New Market Battlefield to Mark 162nd Anniversary of Civil War Battle

The Virginia Museum of the Civil War will mark the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of New Market with a weekend of living history, battlefield programs, and family-friendly activities on May 16 and 17, 2026.

The commemoration will take place at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, where fighting swept across Jacob Bushong’s farm on May 15, 1864. Throughout the weekend, the museum and grounds will host living historians who will help bring the battle story to life through demonstrations, presentations, and conversations with visitors.

Members of the Society of Civil War Surgeons demonstrate wartime medical practices during the 162nd Battle of New Market Commemoration at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park.

This year’s program will place a special focus on Civil War medicine and the treatment of battlefield injuries. Members of the Society of Civil War Surgeons will conduct medical demonstrations during the weekend, using the Bushong House hospital room to recreate wartime medical conditions and practices.

Visitors will also have the chance to explore military camps, watch military drills, witness live black-powder demonstrations, and learn about daily life for Civil War soldiers. At the Bushong Farm, guests can take part in hands-on, immersive activities, including cooking demonstrations and authentic camp experiences.

The Bushong home will also be open for tours. During the battle, Jacob and Sarah Bushong and their family took shelter as heavy fighting unfolded outside. Their farm became one of the most memorable sites associated with the battle.

Saturday’s events will conclude with a Civil War-era rounders baseball game.

The Battle of New Market took place during a major moment in the 1864 campaigns. Union Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel led an invasion force into the Shenandoah Valley as part of the wider Union offensive connected to Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. Confederate Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge rushed to organize the defense.

When the armies met near the crossroads town of New Market, local civilians witnessed fighting in streets, churchyards, and fields. Many helped care for the wounded after the battle.

The battle is especially remembered for the role of the Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets. Ordered into the fight, the young cadets helped secure a Confederate victory. It remains the only time a college student body fought in pitched battle under its own command and won.

The battle also produced stories of courage on the Union side, including a soldier who saved the national colors and another who later received the Medal of Honor.

A full schedule of events is available on the Virginia Museum of the Civil War’s website and social media pages.

Admission is $12 for adults ages 13 to 64, $7 for youth ages 5 to 12, and $10 for seniors ages 65 and older. For more information, call 540-740-3101 or email nmbshp@vmi.edu.