"The Battle of New Market, though a smaller conflict, represented a crucial moment in the Union's offensive movements in the spring of 1864 and became the last major Confederate victory in the Shenandoah Valley. The results of the battle between Franz Sigel and John C. Breckinridge - with the Virginia Military Institute Cadets pushing the conflict in the Confederates' favor - altered the campaigns of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee and the course of the American Civil War in Virginia."--Provided by publisher.

Prelude -- Before the battle -- A "Yankee Dutchman" and his soldiers -- An exiled general and his gathered army -- The boys and the castled walls -- Into the valley -- Cavalry ahead -- The morning of decisions -- "Battle as boys dream of" -- Colonel Moor's difficulties -- Establishing the battle lines -- Of mud and hoofbeats -- "May God forgive me" -- Desperate fighting -- "Take the guns" -- "We ran" -- Where the boys died -- "Big little battle" -- Appendix A: Eliza Clinedinst Crim and Moses Ezekiel -- Appendix B: Memory wars -- Appendix C: George Randall Collins -- battlefield preservation pioneer -- Appendix D: Virginia Military Institute continues the New Market legacy -- Appendix E: Eyewitness to history : The Battle of New Market.