new-market-videos

New Market: Preservation

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / Leave a comment
This preservation group is leading efforts to save more areas of New Market battlefield.

When we see a historic battlefield preserved for research and education, there is always a story. In today’s video, we take a closer look at the battlefield preservation at New Market, how it has secured key portions of the land, and how the efforts continue to secure and interpret new portions of the old battlefield.

Ever wonder why the Virginia Museum of the Civil War sits on George Collins Memorial Parkway? Hint: Mr. Collins spearheaded some of the first official preservation efforts! Learn about his work and more in our new video…

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New Market: Battle’s Afterstory

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / Leave a comment

When the fighting ended on May 15, 1864, and the Union army retreated from New Market, who took care of the injured? Civilians took a major role in the immediate aftermath situation and also in the memory of the battle in later decades.

This week’s video focuses on some stories about three civilian women, New Market’s memory of the battle, and how the battle’s veterans later re-fought it on paper, creating an impressive primary source record.

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New Market: The Union Retreat

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / 1 Comment
Capt. Henry DuPont, Union artillery officer

If a possible is impossible to hold, a retreat will happen. With attacks coming from the right, left, and center, the Union line along Bushong Hill headed for collapse. This new video explores how and why that happened, along with highlighting the history of James Madison Burns and Henry DuPont who exhibited exceptional courage during the retreat.

With the action on May 15, 1864, coming to a close, we’re also heading for the close of this video series. But fear not – we have at least two more weeks (watch for the next install next Wednesday) and so we’ll be unveiling plans for a new video series with a history focus.

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New Market: “Send In The Boys”

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / Leave a comment

Finally. It’s time to discuss the Virginia Military Institute Cadets’ role in the Battle of New Market – how they rushed to The Fence, filled the gap in the line, and then…

Hey, why am I telling you here! Watch the video…

In addition to talking about the historic happenings, this video includes footage filmed on New Market battlefield, including a walk to The Cannon. Then we’ll reflect on what the Cadets at New Market means and how it is still inspirational 155 years later.

Send In The Boys

Video Highlights

  • What the VMI Cadets did when they received orders on May 15, 1864
  • Fight at the fence
  • The Cadets’ Charge
  • Footage from New Market Battlefield State Historical Park
  • Discussion about what the Charge means

Thanks for watching!

Your Historian,

Miss Sarah

New Market: Cavalry Charge & The 54th Pennsylvania

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / Leave a comment
54th Pennsylvania Monument

Let’s talk about the Union left flank during the Battle of New Market!

The Union cavalry under General Julius Stahel made a fateful charge into Confederate artillery and the 54th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment anchored the Union flank and also made a memorable charge. What can we learn about the Battle of New Market by taking a closer look at these fights on the east side of the lines?

This video takes another look at the history, goes “on location”, and I’ll reveal something kinda crazy that I did on one of my visits to New Market and how that influenced my perception on that cavalry charge…

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New Market: Bushong Lines

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / Leave a comment
Part of the topography at the Confederate line along Bushong Field, modern view.

Okay, I broke down and had to explain these battle lines in detail… This video is a lot of “this regiment was here, this regiment was there.” But, then we’ll give you the boots on the ground, real soldier perspective too. (Or you can just skip ahead to see the maps and hear those accounts.)

It’s crucial to understand the Union and Confederate unit alignments along the Bushong Lines (third Union defensive position). To avoid explaining at the beginning of each “action video,” we take the time to explain it. Once! Then just reference back in the future.

You just might find this much more interesting and informative than you imagine…

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