Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 36.djvu/299

Rh The charge of the cadets of the V. M. I. at the battle of New Market was unquestionably one of the most brilliant feats of arms of our great war. It has been often described, but the story will be read again and again, and always with thrilling interest. Comrade C. A. Richardson finds in his scrap-book the following account of the part borne by the cadets in this famous battle, written by Mr. Howard Morton, a Federal soldier, which appeared in the Pittsburg Dispatch, and which, we agree with him in thinking, is worthy of republication. In his enthusiasm Comrade Richardson says: "In all the heroic annals of time this memorable battle-epic, like a rich and rare gem, will ever continue to sparkle and glow in all the effulgent splendor of an undimmed lustre." Here is Mr. Morton's account: "Opposite is the enemy's line of gray belching forth fire and smoke. Those immediately in front of us are comparatively inactive. They have not yet mended their broken fences. We look to the further end of the rebel line. Out from an orchard steps a small body of gray-clad troops. Something about them attracts our attention; their marching and alignment are perfect, their step is unlike that of the veterans who marched against our front. Their movements are those of a crack battalion on dress parade. They look like boys; the strong glass show they are boys. It is the battalion of pupils from the Virginia Military Institute, 225 in number. These little fellows, whose ages range from fourteen to sixteen years, drawn from the best families of the Old Dominion, have closed their books for the summer vacation, but instead of returning to their homes and making glad the hearts of fond parents and brothers and sisters, were told to take their cadet muskets and join the army in the