October 30, 2024 • 21 mins
At the Battle of New Market, 15 May 1864, Cadet Captain Frank Preston and the Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute, as an infantry battalion, marched north from Lexington to the town of New Market Virginia, where they joined the Confederate Army under MG Breckenridge. Initially placed in a reserve linethey advanced across the muddy fields north of New Market. After a failed Union Advance, CPT Preston and the VMI Cadets filled a gap between two regiments. Now in the front rank, they prepared to charge across a muddy field north of the Bushong House.
Picture Credit of CPT Frank Preston to Historic Smithfield at www.historicsmithfield.org.
Sources used for this episode:
V.M.I New Market Cadet. The Battle of New Market and The Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute May 15, 1864. 1914. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101065096610&seq=3.
Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., Kirkley, Joseph W. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 37, pt. 1: Reports. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077728289&view=1up&seq=5.
“College of William and Mary.” Norfolk Virginian, September 4, 1869. https://www.newspapers.com/image/604908452/.
“Death of An Esteemed Gentleman.” Norfolk Virginian, November 22, 1869. https://www.newspapers.com/image/604914261/.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:22):
Hello everyone.
My name is bill Coughlin.
And welcome to first personcivil war podcast.
Which retells the stories of thesoldiers officers.
And for this episode, cadets.
On the ground in the battles ofthe civil war.
Episode 36 is entitled.
(00:43):
Cadet captain Frank Preston andthe VMI cadets.
At the battle of new market.
This episode source waspublished by a VMI new market
cadet.
Who relied on a letter thatFrank Preston wrote four days
after the battle.
And is entitled.
The battle of new market and thecadets of the Virginia military
(01:06):
Institute May 15th, 1864.
Which was published in 1914.
This episode source materialdoes not provide information of
Frank Preston's early life.
But newspapers and censusrecords do shed a little detail.
(01:27):
Frank Preston was born in 1841and lived in Lexington,
Virginia, which is the same cityof the Virginia military
Institute.
Where he gained admittance to on28, June, 1860.
Also known as VMI.
It has served in the capacity ofa military college since its
founding in 1839.
(01:51):
Not only does Frank Preston showup in the 1860 census with his
family in Lexington at the ageof 19.
But he was also in the censusrecords of VMI alongside 91,
other cadets and annotated asstudents of war college.
Attendees a VMI, mostly hailedfrom Virginia, but men from
(02:13):
outside the state were welcomeas there were also cadets from
Louisiana.
Tennessee, Mississippi.
And Alabama.
Though, no further informationwithin the census is available
in terms of what unit FrankPreston was in.
92 men was an acceptable numberto form a company.
(02:34):
Meaning, this was most likelyhis cadet company.
Unlike the United Statesmilitary academy at west point.
The Virginia military Institutewas formed as a state military
college.
The students or cadets, pursuedacademics over also students of
(02:54):
war.
They formed cadets companiesperformed infantry drills and
learned how to employ artillery.
Upon graduation.
They also commissioned into theU S army.
With the start of the civil war.
VMI remained open.
And continued to produceofficers for service in the
Confederate army.
(03:16):
Between 1861 and early 1864.
The cadets of VMI drilledregiments preparing for combat.
And though they were exempt fromconscription, a cadet leaving
VMI to fight at the front wascommon.
At several times during the warVMI as a unit supported
(03:36):
Confederate military operations.
But they were never pressed intoa fight until 15 may, 1864.
As stated in previous episodes,the Shenandoah valley was a
critical piece to the overallunion plan of attack in 1864.
In early may major generalFrance Segal commander of the
(04:00):
department of West Virginia,which was the newly formed state
received orders from Lieutenantgeneral grant to March's command
of approximately 10,000 men.
Into the valley to destroylogistical infrastructure like
railroads and supply depots.
With this movement, the valleycampaign of 1864 began.
(04:25):
Major general John CBreckinridge commander of the
Confederate department of WestVirginia meeting the Shenandoah
valley and the old boundary ofVirginia.
The stretch westward.
Learned of this advance fromgeneral John D in Boden.
Who's cavalry force operated inthe Northern part of the valley.
(04:45):
On top of alerting major generalBreckenridge and as infantry
further south.
Brigadier general in Bodenunderstood that the union army
outnumbered the entireConfederate force in the valley.
And he began scraping togetherunits, wherever he could find
them.
On 10 May, 1864, the VMI cadetsreceived orders to join major
(05:07):
general Breckenridge's army.
And they were to March fromLexington to Stanton.
Approximately 35 miles up thevalley.
The Virginia military Instituteformed an infantry battalion of
279.
Cadets.
And divided into companies, a B.
(05:28):
C and D as well as one sectionof artillery.
Cadet Frank Preston by this timewas in his final year at VMI.
And in command of company B.
As a company commander, hereceived a commission into the
Confederate army as a captain.
And God has men ready to March.
(05:52):
The cadets were awakened by thelong roll on the nights of may
10 in order to March early, thenext morning.
On Wednesday morning, may 11,the core left barracks and
marched all day over the oldStanton road.
Always in bad condition.
Especially in the rainy season.
(06:12):
To the town of midway,approximately 18 miles north of
Lexington, and went into camp,sleeping in the rain that night
they marched all day on the 12thand 13th, linked up with major
general.
Breckenridge is infantry and hecontinues.
On may 14, the core continueddown the pike.
(06:33):
Through Harrison Berg to withinseven miles of new market.
Uh, March of about 15 miles andwent into camp in a body of
woods on the east side of thepike.
Major general Breckenridge hasConfederates that arrived in the
vicinity of new market.
Virginia consisted of twobrigades of infantry, one
(06:55):
brigade of cavalry.
Three batteries of artillery andfour attached commands of
varying sizes, which includedthe VMI cadets.
At 1:00 AM on 15 may, 1864, thecadets have woke in the rain and
gathered around captain Preston.
Who led the entire battalion ina prayer.
(07:17):
The rain which fell for severaldays by this time.
Brought several halts as theycontinue north along the
turnpike.
And after approximately 10 hoursof marching, the cadets arrived
at new market.
Lieutenant Colonel Scott ship.
Commandant of cadets at VMI andthe commander of the battalion
(07:39):
on that day, received ordersfrom major general Breckenridge
on the initial placement of thecadets.
The general, having determinedto receive the attack of the
enemy, made his dispositions forbattle posting the core in
reserve.
He informed me that he did notwish to put the cadets in.
(08:00):
If he could avoid it..
But should the occasion requireit.
He would use them freely.
Darwin reserve at the beginningof the battle, captain Preston
and the VMI Corps of cadets werestill within range of union
artillery.
The core then advanced north inline of battle in the third and
(08:23):
last special on over the crestof Shirley's hill.
Which was west of the town ofnew market.
As the U S batteries did not getthe range of the core until it
reached the north slope ofShirley's hill on its descent to
the river road.
There were no casualties up tothat point.
But on the descent, captain hillof company C and corporal J S
(08:44):
Weiss of company D and severalothers were wounded by the
explosion of one or more usshells.
This was the cores baptism ofblood.
Opposite.
The Confederates upon Shirley'shill was the first union line,
which included major Henry peelcommander of the 18th,
(09:06):
Connecticut.
At the moment of our arrival,the artillery designed to
discover the position anddesigns of the enemy commenced
operations.
The regiment was ordered toassist in support of climbers
battery.
The position of our forces wason a hill Northwest of new
market.
(09:27):
And distant from the town ofhalf a mile.
The enemy soon replied to ourbatteries from a, what?
An eminence, three fourths of amile, south and slightly
commanding our position.
The 18th, Connecticut remainedin line for about one hour as
the artillery Dewald and hecontinues.
The enemy in three strong linesnow issued from the woods and
(09:49):
charged down the hill at thedouble quick.
His skirmishers also increasedtheir speed.
And driving hours more rapidly.
Captain Preston and the VMIcadets still in reserve.
Prepared for this advanceagainst the union first line.
And it seemed not all of the menon the field that day wanted to
(10:10):
go into the fight.
Just as a side note, the firstsession Alon was skirmishers
secondary and lawn was the mainline.
And the third echelon.
Was the reserve line.
In the ravine north of Shirley'shill, the cadets were halted and
made to discard their blankets,et cetera.
And here they saw for the firsttime a site, which amazed them
(10:34):
more than the carnage of battle.
The officers of the veterancommand composing the second
dish Alon almost in front of theCorps when their regiment was
ordered to advance, had to forcethe sculptures into ranks at the
points of their pistols.
Just as the Confederates madetheir first advance the
commander, the first union lineassessed that a Nolan, their
(10:57):
rear was a better position tofight in order to retreat.
While this should have been assimple March across the field,
it proved to difficult for majorpeel and the 18th Connecticut.
The new position of the regimentwas most unfortunate for its
efficiency.
Being an Elaine backed by barnsand two rows offenses.
(11:20):
A continuous rain of five dayshad rendered traveling on other
than the roads.
Extremely difficult.
And the men stood in knee deepmud.
As the lane was entered by theflank.
So nothing but a flank movementcould extricate the regiment in
order.
The Confederates saw success anddislodging the union first line.
(11:43):
And they retreated to the mainline, approximately one mile
north toward Bushong hill.
As the entire Confederate line,advanced major general
Breckenridge called onLieutenant Colonel ship to
receive updated orders for theattack.
Here general Breckenridge sentfor me and gave me in-person my
(12:04):
instructions.
Instead of one line with areserve, he formed his infantry
into.
He then described the cavalryand artillery dispositions and
continues.
The lines having been adjusted,the order to advance was past.
Wharton's line, meaning thefirst line advanced.
(12:24):
Echols with the VMI cadetsincluded.
Followed at 250 paces in rare.
As Wharton's line ascended, aKnoll, it came under full view
of the enemy's batteries, whichopened a heavy fire.
But not having gotten the rangedid, but little damage.
Captain Preston and the VMIcadets were under artillery,
(12:48):
fire and sporadic musketrythroughout the advance.
And they had no choice, but toendure it.
When the Corps reached the pointseveral hundred yards south of
Bushong house, it was subjectedto a terrible fire of artillery.
And he continues.
The core marched steadily andcontinuously over this open
(13:10):
plateau, up to the south frontof the Bushong house.
Through mud and many places overthe ankles.
A portion of the time beingunder artillery and musketry
fire.
The alignment of the battalionwas like that on parade.
The gaps in the ranks caused bythe killed and wounded men were
filled automatically.
(13:32):
As if nothing unusual hadhappened and at no time, did the
cores battle line ever waiver?
As the Confederate line,advanced north of the Bushong
house, captain Preston and theVMI cadets came under direct
fire from the 34th,Massachusetts.
(13:53):
The deadly fire of shells, grapecanister, and bullets to which
the core was subjected in theBush on orchard.
Did not cause it to retreat.
Or even fall back temporarily.
But the cadets ran forward tothe remains of a demolished rail
fence on the north end of theorchard.
(14:13):
Laid down behind the fence andbegan.
For the first time.
To fire upon the enemy.
The core by its rapid advance.
Having just gotten into thefirst line of battle, filled a
gap caused by a change ofposition of one or more other
commands.
According to captain Preston,the 51st Virginia on the left of
(14:37):
the cadets and the 62nd Virginiaon their right.
Suffered heavily during thisadvance and began to break under
this pressure.
Due to poor leadership in theadvancing union line, the
musketry would soon dissipate.
Colonel George D.
Wells commander of the 34th,Massachusetts who advanced
alongside several otherregiments, found his command
(14:59):
alone in front of theConfederate line.
I shouted at them to halt.
But could not make a single manhere or he'd me.
And it was not until they hadclimbed an intervening fence and
we're rushing ahead.
On the other side that I wasable to run along the lines.
And seizing the color bearer bythe shoulders, hold him fast as
(15:23):
the only way of stopping theregiment.
Despite his best efforts,Colonel Wells was unable to
bolster his line underConfederate fire, which included
the VMI cadets moving intoposition.
Now exposed and outnumbered the34th, Massachusetts retreated
back across the muddy fieldnorth of the Bushong house.
(15:48):
With failed advances upon bothConfederate flanks and the
Virginia regiments on the leftflank rallying major general
Breckenridge assess the time wasripe for a charge.
Captain Preston and the VMIcadets advanced directly upon
the 34th, Massachusetts, whichreturned to their original
position.
(16:10):
When the heavy artillery fireceased, the command was given to
the Corps to charge.
This order was obeyed not onlywith alacrity, but with
enthusiasm.
And though the companyorganizations were gone yet,
they rallied round the colorsand formed some sort of line as
we advanced.
So eager with the cadets tocharge the enemy 100 to 150
(16:34):
yards off.
That it was difficult for themto find the time to load and
shoot their old fashioned muzzleloading muskets.
This final charge commenced inthe wheat field, then a field of
mud just north of the Bushongorchard.
And continued for some distancenorth towards the pike bridge
over the Shenandoah.
(16:57):
As the Confederate chargeslammed into the 34th,
Massachusetts and the entireunion.
Right.
Flank.
Colonel Wells recognized thatthe line could not hold.
In order to retreat.
The rebels were coming on at thedouble quick and concentrating
their whole fire upon us.
I told the men to run and getout of fire as quickly as
(17:19):
possible and rally behind thefirst cavalry line found in the
rear.
The colors were halted severaltimes by different officers in
positions where it wasimpossible to make a stand.
And would only start again at mydirect order.
With the Confederate army inpursuit, union regiments,
(17:40):
retreated and rallied aroundRood's hill, which brought an
end to the route.
Not wanting to continue hiscampaign major general Segal
ordered the army to cross theShenandoah river and burned the
bridge behind them.
Which left the Confederatesfully in control of the field.
(18:00):
The battle of new market was theonly time that the cadets of the
Virginia military Institutefought in a battle.
As several VMI, cadets losttheir shoes and the thick mud as
they charged toward the union.
Mine, the field north of theBush Ong house is now known as
the field of lost shoes.
(18:22):
The anonymous cadet author didnot mention the loss shoes in
his book.
The battle of new market and thecadets of the Virginia military
Institute.
May 15th, 1864.
But he did address a separatepoint of contention when
describing the aftermath of thebattle.
(18:43):
As it is the desire of thewriter that this brief statement
shall contain nothing but theundisputed facts of the cadets
connection with the battle.
No effort will be made to fixthe location number or condition
of the U S guns captured by thecadets.
Since these questions have givenrise to much controversy.
(19:05):
And no definitive conclusion hasyet been reached.
The cadets were credited withthe capture of 60 to 100
prisoners.
After the war.
Frank Preston became a professorat William and Mary college in
Williamsburg, Virginia.
And taught Greek and Germanlanguages and histories.
(19:29):
He died in November of 18 69, 45years before his letter about
the VMI cadets at the battle ofnew markets.
Provided source material for abook.
Thank you for listening to the36th episode.
The link to the book based onFrank Preston's letter.
(19:51):
Is now available on the podcastwebsite.
First person, civil war,podcast.com.
On Facebook, Instagram, X, andLinkedIn.
This week, you will find apicture of Frank Preston
sometime after the battle.
I'd like to thank the museum,historic Smithfield of
(20:13):
Blacksburg, Virginia, forallowing me to use this photo in
my social media posts and on thehomepage of the website.
Please check them out at www dothistoric Smithfield.
Dot org.
Link available in the shownotes.
(20:34):
In two weeks time.
Reverend Frederick Denison,chaplain of the third Rhode
Island, heavy artillery providesnext episodes.
First person account.
At the 1863 siege.
Of Fort Sumter.
My name is Belle Caughlin.
And thank you for listening tofirst person civil war podcast.
Hello everyone.
My name is bill Coughlin.
And welcome to first personcivil war podcast.
Which retells the stories of thesoldiers officers.
And for this episode, cadets.
On the ground in the battles ofthe civil war.
Episode 36 is entitled.
(00:43):
Cadet captain Frank Preston andthe VMI cadets.
At the battle of new market.
This episode source waspublished by a VMI new market
cadet.
Who relied on a letter thatFrank Preston wrote four days
after the battle.
And is entitled.
The battle of new market and thecadets of the Virginia military
(01:06):
Institute May 15th, 1864.
Which was published in 1914.
This episode source materialdoes not provide information of
Frank Preston's early life.
But newspapers and censusrecords do shed a little detail.
(01:27):
Frank Preston was born in 1841and lived in Lexington,
Virginia, which is the same cityof the Virginia military
Institute.
Where he gained admittance to on28, June, 1860.
Also known as VMI.
It has served in the capacity ofa military college since its
founding in 1839.
(01:51):
Not only does Frank Preston showup in the 1860 census with his
family in Lexington at the ageof 19.
But he was also in the censusrecords of VMI alongside 91,
other cadets and annotated asstudents of war college.
Attendees a VMI, mostly hailedfrom Virginia, but men from
(02:13):
outside the state were welcomeas there were also cadets from
Louisiana.
Tennessee, Mississippi.
And Alabama.
Though, no further informationwithin the census is available
in terms of what unit FrankPreston was in.
92 men was an acceptable numberto form a company.
(02:34):
Meaning, this was most likelyhis cadet company.
Unlike the United Statesmilitary academy at west point.
The Virginia military Institutewas formed as a state military
college.
The students or cadets, pursuedacademics over also students of
(02:54):
war.
They formed cadets companiesperformed infantry drills and
learned how to employ artillery.
Upon graduation.
They also commissioned into theU S army.
With the start of the civil war.
VMI remained open.
And continued to produceofficers for service in the
Confederate army.
(03:16):
Between 1861 and early 1864.
The cadets of VMI drilledregiments preparing for combat.
And though they were exempt fromconscription, a cadet leaving
VMI to fight at the front wascommon.
At several times during the warVMI as a unit supported
(03:36):
Confederate military operations.
But they were never pressed intoa fight until 15 may, 1864.
As stated in previous episodes,the Shenandoah valley was a
critical piece to the overallunion plan of attack in 1864.
In early may major generalFrance Segal commander of the
(04:00):
department of West Virginia,which was the newly formed state
received orders from Lieutenantgeneral grant to March's command
of approximately 10,000 men.
Into the valley to destroylogistical infrastructure like
railroads and supply depots.
With this movement, the valleycampaign of 1864 began.
(04:25):
Major general John CBreckinridge commander of the
Confederate department of WestVirginia meeting the Shenandoah
valley and the old boundary ofVirginia.
The stretch westward.
Learned of this advance fromgeneral John D in Boden.
Who's cavalry force operated inthe Northern part of the valley.
(04:45):
On top of alerting major generalBreckenridge and as infantry
further south.
Brigadier general in Bodenunderstood that the union army
outnumbered the entireConfederate force in the valley.
And he began scraping togetherunits, wherever he could find
them.
On 10 May, 1864, the VMI cadetsreceived orders to join major
(05:07):
general Breckenridge's army.
And they were to March fromLexington to Stanton.
Approximately 35 miles up thevalley.
The Virginia military Instituteformed an infantry battalion of
279.
Cadets.
And divided into companies, a B.
(05:28):
C and D as well as one sectionof artillery.
Cadet Frank Preston by this timewas in his final year at VMI.
And in command of company B.
As a company commander, hereceived a commission into the
Confederate army as a captain.
And God has men ready to March.
(05:52):
The cadets were awakened by thelong roll on the nights of may
10 in order to March early, thenext morning.
On Wednesday morning, may 11,the core left barracks and
marched all day over the oldStanton road.
Always in bad condition.
Especially in the rainy season.
(06:12):
To the town of midway,approximately 18 miles north of
Lexington, and went into camp,sleeping in the rain that night
they marched all day on the 12thand 13th, linked up with major
general.
Breckenridge is infantry and hecontinues.
On may 14, the core continueddown the pike.
(06:33):
Through Harrison Berg to withinseven miles of new market.
Uh, March of about 15 miles andwent into camp in a body of
woods on the east side of thepike.
Major general Breckenridge hasConfederates that arrived in the
vicinity of new market.
Virginia consisted of twobrigades of infantry, one
(06:55):
brigade of cavalry.
Three batteries of artillery andfour attached commands of
varying sizes, which includedthe VMI cadets.
At 1:00 AM on 15 may, 1864, thecadets have woke in the rain and
gathered around captain Preston.
Who led the entire battalion ina prayer.
(07:17):
The rain which fell for severaldays by this time.
Brought several halts as theycontinue north along the
turnpike.
And after approximately 10 hoursof marching, the cadets arrived
at new market.
Lieutenant Colonel Scott ship.
Commandant of cadets at VMI andthe commander of the battalion
(07:39):
on that day, received ordersfrom major general Breckenridge
on the initial placement of thecadets.
The general, having determinedto receive the attack of the
enemy, made his dispositions forbattle posting the core in
reserve.
He informed me that he did notwish to put the cadets in.
(08:00):
If he could avoid it..
But should the occasion requireit.
He would use them freely.
Darwin reserve at the beginningof the battle, captain Preston
and the VMI Corps of cadets werestill within range of union
artillery.
The core then advanced north inline of battle in the third and
(08:23):
last special on over the crestof Shirley's hill.
Which was west of the town ofnew market.
As the U S batteries did not getthe range of the core until it
reached the north slope ofShirley's hill on its descent to
the river road.
There were no casualties up tothat point.
But on the descent, captain hillof company C and corporal J S
(08:44):
Weiss of company D and severalothers were wounded by the
explosion of one or more usshells.
This was the cores baptism ofblood.
Opposite.
The Confederates upon Shirley'shill was the first union line,
which included major Henry peelcommander of the 18th,
(09:06):
Connecticut.
At the moment of our arrival,the artillery designed to
discover the position anddesigns of the enemy commenced
operations.
The regiment was ordered toassist in support of climbers
battery.
The position of our forces wason a hill Northwest of new
market.
(09:27):
And distant from the town ofhalf a mile.
The enemy soon replied to ourbatteries from a, what?
An eminence, three fourths of amile, south and slightly
commanding our position.
The 18th, Connecticut remainedin line for about one hour as
the artillery Dewald and hecontinues.
The enemy in three strong linesnow issued from the woods and
(09:49):
charged down the hill at thedouble quick.
His skirmishers also increasedtheir speed.
And driving hours more rapidly.
Captain Preston and the VMIcadets still in reserve.
Prepared for this advanceagainst the union first line.
And it seemed not all of the menon the field that day wanted to
(10:10):
go into the fight.
Just as a side note, the firstsession Alon was skirmishers
secondary and lawn was the mainline.
And the third echelon.
Was the reserve line.
In the ravine north of Shirley'shill, the cadets were halted and
made to discard their blankets,et cetera.
And here they saw for the firsttime a site, which amazed them
(10:34):
more than the carnage of battle.
The officers of the veterancommand composing the second
dish Alon almost in front of theCorps when their regiment was
ordered to advance, had to forcethe sculptures into ranks at the
points of their pistols.
Just as the Confederates madetheir first advance the
commander, the first union lineassessed that a Nolan, their
(10:57):
rear was a better position tofight in order to retreat.
While this should have been assimple March across the field,
it proved to difficult for majorpeel and the 18th Connecticut.
The new position of the regimentwas most unfortunate for its
efficiency.
Being an Elaine backed by barnsand two rows offenses.
(11:20):
A continuous rain of five dayshad rendered traveling on other
than the roads.
Extremely difficult.
And the men stood in knee deepmud.
As the lane was entered by theflank.
So nothing but a flank movementcould extricate the regiment in
order.
The Confederates saw success anddislodging the union first line.
(11:43):
And they retreated to the mainline, approximately one mile
north toward Bushong hill.
As the entire Confederate line,advanced major general
Breckenridge called onLieutenant Colonel ship to
receive updated orders for theattack.
Here general Breckenridge sentfor me and gave me in-person my
(12:04):
instructions.
Instead of one line with areserve, he formed his infantry
into.
He then described the cavalryand artillery dispositions and
continues.
The lines having been adjusted,the order to advance was past.
Wharton's line, meaning thefirst line advanced.
(12:24):
Echols with the VMI cadetsincluded.
Followed at 250 paces in rare.
As Wharton's line ascended, aKnoll, it came under full view
of the enemy's batteries, whichopened a heavy fire.
But not having gotten the rangedid, but little damage.
Captain Preston and the VMIcadets were under artillery,
(12:48):
fire and sporadic musketrythroughout the advance.
And they had no choice, but toendure it.
When the Corps reached the pointseveral hundred yards south of
Bushong house, it was subjectedto a terrible fire of artillery.
And he continues.
The core marched steadily andcontinuously over this open
(13:10):
plateau, up to the south frontof the Bushong house.
Through mud and many places overthe ankles.
A portion of the time beingunder artillery and musketry
fire.
The alignment of the battalionwas like that on parade.
The gaps in the ranks caused bythe killed and wounded men were
filled automatically.
(13:32):
As if nothing unusual hadhappened and at no time, did the
cores battle line ever waiver?
As the Confederate line,advanced north of the Bushong
house, captain Preston and theVMI cadets came under direct
fire from the 34th,Massachusetts.
(13:53):
The deadly fire of shells, grapecanister, and bullets to which
the core was subjected in theBush on orchard.
Did not cause it to retreat.
Or even fall back temporarily.
But the cadets ran forward tothe remains of a demolished rail
fence on the north end of theorchard.
(14:13):
Laid down behind the fence andbegan.
For the first time.
To fire upon the enemy.
The core by its rapid advance.
Having just gotten into thefirst line of battle, filled a
gap caused by a change ofposition of one or more other
commands.
According to captain Preston,the 51st Virginia on the left of
(14:37):
the cadets and the 62nd Virginiaon their right.
Suffered heavily during thisadvance and began to break under
this pressure.
Due to poor leadership in theadvancing union line, the
musketry would soon dissipate.
Colonel George D.
Wells commander of the 34th,Massachusetts who advanced
alongside several otherregiments, found his command
(14:59):
alone in front of theConfederate line.
I shouted at them to halt.
But could not make a single manhere or he'd me.
And it was not until they hadclimbed an intervening fence and
we're rushing ahead.
On the other side that I wasable to run along the lines.
And seizing the color bearer bythe shoulders, hold him fast as
(15:23):
the only way of stopping theregiment.
Despite his best efforts,Colonel Wells was unable to
bolster his line underConfederate fire, which included
the VMI cadets moving intoposition.
Now exposed and outnumbered the34th, Massachusetts retreated
back across the muddy fieldnorth of the Bushong house.
(15:48):
With failed advances upon bothConfederate flanks and the
Virginia regiments on the leftflank rallying major general
Breckenridge assess the time wasripe for a charge.
Captain Preston and the VMIcadets advanced directly upon
the 34th, Massachusetts, whichreturned to their original
position.
(16:10):
When the heavy artillery fireceased, the command was given to
the Corps to charge.
This order was obeyed not onlywith alacrity, but with
enthusiasm.
And though the companyorganizations were gone yet,
they rallied round the colorsand formed some sort of line as
we advanced.
So eager with the cadets tocharge the enemy 100 to 150
(16:34):
yards off.
That it was difficult for themto find the time to load and
shoot their old fashioned muzzleloading muskets.
This final charge commenced inthe wheat field, then a field of
mud just north of the Bushongorchard.
And continued for some distancenorth towards the pike bridge
over the Shenandoah.
(16:57):
As the Confederate chargeslammed into the 34th,
Massachusetts and the entireunion.
Right.
Flank.
Colonel Wells recognized thatthe line could not hold.
In order to retreat.
The rebels were coming on at thedouble quick and concentrating
their whole fire upon us.
I told the men to run and getout of fire as quickly as
(17:19):
possible and rally behind thefirst cavalry line found in the
rear.
The colors were halted severaltimes by different officers in
positions where it wasimpossible to make a stand.
And would only start again at mydirect order.
With the Confederate army inpursuit, union regiments,
(17:40):
retreated and rallied aroundRood's hill, which brought an
end to the route.
Not wanting to continue hiscampaign major general Segal
ordered the army to cross theShenandoah river and burned the
bridge behind them.
Which left the Confederatesfully in control of the field.
(18:00):
The battle of new market was theonly time that the cadets of the
Virginia military Institutefought in a battle.
As several VMI, cadets losttheir shoes and the thick mud as
they charged toward the union.
Mine, the field north of theBush Ong house is now known as
the field of lost shoes.
(18:22):
The anonymous cadet author didnot mention the loss shoes in
his book.
The battle of new market and thecadets of the Virginia military
Institute.
May 15th, 1864.
But he did address a separatepoint of contention when
describing the aftermath of thebattle.
(18:43):
As it is the desire of thewriter that this brief statement
shall contain nothing but theundisputed facts of the cadets
connection with the battle.
No effort will be made to fixthe location number or condition
of the U S guns captured by thecadets.
Since these questions have givenrise to much controversy.
(19:05):
And no definitive conclusion hasyet been reached.
The cadets were credited withthe capture of 60 to 100
prisoners.
After the war.
Frank Preston became a professorat William and Mary college in
Williamsburg, Virginia.
And taught Greek and Germanlanguages and histories.
(19:29):
He died in November of 18 69, 45years before his letter about
the VMI cadets at the battle ofnew markets.
Provided source material for abook.
Thank you for listening to the36th episode.
The link to the book based onFrank Preston's letter.
(19:51):
Is now available on the podcastwebsite.
First person, civil war,podcast.com.
On Facebook, Instagram, X, andLinkedIn.
This week, you will find apicture of Frank Preston
sometime after the battle.
I'd like to thank the museum,historic Smithfield of
(20:13):
Blacksburg, Virginia, forallowing me to use this photo in
my social media posts and on thehomepage of the website.
Please check them out at www dothistoric Smithfield.
Dot org.
Link available in the shownotes.
(20:34):
In two weeks time.
Reverend Frederick Denison,chaplain of the third Rhode
Island, heavy artillery providesnext episodes.
First person account.
At the 1863 siege.
Of Fort Sumter.
My name is Belle Caughlin.
And thank you for listening tofirst person civil war podcast.
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