Back from 1864 ... the Battle of New Market

Battle of New Market ... May 15, 1865

Reenactment of famous battle an hour north of Staunton that featured the cadets of Virginia Military Institute.

My daughter and I spent today in 1864....
We had been on field trips to New Market Battlefield in the past. Today, however, showed it more as it would have been on May 15, 1864, when the blue and the grey went after each other. The grey won, the blue retreated ... and the War Between the States lived to see another day.

Cannon stand ready for battle....
Bushong house stands in background....
The Confederate Army....
The first sensation upon approaching the battlefield this morning was the smell of wood smoke from the camp fires burning outside white pup tents lined up in rows all over the area. The southern end of the battlefield had the Confederate Army; the northern end had the Union Army.
Union Army lines up for battle....
Today was glorious for such an event although the weather for the original battle was overcast and rainy. The sun was warm but there was a stiff breeze all day and, just before the 1:30 p.m. battle was to begin, clouds moved in and made the temps a little more comfortable for the hundreds of reenactors in wool pants, jackets, and vests.


Confederate Army backs up the retreating Union forces....
At the invitation of friends we visited the camp of the 5th Virginia Infantry Volunteer Regiment, Company E, of Longstreet's Corps ... the "Augusta Greys." Some were napping ... some were reading ... some were preparing for battle in one way or another. All were in period costume. All had been there for the weekend, sleeping in tents, cooking, reenacting everything about life in 1864.
After the battle, quiet returned to the Valley....

The battle reenactment will continue on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at 1:30 pm. Check website for more information on visiting troop camps, background history, and more.

Photos by SWAC Daughter & SWAC Girl
Originally published May 20, 2007