The Battle of New Market was the battle between Confederate units under General John C. Breckinridge and Union forces commanded by Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley, May 1864, and was the first of a series of engagements that destroyed Confederate power in the Shenandoah Valley. This first battle hardly presaged such an outcome. It was waged between two provisional field organizations hastily assembled by their respective commander's days before contact. The battle may be summarized as a Federal movement to contact, Confederate defense and counterattack, and a hasty Federal withdrawal. Following a general briefing, this tour goes to twelve locations important to aspects of the battle. The first part of the tour is by vehicle, while the remainder is on foot. The tour concludes with a visit to the battlefield museum. Rarely has a battle demonstrated the virtues and defects of opposing commanders so clearly. The quality of the units on either side was never in question. Understanding the battles outcome provides valuable insight into leadership, cohesiveness, and the operational art.

Foreword / William A. Stofft -- Overview of the battle -- Suggested readings -- Notes on New Market -- Chronology -- The VMI cadets -- Order of battle -- Self-guided tour: Stop 1: Pennsylvania monument -- Stop 1A: Rude's Hill and return -- Stop 2: St. Matthew's Lutheran Church -- Stop 3: New Market Valley -- Stop 3A: Williamson's Hill -- Stop 4: Picnic area -- Stop 5: Battlefield Park -- Stop A: Jackson's Battery, 62d Virginia -- Stop B: Bushong's Orchard -- Stop C: Woodson's monument -- Stop D: Von Kleiser's position, 34th Massachusetts -- Stop E: Federal line -- Stop F: Federal rear area -- Stop G : Overlook No. 1 -- Stop H: Battery Heights and return.