The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-14


BY Edward Raymond Turner. Profess
sor OF European History. University OF
/ Michigan. l2 mo. POS rages-maps and
/ ongravinss. Whittet & Shepperson.
| Richmond. Va.
Not for along time have We had in
/ our hands a contribution TO war his
/ tory SO attractive and deeply inter
ostine as this mastery study OF the
campaign in tho Valley OF virginia
which eliminated on May Il. 1864, IN
the Battle OF New Market The book
is well made printed accurately in
cood type. and very tastefully bound
with mans and nlustra tions, index.
appendix and bibliogrsphy. In all
this regard it is a model Of the best
in modern book making.
For various reasons. though not great
i'm the number engaged the battle Of
which this book is ii study WAS one
OF Importance in itself. and OF interest
and attractiveness tina; have grown
through the nearly nifty years that
have passed. The very notable skill
and energy OF the Confederate leader,
General Brcckinridee the unity OF act
ION on the field. the courage and gal
lantry OF officers and men OF all COM
ma nde the part taken by the boys of tho
Y NJ l. Cadet Corps. and the signal
victory Of the Confederate force against
Somewhat superior numbers. and at a
limo Of general depression and dis
couragcmen,. have combined 20 make
the Battle OF New Market an event Of
much historic interest. and have given
it halo OF some romantic heroism.
In the latter part of the war be-
tween the sections. when the Confed-
crate ranks were growing thin and
supplies Of all kind were failing. while
General Lee was holding Grant In
check in Hanover before Richmond.
larce Federal forces were closing In
through Western Virginia beyond the
Blue Ridge From the kanawha VAL
ley General Crook was advancing into
southwestern Virginia to seize and
destroy the railroad which is now the
Norfold and Western. and TO take pos
session OF the important mines OF salt
and lead, with Lynchburg as hts ulu-
mate objective General Sigel from
Martinshurg on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railway and Winchester was
moving UP the Shena ndoah Valley with
stanton and the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad as his aim. Both OF these
expeditions failed OF entire success, but
were followed in another campaign OF
interruption and destruction that had
much 10 do with the final evacuation
! of Richmond and the falling OF the cur
! tain At Appomattox.
When the advance Of SiEcl UP the
I valley became tormid bic and threat
/ ching. General lmboien with hts small
I and active force. singularly made TIP OF
mounted infantry and iismountcd cav
airy. was reinforced by the troops from
/ tho Southwest. General John Z Breck-
! inrdge taking command ~ the united
! force with headquarters At Staunton.
! Moving down the Valley Turnpike.
prompilv and tearlessly. EreclSlnridsss
( small command OF about five thousand
| Of all arms came into CONFLICT With
! the nd Of Sigel. or thu head o!
his column, for much % /; was not
! ye, or the field. at New Market. on
/ the morning OF Sunday MAY ] !. New
Nfarke, is small town on the old
turnpike IN the western branch q the
! Shenandoah Valley, nifty miles from
/ stanton. and forty-e,ght miles from
Winchester having soma stretesi, inn
nortanco as thu road from Iuray ever
q gar in the Massanutton Mountains
here crosses the VALLEY Turnpike on
its way n Mooreheld. The engagement
winch lasted through the day was most
rorously fought with changes in the
lines and formations ami with advapc-
ing positions until in the evening vie
tory perched on tho Battle Flag II the
South and the FEDERAL force withdrew
from tho whole neld II was not a
rared hut vas important ir holdinn
possession II the Shenandoah Valley. II
stanton and the railroad which
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