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(7-85) The Bushong House,
located at the New Market Battlefield, was a prominent landmark during the
battle. On May 15, 1864, the Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute
flowed past both sides of this house to take up positions in the Bushong
Orchard preparatory to charging the Union artillery positions on Battery
Heights
The Bushong family stayed in the ground floor kitchen during the battle;
afterwards, the house and barn were used as temporary hospitals. Their
kindness towards the Federal wounded led to the house and outbuildings
being spared during the later Federal campaign up the Shenandoah, known as
"The Burning" |
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(7-85) Among
Breckenridge's patched-together Confederate forces was a company of 70
Missourians, 47 of which were either killed or wounded. This monument was
erected in 1905 by two of Woodson's former command at their own expense.
The monument also marks the location of the Confederate line in the
Bushong Orchard preparatory to their successful charge
The inscription on the monument reads:
This rustic pile
The Simple Tale Will Tell
It Marks the Spot
Where Woodson's Heroes Fell
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(7-85) A Confederate's
view of Battery Heights and the "Field of Lost Shoes". The Field of Lost
Shoes derived it's name from the VMI Cadets; the field was so muddy it
sucked the shoes off many of the boys making the charge. The lone cannon
in the foreground marks the position of von Klieser's New York Battery,
overrun by the Cadets. This cannon, like all others on the New Market
Battlefield, is a replica made of
fiberglass |
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(7-85) View of the Field
of Lost Shoes seen from Battery Heights; this was the position of Snow's
Maryland Battery and Carlin's West Virginia Battery. The Bushong Barn is
at the right of the photo
The New Market Battlefield is owned and maintained by Virginia Military
Institute. The Bushong farm and the surrounding portions of the
battlefield that include the scenes of the heaviest fighting were
purchased by VMI alumnus George R. Collins in 1944. The property was
bequeathed to VMI in 1964 to become the nucleus of the present battlefield
park |
