Battle of New Market
1864 battle of the American Civil War / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Battle of New Market was fought on May 15, 1864, in Virginia during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. A makeshift Confederate army of 4,100 men defeated the larger Army of the Shenandoah under Major General Franz Sigel, delaying the capture of Staunton by several weeks.
Battle of New Market | |||||||
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Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
"Cadets at New Market" | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States | Confederate States | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Franz Sigel | John C. Breckinridge | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
6,275[1] | 4,087[2] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
96 killed 520 wounded 225 captured/missing |
43 killed 474 wounded 3 captured/missing |
The battle is primarily remembered today for being the only time in American history a school's student body was used as an organized combat unit.[3] During the battle Confederate general John C. Breckinridge ordered cadets from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), some of them child soldiers no older than 15, to join an attack on the Union lines.[4][5] The event has gone on to become central to many of the Institute's myths and traditions.