Battle of New Market Wikipedia. The Battle of New Market was fought on May 1. Virginia during Valley Campaigns of 1. American Civil War. Service Tool Version 3400 Old on this page. A makeshift Confederate army of 4,1. Virginia Military Institute VMI, forced Union Major General Franz Sigel and his army out of the Shenandoah Valley. The Cadets were essential for the Confederate victory at New Market. BackgroundeditIn the spring of 1. Union commander in chief Lieutenant General. Ulysses S. Grant set in motion a grand strategy designed to press the Confederacy into submission. Control of the strategically important and agriculturally rich Shenandoah Valley was a key element in Grants plans. While he confronted General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia in the eastern part of the state, Grant ordered Major General. Franz Sigels army of 1. Valley and threaten Lees flank, starting the Valley Campaigns of 1. Sigel was to advance on Staunton, Virginia in order to link up with another Union column commanded by George Crook, which would advance from West Virginia and destroy the Virginia Tennessee Railroad and other Confederate industries in the area. Shenandoah Pa Program' title='Shenandoah Pa Program' />Sigels force totaled about 9,0. Brig. Gen. Jeremiah C. The Complete Book Of Running Fixx Pdf Files'>The Complete Book Of Running Fixx Pdf Files. Sullivan and a cavalry division commanded by Maj. Gen. Julius Stahel detachments made during the campaign reduced the Union force to about 6,3. Receiving word that the Union Army had entered the Valley, Major General John C. Breckinridge pulled together all available forces to repulse the latest threat. His command consisted of two infantry brigades under John C. Echols and General Gabriel C. Wharton, a cavalry brigade commanded by General John D. Imboden, and other independent commands. This included the cadet corps of VMI, which had an infantry battalion of 2. Lieutenant Colonel Scott Ship and a two gun artillery section. Breckinridge concentrated his infantry at Staunton, while Imboden slowed Sigels movement southward along the Valley. On the morning of May 1. Breckinridge decided to move north to attack Sigel instead of waiting for Sigel to reach Staunton. By the evening of May 1. Sigels advance forces had reached a position north of the village of New Market, while Breckinridge was at Lacey Spring eight miles south of New Market. The Confederates started towards the Union positions at 1 a. May 1. 5, hoping to trap and crush the Union army. Opposing forceseditConfederateedit. Battle of New Market. Confederate  Union. Field of Lost Shoes on the New Market Battlefield. The two forces made contact south of New Market about mid morning, with the main Union line west of the town near the North Fork of the Shenandoah River Colonel Augustus Moor initially commanded the Union forces present on the battlefield at this time, which consisted of his infantry brigade and part of John E. Wynkoops cavalry brigade. Additional Union regiments arrived throughout the morning and deployed between the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and the Valley Turnpike, with the main line centered on Manors Hill. Breckinridge deployed Whartons brigade on the Confederate left west of the Valley Turnpike and Echolss brigade on the right along the Pike Echols was ill that morning, so his brigade was commanded by Colonel George S. Patton, Sr. The VMI cadets battalion was kept in reserve, while Imbodens cavalry was east of the turnpike. Breckinridge attempted to lure the Federals into attacking him using cavalry and artillery, but Moor refused to move from his position. About 1. 1 a. m., Breckinridge then decided to launch an attack on Moor using his infantry, while Imbodens brigade crossed Smiths Creek east of New Market, rode north, and recrossed the stream behind the Union lines. Union cavalry General Stahel arrived at New Market at this time with additional troops, followed shortly afterwards by Union General Sigel. Breckinridge launched his infantry attack near noon, slowly pushing Moors infantry brigade off of Manors Hill and northward toward the rest of Sigels army, which was deploying on a hill north of Jacob Bushongs farm, known as Bushongs Hill. Name origins of cities and towns of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Once past the town of New Market, the Confederates halted to dress ranks, shift units along the line, and reposition their artillery units. Breckinridge resumed his attack about 2 p. As the Confederate line formed near the Bushong farm, massed Union rifle and artillery fire disorganized the Confederate units in the center, forcing the right wing of the 5. Virginia Infantry and the 3. Virginia Infantry Battalion to retreat in confusion, while the rest of the Confederate line stalled. Breckinridge reluctantly ordered the VMI cadet battalion to fill the gap while the battalion was moving forward to the Bushong orchard, Ship was wounded and was replaced by Captain Henry A. Wise. At this time, Sigel launched two counterattacks. On the Union left, Stahel launched a mounted charge with the cavalry but was routed by heavy fire from Confederate artillery, while three infantry regiments attacked on the Union right and were repulsed as well. The main cause of the failure of the infantry attacks was confusion within the ranks of the Union commanders Sigel was even noted to be shouting orders in his native language of German. After the repulses of the Union attacks, Breckinridge started his advance again shortly after 3 p. Bushongs orchard, several VMI cadets lost their shoes in the mud, which led to the field being called the Field of Lost Shoes. As the Confederate line got closer to the Union artillery, Sigels batteries were forced to retreat as the infantry started breaking towards the rear. Five cannons were abandoned to the Confederates, one of which was captured by the VMI cadet battalion. Battery B of the 5th U. S. Artillery, which had just arrived on the field, and two infantry regiments slowed the Confederate pursuit. At this time, Breckinridge halted his forces until the supply trains arrived to resupply the troops. While the infantry was being resupplied, Confederate cavalry General Imboden arrived with his brigade with the news that the creek was too swollen to be crossed. Union General Sullivan arrived during this time with the 2. Ohio Infantry Sigel managed to organize a rearguard on Rudes Hill, with Sullivans infantry east of the turnpike, some of Stahels cavalry west of the road, and the artillery behind the line. Due to the exhaustion of the men and low ammunition, Sigel decided to retreat back across the Shenandoah River to Mount Jackson. The Union army managed to cross the river and burn the bridge before the Confederates could catch up. Aftermathedit. The grave of Joseph Christopher Wheelwright at the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park. Union casualties totaled 8. The Confederates lost 4. Vanishing Point 1971 Soundtrack. The wounded from the battle were cared for in Bushongs barn and in the town at the Smith Creek Baptist church and a warehouse, while the dead were buried in the graveyard of St. Matthews Lutheran Church. Sigel staged a rapid retreat northward to Strasburg, leaving the field and the Valley to Breckinridges army. After learning of the Union defeat, Grant became furious and replaced Sigel with General David Hunter Sigel was assigned to command the departments reserve division based in Harpers Ferry. Sergeant James Burns of the 1st West Virginia Infantry received the Medal of Honor in 1. The Confederate victory allowed the local crops to be harvested for Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia and protected Lees lines of communications to western Virginia. View Industry CertificateApproved ProgramCIP Book. LEA. NEW CLICK HERE to view the updated 2017 PA School Tuition Comparison Table Updated 2015 Physician Assistant Program tuition and cost comparison table. Tuition and. Genesis HealthCare offers long term care services, short stay care, transitional care services, rehab services and specialty services. Cross Country Breaks More Records at NCAA Regionals November 11, 2017 The Southern Virginia University cross country teams had impressive showings at the. 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