New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and Hall of Valor Museum: VMI Cadet Casualties - 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 near the Hall of Valor Civil War Museum -- Baptism of Fire VMI Cadet Casualties in the Battle of New Market. In May 1864 , as Union Gen. Sigel and his 10,000 troops advanced into New Market to deliver a crushing blow to the Confederacy, cadets from the nearby Virginia Military Institute were sent to reinforce Confederate Gen. Breckinridge's force of 4000 men. The cadets were blooded in the battle that took place on May 15, when they were sent to fill the holes in the line as Confederate soldiers fell. Of the 257 cadets that went to war, ten were killed. Cadets William Cabell, Charles Crockett, Henry Jones, and Joseph Wheelwright were hit by a shell before they were even ordered into battle. Cabell, Crockett, and Jones died instantly. Wheelwright died of his wounds two weeks later. Cadet William McDowell was killed near the Bushong House where the Union line was. Cadets Samuel Atwill, Luther Haynes, Thomas Jefferson, and Jacqueline Stanard were hit near the Bushong orchard when the VMI cadets were ordered to fill the gaps in the line. All but Stanard, who was killed, died later of their wounds. Cadet Alva Hartsfield also died later of his wounds received during the battle, although the exact location of his wounding is unknown. Another 45 of the 257 cadets who marched to war at New Market were casualties.

The CWDT marker near the location of the first VMI casualties shows a map of the battlefield which pinpoints where each cadet fell.

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.

Visit Instructions:
Post a picture of site showing the signage or other notable feature. Please tell what you saw or learned.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   06/03/2012 BuckeyeFinnigan visited it 07/17/2011 79scouts visited it

View all visits/logs