ground smiling with - orcna ,r ana
THEY JOYED IN BATTLE.
Tho cadets left the institute on the 18th
of May They were up before daybreak
making their preparations, and after an
early breakfast were on the march. With
the ardor of youth they went joyfully
to the fray. One OF them ten years later,
recalled the sensations OF the hour as
the most joyous moment of his ltfe.' The
boys in their gayety and exuberant spirits
shouted and sang and whistled as they
swung along, all OF them joining, now
and then, In the chorus OF some fayorite
air. Arrived at Staunton they had yet
forty miles to make before reaching New
Market 1t proved long and toilsome
march altogether, Of four days duration,
through falling rain and in wet fields
and muddy roads. But tho battle day
dawned bright and beautiful. though q
terrific thunderstorm came later. ming
ling It's terrors and grandeur with the
thunder of the guns. The boy battalion on
their arrival were quickly in line. having
been assigned n central position so as to
be as little exposed as possible The gal
liant Kentuckian in command. gentle ard
brave, and one Of the handsomest men
to be found in either army, on whom had
fallen the mantle. and with it the spirit, Of
Stonewall Jackson, looked tenderly upon
tho youths. called from their studies to
face a field of battle, and would fain have
spared them the fiery ordeal
Riding up to the cadet corps Just be-