VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE PRESERVATION MASTER PLAN sons out of the fighting. VMI cadets were in demand as drillmasters to train militiamen, a much-needed skill, and this often kept them out of armed conflict (Andrew 2001: 28).
The Civil War profoundly effected both VMI faculty and cadets. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (1824-1863) taught natural and experimental philosophy at VMI from 1851-1861. He was ordered to command the VMI Corps of Cadets to Richmond in 1861 where they were needed as drillmasters. Soon after, he led a brigade of men from the Shenandoah Valley. His military prowess was evident at the Battle of Manassas and the subsequent Shenandoah Valley campaign in 1862. Ultimately, he was accidentally shot by friendly fire in 1863 and later died from the wound.
In May 1864, the Shenandoah Valley was under attack by U.S. General Franz Sigel, whose goal was to cut the Virginia Central Railroad line at Staunton. The Valley was defended by a relatively small Confederate force lead by General J.D. Imboden. The VMI Corps of Cadets was called to join General John C. Breckinridge in Staunton. After two days of marching through mud and rain, the cadets reached Staunton and then proceeded to march on to New Market. Skirmishes began almost immediately, but fighting did not break out until the following day. The cadets joined the Battle of New Market in the late morning of May 15, 1864, advancing through the artillery line of fire. On Bushong Hill, the cadets came under extremely heavy fire, as they were only hundreds of yards away from the Union batteries. Rather than fall back, the cadets courageously charged forward and began firing on the gunmen. This was a turning point in the battle; soon the Union artillery line was broken and forced to retreat. Ten VMI cadets lost their lives during the battle or from wounds received at the battle (Couper 1933: n.p.).
The Civil War arrived on the doorstep of VMI a month later. In a strike through the Shenandoah Valley, U.S. Major General David Hunter arrived in Lexington on June 11. The VMI faculty and cadets retreated to a camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hunter set up temporary headquarters in the VMI Superintendent’s Quarters. On June 12, Hunter ordered the burning of VMI including the Barracks, two Davis-designed faculty quarters, and Mess Hall. The buildings were completed gutted and all of their contents destroyed. Only Superintendent Smith’s quarters was spared. The extent of the destruction forced VMI to relocate, temporarily, to Richmond.
Many military schools closed or were destroyed during the Civil War and never recovered. VMI, however, reopened in 1865 despite the extensive damages. The school now held a position of honor in the post-war South. The decisive role of the VMI cadets at the Battle of New Market and the valor of former faculty brought prestige to VMI and a dedication to rebuilding (Andrew 2001: 31, 34, 37).
Post-Civil War Lexington Immediately following the end of hostilities, Lexington experienced a housing shortage even though the town had not been seriously damaged by fire or looting due to an influx of people from other war-ravaged areas. Residential
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