Battle of New Market

Battle of New Market
	Part of the American Civil War
	; Cadets at New Market
Date	May 15, 1864
Location	Shenandoah County, Virginia38°39′43″N 78°40′14″W / 38.66194°N 78.67056°W
Result	Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Franz Sigel	John C. Breckinridge
Strength
6,275	4,087
Casualties and losses
96 killed; 520 wounded; 225 captured/missing;	43 killed; 474 wounded; 3 captured/missing;

The Battle of New Market was fought on May 15, 1864, in Virginia during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. A makeshift Confederate army of 4,100 men defeated the larger Army of the Shenandoah under Major General Franz Sigel, delaying the capture of Staunton by several weeks.

The battle is primarily remembered today for being the only time in American history a school's student body was used as an organized combat unit. During the battle Confederate general John C. Breckinridge ordered cadets from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), averaging 18 years of age but with several child soldiers no older than 15, to join an attack on the Union lines. The event is central to the Institute's history and heritage.