The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-02-03
WAR STORIES.
Charge Of the boy battalion.



tlcirating in a saDruinary and hard
fought battle, where tic service they
rendered was SO timely and elective,
that it materially contributed to the
fortunes Of the day. In the month Of
May, 1861, three battles were fought
on the soil Of Virginia. Two were on
the eastern side Of ,hc Blue Ridge
Mountains, and one in the famous
Valley Of the Shenandoah, where still
walked the wrath Of Stoncwall Jack
son, dead at Chanccliorsvillc the May
previous. The gigantic conflicts Of
the Wilderness and Spottsylvania
Court House, May ) to 7 and May :
TO Is, which fill so large a space on
the canvas of one Of the world great
est wars, would inevitably throw into
the shade the small battle in the val
ley, but for the romantic circumstance
bhat on the Confederate side it was
partly fought by the cadets of the
Virginia Military Academy. Yet the
battle of New Market was iu itself no
insignificant factor in the defence Of
Virginia and the protection Of the
Confederate Capital.
The Federal general, Sigcl, who had
established himself at Winchester, in
April, had force of about 5000 in
fantry $500 cavalry and three or
four Gnla batteries, and was making
raadn FOR forward movement. To
Meet him, General lmbodcn, Of the
Confederate Cavalry, who was in camp
in Rockingham County, over seventy
miles from Winchester, advanced with
force Of ,492 men and 100 scouts,
who operated in Sigcl's front aud rear.
The reserves" Of Rockingham and
Augusta Counties, about 900 men,
were notified to be ready ht a moments
warning to join Imbodcn, and tho
same order was sent to the command
ant Of the Virginia Military Institute
Imboden's skillful tactics granted
him respite Of several days, which
enabled Gen. Breckenridge to reach
him from Southwest Virginia with
$500 veteran troops. Drcckinridgc
then took command, and the battle Of
New Market was fought on the 18th Of
May. The scene Of the conflict, lit
tie village with population of one
thousand souls, nestled between the
mountains and the river, in Shcnan-
doah County, its undulatipg ground
smiling with orchards and gardens
and fertile fields of grain.
The 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
sensation Of the hour "as the most
Joyous moment Of his life." The
boys in their gayety and cxuberant
spirits shouted and sang and whistled
as they swung along, all Of them join
ing, now and then, in the chorus of
some favorite air. Arrived at Staun-
ton they had yet forty miles to make
before reaching New Market. 1t
proved long and toilsome march al
together, of four days duration,
through falling rain and in wet fields
and muddy roads. But the battle day
dawned bright and beautiful, though
terrific thunder storm came later,
mingling it's terrors and grandeur with
the thunder of the guns. The boy
battalion on their arrival were quickly
IN line, having been assigned cen
tral position SO as to be as little ex-
posed as possible. The gallant Ken
tuckian in command, gentle and brave,
and one of the handsomest men to be
Hfound in either army, on whom had
fallen the mantle, and with it the
spirit of Stonewall Jackson, looked
tenderly upon the youths, called from
their studies to face field of battle,
ana WOuld 1eln nave 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. Breckinridge
said: "Youug gentlemen, I hope l
will not have to call upon you today,
but know if l should be obliged to
do so that you will do your duty"
And nobly did they respond to this
expectation. The battle was progress
ing successfully for the Confederates,
though stubbornly contested by the
Union forces, when a terrible fire met
Breckenridge from one of Sigers bat.
teries, which was on elevated ground,