Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 [Hardcover]

Charles Knight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 2010

Charles R. Knight's 'Valley Thunder' is the first full-length account in more than three decades to examine the combat at New Market on May 15, 1864-the battle that opened the pivotal 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign.

Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who set in motion the wide-ranging operation to subjugate the South in 1864, intended to attack the Confederacy on multiple fronts so it could no longer "take advantage of interior lines." One of the keys to success in the Eastern Theater was control of the Shenandoah Valley, a strategically important and agriculturally abundant region that helped feed Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Grant tasked Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel, a German immigrant with a mixed fighting record, and a motley collection of units numbering some 10,000 men to clear the Valley and threaten Lee's left flank. Opposing Sigel was John C. Breckinridge, a former vice president and now Confederate major general who assembled a scratch command to repulse the invading Federals. Included within the ranks of his 4,500-man army were cadets from the Virginia Military Institute under the direction of VMI Commandant of Cadets Lt. Col. Scott Ship, who had marched eighty miles in just four days to fight Sigel.

When the two armies faced off at New Market, Breckinridge boldly announced, "I shall advance on him. We can attack and whip them here and we will do it!" As the general rode by the cadets he shouted, "Gentlemen, I trust I will not need your services today; but if I do, I know you will do your duty." The sharp fighting seesawed back and forth during a drenching rainstorm, and was not concluded until the cadets were dramatically inserted into the battle line to repulse a Federal attack and launch one of their own.

The Confederate victory drove Union forces from the Valley, but they would return, reinforced and under new leadership, within a month. Before being repulsed, these Federals would march over the field at New Market and capture Staunton, burn VMI in Lexington (partly in retaliation for the cadets' participation at New Market), and very nearly capture Lynchburg. Operations in the Valley on a much larger scale that summer would permanently sweep the Confederates from the "Bread Basket of the Confederacy."

'Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market' is based upon years of primary research and a firsthand appreciation of the battlefield terrain. Knight's balanced and objective approach includes a detailed examination of the complex prelude leading up to the day of battle. His entertaining prose introduces a new generation of readers to a wide array of soldiers, civilians, and politicians who found themselves swept up in one of the war's most gripping engagements.

About the Author: Charles R. Knight is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He is a former Historical Interpreter at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, and currently serves as the curator of the Douglas MacArthur Memorial. Charlie has written articles for various Civil War and railroad publications, including Blue and Gray, Classic Trains, and NRHS Bulletin. He lives in Norfolk, Virginia, with his wife and son.

REVIEWS

"Valley Thunder surely takes its place now among the dozen finest and most complete accounts of any Civil War action, and it would be hard to name any account of a secondary fight of this size that has been better treated. Knight's study is a contribution not just to Virginia or Confederate literature, but a book that will serve the entire Civil War community for generations to come, and probably much longer than my thirty-six years. The only way we will get a better account is if Breckinridge and the others come to life and give it to us from their own lips." -- William C. Davis, former editor of Civil War Times, Illustrated, author of The Batt

Editorial Reviews

Review

Charles Knight has provided an insightful and well-researched addition to the catalogue of works on the Battle of New Market. The Battlefield Park staff applaud this effort by one of our former co-workers! --Scott H. Harris, Director, New Market Battlefield State Historical Park

Mr. Knight has mined fresh material in an attempt to raise the fog of the battlefield. His use of firsthand accounts provide a fresh look at troop positions and movements. Valley Thunder is the first major study in forty years of one of the most important secondary actions of the war. It is an important addition to the library of the war in the Shenandoah Valley. --Col. Keith E. Gibson, Director, VMI Museum Operations

Valley Thunder surely takes its place now among the dozen finest and most complete accounts of any Civil War action, and it would be hard to name any account of a secondary fight of this size that has been better treated. Knight s study is a contribution not just to Virginia or Confederate literature, but a book that will serve the entire Civil War community for generations to come, and probably much longer than my thirty-six years. The only way we will get a better account is if Breckinridge and the others come to life and give it to us from their own lips. --William C. Davis, former editor of Civil War Times, Illustrated, author of The Battle of New Market (1975), and the award-winning author of Jefferson Davis: The Man and His Hour

Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: Savas Beatie; 1 edition (May 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932714804
• ISBN-13: 978-1932714807
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #697,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles "Charlie" Knight is a native Virginian, having been born in Newport News and growing up in Richmond. He developed an interest in history at an early age, the Civil War in particular, volunteering at Richmond's Museum of the Confederacy during high school. He is a 1999 graduate of Bridgewater College with a BA in US history.

His association with the Battle of New Market began in college, when he was an intern at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park. He subsequently worked there for more than two years as a historical interpreter, and lived for a summer in the original ca. 1818 Bushong family farmhouse on the park grounds. He is currently curator of the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA.

Knight has written articles for various publications including Blue & Gray, Classic Trains and the Civil War Preservation Trust's Hallowed Ground magazine. His first book, Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, May 1864, was published in the Spring of 2010 by Savas Beatie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The must-have New Market book!, May 11, 2010

By 

James W. Durney (Tampa Bay area) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 (Hardcover)

I am convinced that enthusiasts write the best histories. An enthusiast finds an event that touches them deeply, for whatever reason. They take the time to study the event intently. They walk the ground. They read every possible document and search for more documents. They discuss the event with others and in time, they write a book. If we are lucky, they can convey all their knowledge in an understandable, entertaining, and informative manner. With Charles Knight, we have gotten very lucky! A one-time resident of New Market, he was a Historical Interpreter on the battlefield. This is the enthusiast willing to invest the time and effort into understanding a campaign.
The May 1864 Battle of New Market is best remembered for the charge by the VMI Cadets. This charge is one of those moments that burns into our history. This book is a dual history. Primarily, it is a detailed history of operations in the Shenandoah Valley in May 1864. Secondly, it is an accurate but loving look at the VMI Cadet legend. Those holding the legend dear should not be upset with this book. The author clearly respects the cadets and is very truthful about what they did that day. An excellent introduction places the battle and the legend in the reality of history.
In the Shenandoah Valley, two small armies look for an advantage. In some ways, officers best assigned to a quiet front command both armies. Grant orders Sigel into The Valley as part of an overall attack on the Confederacy. Sigel is to sever railroad lines, prevent any reinforcement of Lee's army, and stop the flow of supplies. John D. Imboden holds the Valley with fewer than 2,000 men. John C. Breckinridge commands the Department of Southwest Virginia with about 7,000 men. Each knows they must delay any attacker until reinforced by the other. At that time, both commands must try to defeat the Union army quickly returning to their areas in as little time as possible.
While Grant's Overland Campaign and Sherman's Atlanta Campaign mesmerized the newspapers, these armies conduct a small but important campaign. Valley Thunder is a history of this campaign and the battle of New Market. There is enough background to understand the personalities and the overall situation but not so much that we are bogged down in details. Coverage of the campaign and the battle is excellent. The author has a clear, informative style that conveys the action well. Here we have a detailed account but in a readable form. The author lets the participants "speak for themselves," giving us a combination of his knowledge and first-person accounts that makes a powerful narration.
Savas Beatie continues to provide maps that keep us from getting lost. They are one of the few publishers that understand good maps are part of good histories. A series of illustrations and photos complement the story. This attractive, quality book is setting the standard for New Market.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Account of The Great Small Battle that Gave The Confederacy Heart, July 26, 2010

By 

Daniel Hurley (Chesapeake, VA.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 (Hardcover)

"There was no hint of cowardice in General Sigel, just as certainly there was none of generalship" is one of many first hand accounts that author Charles Knight supplies in the first retelling of the Battle of New Market since William Davis' history of 40 years ago. Knight knows the ground well as evidenced by his descriptions of the battle and his refreshing multitudes of maps. Knight was a historian and guide at the New Market Battlefield, owned and operated by VMI, and lived in the town itself during his time there. Knight provides the critical over view of Grant's 1864 Virginia strategy of attacking simultaneously at several points that coincided with his overland campaign with Averell, Crook and Sigel attacking with separate commands in the valley and in southeast Virginia. Of particular interest is General Ord, one of Grant's favorites who despised Sigel and opted out of the campaign, which was critical in the loss of a decisive commander. Knight covers well Sigel's odd command structure, disruption of unit authority with odd changes of command, his failure to consolidate his army at New Market and his disastrous use of his cavalry starting off with the annihilation of a 300-man brigade east of New Market by Imboden's cavalry. In contrast, Knight describes Breckenridge's quick movements and utilization of not only VMI cadets but also dismounted cavalry taking an aggressive stance, combined with Imboden's delaying tactics, captures the high ground. Knight provides an excellent detail of this battle that is very compact because of the terrain and the fact that it is framed on by the North Fork of Shenandoah on the west and Smith's Creek on the east. Knight's detail is moving and peppered with first hand accounts from both sides and for all units involved he gives an unbiased account of the battle that gives a true depiction while even challenging myths. He certainly covers the role of the cadets well but does not exaggerate their role as the veterans carried the day with the cadets plugging a gap in the middle as the battle progressed, charging with those veterans at the climax of the Confederate final charge. The other great point made by Knight's description was how the battle went back and forth and for a time, in favor of the Union who had excellent field position until Sigel orders a disastrous cavalry charge reminiscent on a small scale of Farnsworth's charge (ordered by Kilpatrick) at Gettysburg. Knight also discusses the strategic consequences of the impact of the battle in that it allows Breckenridge's forces to move east in time for Cold Harbor. However, the consequences were short lived as Grant replaces Sigel with David Hunter who forever changes campaigns in the valley with destruction. Also of particular interest are Knight's delightful appendices that run down some fascinating questions or myths. The best of which is what describing, or attempting to, describe what Imboden was doing on the opposite side of Smith's Creek when the tide turned to the Confederates and cavalry was needed in pursuit. Another appendix of interest was the role of the 1st Missouri cavalry unit that was virtually the only Missouri unit that fought in the eastern theater. I purchased my book at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA. where Knight is the curator and he was kind of enough to autograph.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Institute will be heard from today., June 1, 2010

By 

Joel Manuel (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864 (Hardcover)

This book has been touted as the definitive treatment of the Battle of New Market, made famous by the participation of the cadets of the Virginia Military Institute and their role in capturing a Federal cannon. The last book-length treatment of New Market was William Davis' book, which was first published in 1975; Davis himself provides the foreword to"Valley Thunder," saying that Knight's book surpasses his own with its use of sources found in the interim since his own book appeared.

"Valley Thunder" deserves the advance praise it has been getting. The purposes, tactical successes, and faults of the commanding generals, Franz Sigel and John Breckinridge, are spelled out. The whereabouts and expectations of CS cavalry commander John Imboden are explored. The exploits of the VMI cadets are presented in a realistic light, and not embellished. Knight writes about the battle in clear and exciting style. In short, this IS a very good book.

More importantly, its presentation is typical of its publisher, Savas Beatie, and it is yet another example of how Savas Beatie has established itself as the most important Civil War publisher going today. Great maps, excellently reproduced vintage photos, footnotes at the bottom of each page; all make for a quality work on a battle which deserved such a treatment. Highly recommended for all Civil War readers, especially those with an interest in the actions in the Shenandoah Valley.