Virginia Military Institute Cadets and the Field of Lost Shoes Essay

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The Corps of Cadets at Virginia Military Institute and “The Field of Lost Shoes”OutlineIntroductionBackgroundWhat HappenedThe Outcome of the Battle of New MarketConclusionIntroductionCadets from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) were ordered into active duty service on May 15, 1864, during the Battle of New Market. The heroic intervention by the cadets helped to win the battle for the Confederacy against Union forces, but the cadets insisted that they had fought for their beloved state of Virginia rather than the Stars and Bars.BackgroundFounded in 1839, VMI was still a fledgling military institute when the Civil War started on April 12, 1841, and the young cadets and their institute had not yet had enough time to prove themselves and earn the respect of their active-duty counterparts in the Confederate Army As the outcome of the Battle of New Market clearly demonstrated, this perception of the VMI cadets also applied to the Union Army that decided the cadets were fair game despite their youth but underestimated their resolve and unwavering intrepidness in the face of intensive musket and cannon fire.What HappenedIn March 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant became determined to establish control over the Shenandoah Valley in order to control the prosecution of the war in Virginia. This military objective was importance because the Shenandoah Valley was not only strategically situated for invasion by the North and the South, it was also a critical agricultural center that produced much of the food for the Confederate Army in the eastern part of the South (Battle of New Market, 2022).

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…many people today to realize just how desperate the South’s situation was in 1864 or just how traumatic the Civil War was for American society. Likewise, it is likely impossible to imagine how terrifying an actual battle was for 257 young cadets who were away from home for the first time and were hoping to graduate and go on to live long, meaningful lives. The fact that these young men charged into the mouth of a cannon speaks volumes for the values that are instilled by VMI, and these values continue to shape the next generation of military leaders today. In sum, the outcome of the Battle of New Market clearly shows that you can reach your destination if you believe you can --even if you lose your shoes on the….....

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"Virginia Military Institute Cadets And The Field Of Lost Shoes" (2022, October 01) Retrieved June 6, 2026, from
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"Virginia Military Institute Cadets And The Field Of Lost Shoes", 01 October 2022, Accessed.6 June. 2026,
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