The Battle of New Market was an American Civil War battle fought on May 15, 1864 over control of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The battle was part of the Union Army Valley Campaigns of 1864. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant had ordered General Franz Sigel to take his army into the Shenandoah Valley and clear it of Confederate forces. Siegel had about 9,000 men when he started up the valley, but for some reason split his army. When he arrived outside the town of New Market, he had with him a force of about 6,500 Union soldiers. The Shenandoah valley was the breadbasket of the Confederacy and provided food to feed General Robert E. Lee's hungry army. Lee sent General John C. Breckinridge with about 4,100 men to stop Siegel and force the Union Army out of the valley. Breckenridge, with Lee's permission, called up the 500 cadets from the nearby Virginia Military Institute (VMI), some as young as 15 years old. The Confederates won the battle, defeating Siegel's larger force.
Battle of New Market
Questions and Answers
Q: What was the Battle of New Market?
A: The Battle of New Market was an American Civil War battle fought on May 15, 1864 over control of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
Q: Who ordered General Franz Sigel to take his army into the Shenandoah Valley?
A: Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant ordered General Franz Sigel to take his army into the Shenandoah Valley and clear it of Confederate forces.
Q: How many Union soldiers did Siegel have when he arrived outside the town of New Market?
A: Siegel had about 6,500 Union soldiers when he arrived outside the town of New Market.
Q: Why was the Shenandoah valley important for the Confederacy?
A: The Shenandoah valley was important for the Confederacy because it provided food to feed General Robert E. Lee's hungry army.
Q: Who did Lee send to stop Siegel and force out the Union Army from the valley?
A: Lee sent General John C. Breckinridge with about 4,100 men to stop Siegel and force out the Union Army from the valley.
Q: How were cadets from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) involved in this battle?
A: With Lee's permission, Breckenridge called up 500 cadets from VMI, some as young as 15 years old, to fight in this battle against Siegel's larger force.
Q: Who won this battle between Union and Confederate forces?
A: The Confederates won this battle, defeating Siegel's larger force.