PETE MAROVICH IMAGES ARCHIVE

The Battle of New Market was one of nearly 400 significant battles that took place during the Civil War, which occurred from 1861 to 1865, and was one of several battles fought in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

The conflict took place on May 15, 1864, and included 6,275 Union soldiers under the command of Franz Sigel and 4,090 Confederate troops under the command of John C. Breckinridge. Also, 257 Virginia Military Institute cadets fought in the battle on the Confederate side.more »

The Battle of New Market was one of nearly 400 significant battles that took place during the Civil War, which occurred from 1861 to 1865, and was one of several battles fought in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

The conflict took place on May 15, 1864, and included 6,275 Union soldiers under the command of Franz Sigel and 4,090 Confederate troops under the command of John C. Breckinridge. Also, 257 Virginia Military Institute cadets fought in the battle on the Confederate side.

In drenching rain, the soldiers and cadets met on the New Market Battlefield, which was then an orchard and wheat field. As they trudged through the rain-soaked area, many of the men lost their shoes in the mud. Because of this, the battlefield has become known as the "Field of Lost Shoes."

The Union army lost 840 men in the battle and the Confederates lost 540 men, records show. Ten VMI cadets also were killed or died later as a result of their wounds, records show.
« less