New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and Hall of Valor Museum: The Battle Of New Market - Civil War Discovery Trail Sites on Waymarking.com

The New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and Hall of Valor Museum on the Valley & Mountain/Route 11: Winchester to Port Republic section of the Virginia Civil War Discovery Trail is a 280-acre park that features a Civil War museum, a walking tour through the battlefield, and a restored 19th-century farm.

One of the stops is on the road into the Park -- The Battle Of New Market. On May 15, 1864 , Union Gen. Sigel and his 10,000 troops clashed with a small Confederate force of 4000 and cadets from the nearby Virginia Military Institute led by Gen. Breckenridge at the New Market battlefield. While the Confederates mustered at the Bushong House, they were fired upon by Union soldiers in the orchard. The Confederates shot back and the VMI cadets filled the gaps left by fallen men. They forced the Union soldiers back into the wheat fields. The Confederates relentlessly pursued them. The field was dubbed the Field of Lost Shoes by a cadet whose shoe was sucked off by the boggy mud of the field. Union cavalry rode right into cannon that Breckenridge had set up on a ridge and suffered devastating losses. The Union continued to retreat and soldiers tried to provide cover as men dragged their artillery back through the muddy field. The Confederates were ultimately victorious. The Union had suffered 841 losses, and the Confederacy had 531, including 10 VMI cadets.

Every year, there is a reenactment of the Battle of New Market on the very same battlefield it occurred.0

Type of site: Battlefield Address: 8895 George Collins Parkway New Market, VA USA 22844 Phone Number: 540-740-3101 Admission Charged: More than $5 Website: [Web Link] Driving Directions: From I-81 take exit 264 at New Market; turn onto Route 211 west and immediately turn right onto Route 305 (George Collins Parkway). Follow "State Historical Park" signs to the main entrance at the end of the Parkway.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/17/2011 79scouts visited it