New Market Battlefield State Park

Among our group was a Historian specializing in American History and more specifically the Civil War.  As a result we visited a number of historical sites and were informed of more details and context one might normally expect.  The Shenandoah Valley was the site of several battles during the American Civil War; the city of New Market was one of them.  Here on May 15th 1864 was fought a battle between the North and South.  We walked the battlefield and visited the centre.

The South was outnumbered and as a result the leadership pressed into action boys from the Virginia Military Institute.  They were under the age of majority.  In today’s terms they would be referred to as child combatants.  Ten were killed, including one descendant of Thomas Jefferson.  Incidentally,  one of the confederate brigades was commanded by Colonel George S. Patton, Sr.,  grandfather of General George S. Patton (WWII)

On the field of battle is Bushong Farm that includes a main house and various other related sheds.  The inhabitants were unable to leave the scene and spent the battle in the basement of their home.  They survived.