New Market, VA

Date(s): May 15, 1864

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign(s): Lynchburg Campaign [May-June 1864]

• New Market, VA - May 15, 1864

B

• Piedmont, VA - June 5-6, 1864 B¹

• Lynchburg, VA - June 17-18, 1864 B

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel

• Confederate:  Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge

Principal Forces:

• Union: 6,275

• Confederate: 4,090

Description:

• In conjunction with his Spring offensive, Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant ordered Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel to move up the Shenandoah Valley along the Valley Pike with 10,000 men to destroy the railroad and canal complex at Lynchburg.

• At New Market on the 15th, Sigel was attacked by a makeshift Confederate army of about 4,100 men commanded by Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge.

• At a crucial point, a key Union battery was withdrawn from the line to replenish its ammunition, leaving a weakness that Breckinridge was quick to exploit. He ordered his entire force forward, and Sigel’s stubborn defense collapsed.

• Threatened by the Confederate cavalry on his left flank and rear, Sigel ordered a general withdrawal burning the North Fork bridge behind him. Sigel retreated down the Valley to Strasburg and was soon replaced by Maj. Gen. David Hunter.

Photo Gallery:²

Map of New Market Battlefield	Annotated New Market Battlefield Tour Map
	Bushong Farm Outbuildings	Bushong Farm Outbuildings	Bushong Farm Outbuildings
Bushong House	Bushong House	Bushong House	Bushong House
Bushong Farm Outbuildings	Bushong House	Bushong House	Bushong House
Bushong House	Bushong House	Bushong House	Bushong Farm Outbuildings
Bushong Farm Outbuildings	Bushong Farm Outbuildings	Bushong Farm Outbuildings	Bushong Farm Outbuildings
Bushong Farm Outbuildings
			North Fork Shenandoah River - West of Battlefield
	North Fork Shenandoah River - West of Battlefield	North Fork Shenandoah River - West of Battlefield	North Fork Shenandoah River - West of Battlefield
		Cannon - Gift from Jeff and Lynne Shaara	Cannon - Gift from Jeff and Lynne Shaara
Virginia Military Institute - Hall of Valor
Williams Machine Gun	Williams Machine Gun

Classification³: B

Casualties⁴:

• Union: 840

• Confederate: 540

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Website:

• New Market Battlefield State Historic Park - Vmi.edu

• Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, 1863-1865

• Shenandoah at War

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 07/26/2008