Civil War Witness Pen, Battle of New Market and the VMI Cadets

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Just got the latest addition to Dr. Gary's collection posted at www.civilwarwitnesspens.com below is the listing.

Having failed to destroy the Confederate Army at Gettysburg in July of 1863, the Union Army now under U.S. Grant (1864) began a pursuit of Lee’s Army in Northern Virginia. Nagging Grant on the Western flank was the Shenandoah Valley still in Confederate hands. Grant ordered General Franz Sigel on a mission of conquest and destruction of the valley in May of 1864. His Army of 10,000 men was met by Confederate John Breckinridge with 4,100 men who out maneuvered Siegel and won the battle.
vmi cadets.JPG


“...and May God Forgive Me for the Order" – General J.C. Breckinridge”

Interestingly, Breckinridge, with permission of President Davis, got the help of 257 cadets of the Virginia Military Institute who marched 80 miles to do battle with the Union forces. They played a key role in the Confederate victory. Each year as a commemoration of the event, in May, there is a cadet march from VMI to New Market.
new market red bud-1.jpg


Whilst at New Market, on the battlefield near to the New Market Civil War museum there is a huge red bud tree (a legume) having small growth rings and measuring over 3.5’ in diameter. It was there at the time of the battle! This species is a relatively small native tree that grows slowly and puts out an amazing display of red blooms in the springtime. The tree was estimated to be about 180 years old.

red bud pen-1.jpg

 
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