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New Market Day marked by VMI

Posted on 05/15/2005 12:49:52 PM PDT by e5man_r_u?

I would be remiss as an Alumnus if I did not post some kind of New Market day thread.

The Battle of New Market was fought on May 15th 1864 outside the town of New Market VA. During the battle the VMI corps of cadets distinguished themselves by charging the Union lines and capturing a Union Artillery battery. Eight cadets were killed that day. Two more died later from their wounds.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; US: Virginia; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: civilwar; confederacy; dixie; history; newmarket; vmi
I would have posted a link to a news story, but a certain "news leader" in the area would not allow it.
1 posted on 05/15/2005 12:49:54 PM PDT by e5man_r_u?
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To: e5man_r_u?
For anyone interested here is the VMI Museum page on the battle.
http://www4.vmi.edu/museum/nm/
2 posted on 05/15/2005 1:20:23 PM PDT by e5man_r_u? (A Man's mission: Build, Protect, Provide)
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To: e5man_r_u?
Great museum. Old Sorrel, Gen'l Jackson's horse is there.

Really.

3 posted on 05/15/2005 1:56:27 PM PDT by SquirrelKing
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To: SquirrelKing

While I was a cadet I was a tour guide. Most people I took through the post including the museum were impressed.


4 posted on 05/15/2005 2:13:27 PM PDT by e5man_r_u? (A Man's mission: Build, Protect, Provide)
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To: e5man_r_u?

There's nothing quite like the realization that you're actually looking at Stonewalls's horse. Not a statue, not a painting, its right there on the hoof.


5 posted on 05/15/2005 2:26:38 PM PDT by SquirrelKing
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To: SquirrelKing

True, to me the whole post is alive with history. If you walk to the back side of Barracks you will see the Union Cannon balls still stuck in the wall from when VMI was shelled by Gen Hunters raid.


6 posted on 05/15/2005 2:52:43 PM PDT by e5man_r_u? (A Man's mission: Build, Protect, Provide)
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To: e5man_r_u?
"Put the boys in, and may God forgive me for the order"

...................... Major General John Breckinridge, C.S.A.

7 posted on 05/15/2005 10:58:19 PM PDT by Rabble (Just When is John F sKerry going to sign SF 180?.......... Will we live long enough?)
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To: Rabble
Every year the Rat Mass (Rats are freshmen and a mass not a class yet) reenacts the charge that followed that order. I remember it as if it were yesterday.

They would have marched up an incline under fire. Then when they saw the artillery limbering they charged, again up hill.
It really gives you an appreciation of what they went through.
8 posted on 05/16/2005 4:16:07 AM PDT by e5man_r_u? (A Man's mission: Build, Protect, Provide)
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To: e5man_r_u?
Yes, and loosing their shoes as they charged the battery in the "Field of Lost Shoes".

Lexington, Va. is a favorite trip for me as the town is loaded with history. I usually get there at least once a year and will have to look behind the barracks to locate the Union cannon ball lodged in the wall, you spoke of in post# 6.

And yes, the VMI museum is not to be missed. Some special places in town are the Lee Chapel, the Stonewall Jackson cemetery and his home. Yes, Lexington is a very special place for me.

9 posted on 05/16/2005 9:16:28 AM PDT by Rabble (Just When is John F sKerry going to sign SF 180?.......... Will we live long enough?)
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