The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-01
THRILLING STORY
From the Records of the Corps OF
Cadets of the
VIRGINIA MILITARY ACADEMY.

New Market.

1t is a record uneSampled in his
tory, this story Of some two hundred
and twenty-five boys, under is: par,
ticipating in a Sanguinary and hard
fought battle, where the service they
rendered was SC timely and effective
that it materially contributed to the
fortunes Of the day. In the month
Of May, 1864, three battles were
fought on the soil of Virginia. Two
we're on the eastern side of the Blue
Ridge Mountains, and one in the
famous Valley OF the Shenandoah,
where still walked the wrath of Stone
wall Jackson, dead at Charlottesville c
the May previous. The gigantic con-
tlicts of the Wilderness and Spottsyl-
vania Court House, May . to and
May S to Is. which tll so large space
on the canvas of one Of the worlds
greatest wars, would inevitably throw
into the shade the small battle in the
valley, but for the romantic circum-
stance that on the Confederate side
it was partly fought by the cadets OF
the Virginia Military Acadtute. Yet
the battle of New Market was in itself
no Insignificant factor in the defence
of Virginia and the protection OF the
Confederate Capital.
The Federal general, Sigel, who had
established himself at Winchester, in
april, had force of about 5000 in
fantry, $500 cavalry and three or
four field batteries, and was making
ready for forward movement. To
meet him, Gen Imbodin, of the Con
federata cavalry, who was 10 camp in
Rockingham County, over seventy
miles from Winchester, advanced with
a force of 1872 men and 100 scouts,
who operated in Sigels front and rear.
The reserves" Of Rockingham and
Augusta counties, about 1000 men,
were rotihed to be ready at a mo-
ment's warming to join lmboden, and
the Same order was sent to the COM
mandant of the Virginia Military In
stitute. Imboden'S skilful tactics
granted him a respite Of several days,
which enabled Gen. Breckinridge to
reach him from Southwest Virginia
with $500 veteran troops. Breck-
inridga then took command, and the
battle OF New Market was fought on
the 18th of May The scene Of the
conflict, little village with a popula-
ton of one thousand souls, nestled
between the mountains and the river,
in Shenandoah County, its undulating
ground smiling with orchards and
gardens and fertile fields of grain.
The cadets left the Institute on the
llth Of May. Tley were up before
daybreak making their preparations,
and, after an early breakfast were on
the march. With the ardor OF youth
they went ioyfully to the fray. One
of them, ten years later, recalled the
sensations of the hour as the most
Joyous moment of bis life" The boys
in their gayety and e1uberant spirits
shouted and sang and whistled as they
swung along, all Of them joining, now
and then in the chorS Of some favorlte
air. Arrived at Staunton they had
vet forty miles to make before reach
ing New Market. 1t proved a long
and toilsome march altogether, OF
four days duration, through falling
rain and wet fields and muddy roads.
But the battle day dawned bright and
beautiful, though terrific thunder
storm came later, mingllng its terrors
and grandeur with the thunder OF the
guns. The boy battalion on their ar
rival were quickly in line, having been
assigned a central position SO as to be
as little exposed as possible. The
gallant Kentuckian in command,
gentle and brave, and one Of the
handsomest men to be found in either
army, on whom had fallen the man
tie, and with it the spirit, Of Stone
wall Jackson, looked tenderly upon
the youths, called from their stu lies
to face field Of battle, and would
fain have spared them the fiery
ordeal.
Riding up to the cadet corps, just
before the engagement, his graceful
and commanding figure conspicuous
object on the field, Gen Breckenridge
said: young gentlemen, hope l
will not have to call upon you to-day,
but l know if should be obliged to
dc so that you will do your duty" And
nobly did they respond to this expecta-
ton. The battle was progressing
successfully for the Confederates.
though stubbornly contested by the
Union forces, when terrible fire met
Breckinridge from one Of Sigefs
batteries, which was on elevated
ground, doing much damage to the
Confederate infantry. 1t was then,
at about 2 o'clock IN the day. that
the cadets were called into action,
though they had already suffered
several casualties from random shells.
The boys, with the agility and en-
thusiaSn Of their years, outran the
veterans who were alongside OF them,
crossing deep and rock gully about
three hundred yards from the battery,
under the concentrated fire OF its SIX
guns, plunging through thorns and
briers and over fallen logs and stumps
of trees. Then they waited for the
SD Virginia regiment some two or
three minutes, keeping their forma-
ton with wonderful coolness While
the battery was doing its deadly WorK
upon their youthful ranks. When
the order was given to charge, the en-
counter was soon over, though the
gunners stood gallantly to their guns
until overpowered. \ cadet mounted
a caisson and waved from it in
triumph the Virginia State flag, the
culors Of the Institute, rouSlng WHO
yell Of triumph from the Confeder'