New Market - I was there

On the anniversary of the Battle of New Market, arguably the defining moment in VMI's history, The Cadet provides a rare first-hand account from Hugh Fry, one of the brave cadets who participated in the victory. Capt. Henry Wise My Dear Captain In reply to your favor of the 20th rec'd last evening. Will say my opinion of Col. Smith's [VMI superintendent] assertion as you state it is entirely incorrect. When we reached the edge of the wheat field through which we changed the Federal Battery, the said Battery and a Regiment of Infantry. The 34th Mass. were there & there was nothing between us but the wheat about Knee high - - they stayed there until we were nearby one another with the bayonet. The Infantry broke & retired. The gunners of the Battery fought us with their sponge shafts and hole spikes, until compelled to give up the guns that our Battalion front covered I did not hear any order for the Corps to break and rally behind the – Regiment, nor do I believe that there was ever any necessity for any such order during the fight or if there was, I certainly did not see it & I was there from start to finish. I wish very much I could have a talk with you. I might be able to give you some points that I could not undertake to write. After we were furloughed to the latter part of June 64, I made my way to Richmond & was at Camp Lee & around the lines below Richmond, until the Corps reassembled at Camp Lee in October. I reported & was with them at the Alms House, & on the lines until the evacuation of Richmond. In October 65 I again reported at Lexington & for some ten days Glazebrook, Marshall, Bennett & myself composed the entire Corps of Cadets. By the end of the month, we numbered about 60. I had only one Company that year. The year 66 – 67 we had two Companies. I left the Institute in 67 & farmed about seven – then worked as an accountant for about 30 years living in New York City, Kansas City, Mo. & in Va. until about 5 years ago. I gave up bookkeeping on account of my eye sight, & returned to my home & farmed since. I would very much like to attend The V.M.I Commencement this year, but it is a very busy time with me & I hardly expect to be able to do so. Now Captain, if I Can in any way assist you in getting any further information, I will only be too glad to do so -- with kindest regards & best wishes for you. I am Very truly yours Hugh W. Fry Bonsack P.O. Roanoke Co. Va. Insights into one of the experiences Mr. Fry may have wanted to relate to Mr. Wise in person was an incident during the battle of Newmarket that only came to light after his death. According to records in the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) archives, in 1948, following Mr. Fry's death, W. Langhorne Talbott, through his nephew, Edwin I. Ford II '45 sent a package and letter to the VMI museum stating, in part, "… one sword bayonet which was captured in the Battle of New Market, I believe in May 1864, by my uncle, cadet Hugh W. Fry of Richmond, Virginia. Cadet Fry, who was only 14 years 9 months old at the time, was wounded in a bayonet charge in the above-mentioned battle and, in return, mortally wounded his opponent from whom he took this bayonet." During the Battle of Newmarket then- Cadet Fry was a private in Company C. Prior to his time at VMI Mr. Fry served in the Confederate service in Company E of the 1st regiment of Virginia Infantry. According to a 1919 letter to VMI from His Brother Rat, O.W. Huddleston contained in the VMI archives, at Mr. Fry's death "… his bier was covered with a design from the local Alumni in the colors Red, White and yellow, for we know had his wish been expressed, it would be to be buried under the colors he loved so well."