Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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ECHO TAPS Died on the field of Honor, Sir is the call to remember the ten cadets who made the ultimate sacrifice at the battle of New Market. It is the memories of these and all the other cadets who answered the call to arms that the VMI spirit is based on. It was only the rapidly deteriorating situa- tion that forced General Breckinridge to put the cadets into the cruel and unforgiv- ing experience known as war. Before the battle Breckinridge spoke to the Corps of Cadets. Young gentlemen, I hope there will be no occasion to use you, but if there is, I trust you will do your duty. It was not too far in the future that the corps was called upon to show their metal. As the battle progressed the situation became desperate enough to force Breckinridge to call the corps into action. It was a heart wrenching affair for the former Vice-Pres- ident, Breckinridge was noted as saying, Put the boys in , . and may God forgive me for the order. This was a very emo- tional affair for him; it was ob- served that he was crying while issuing this order. As the history books have noted the corps of cadets did a superb job in their action against the invad- ing federal hordes. What occurred on that particular date has been swept up in the unending march of lime. But, the heroic exploits of those boys will remain a part of the tradi- tions of VMI and will live on as long as the Institute. For, if it were not for that charge up Bushong hill that rainy, bloody Sunday the Virginia Military Institute would be no different from other military schools like the Citadel, Norwich, Georgia Military, and Texas A M. It is the valiant effort of the corps at New Market that makes VMI a cut above the rest. New Market is the standard that all alumni have elected to live up to. From the trenches of World War One to the jungles of Vietnam, VMI alumni have fought for this nation with the same fighting spirit of those cadets that charged the hill. How the ran toward those guns impressed every- one who witnessed their charge. The painting in Jackson Memorial Hall by Benjamin West Cline- dinsl depicts the Corps of Cadets famous charge up Bushong Hill during the Battle of New Market (right). Cadets form in battalion formation at the New Market Day parade (facing page). The cadets were to pay dearly for their action. Five of them. Cadets Cabell, Crockett, Jones, McDowell, and Stanard, lay dead on the field. Cadets Atwill, Haynes, Jefferson, Wheelwright, and Hartsfield would all succumb to their wounds. Forty-seven others were wound- ed. Nearly a fourth of those engaged were casualties. The Corps of Cadets was bloodied in battle, they came face to face with the ultimate horror. The cadets would bury five comrades in the cemetery of St. Matthews on the day following the battle. They would also witness the slow and ago- nizing deaths of the other five. The search over the field for the wounded Ca- dets after the battle was heartrending. Robert Cabell found his brother William dead, his head split open by his death wound. Lieutenant Berkeley heard a boy moaning as he walked over the ground and found a Cadet crying for help for a fallen comrade whose head he cradled in his lap. The boy was dead. Looking back at the battle of New Market, one finds many instances of heroism on both sides of the lines. But, it is the memory of the cadets fighting that makes this battle all the more special to the people of the Shenandoah valley. It seems to have some special claim — perhaps because of the Cadets, perhaps because of the fact that it was the last Confederate victorv in the Shenando- ah. The rememberance of New Market is a fitting tribute to the boys who became men there. . (right) Virginia Mourning Her Dead, a statue by Moses E?ekiel-

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Welcome Back Spring Alumni Weekend Every year alumni return to the Insti- tute to see their Brother Rats and to relive their experiences as cadets. VMI alumni are perhaps the most dedicated alumni in the nation and this is evidenced b the generous gifts that are given to the Institute each year. This generosity was displayed by the Class of 1937 s substan- tial gift that was presented to VMFs Su- perintnendent General Sam S. Walker, during the customary review parade in which the corps honors this distinguished group of men. Alumni are the epitomy of the citizen-soldier ideal which VMI strives to pursue. These men were leaders in the military as well as in the civilian sector. .- lumni weekend is a fun time for all alum- ni and is a time for seeing old friends. lo Lil .ilumnus waves the confederate battle flag, an important part of VMI history, (above) Alumni from the classes of ' 17. ' 32. 47. ' 57, 67, ' 77 watch the Corps on parade, an important part of any alumni weekend, (right) Old Yell for the class of 1927 the VMI cheerleaders on the sentinel box in the old courtsard salute these distinguished graduates of the Institute (above riaht)