A little thought about virtue today but one of the more important to many people 150 years ago. Duty, honor, respect, and valor all played a part in the short, sharp battle of New Market in May of 1864. The Union was moving down the valley from Winchester and the South had little with which to stop the Northern army. So 250 Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA were called out at 1 AM and marched over three days about 80 miles in the rain. The cadets ranged from 15 to 19 years of age. They were held in reserve at first but, reluctantly, they wee added to the Confederate line and moved into battle. They formed a few hundred feet from where this photo is taken and in the charge, diverted to both sides of the farm house. Then across a muddy field where many lost their shoes in the thick mud, and into the Union line. The Union retreated from the field and the Cadets even captured a cannon. They took 20% casualties and were honored at a fete in Richmond.