By now, it was lunchtime, and I pick up the thread started earlier about discovering something interesting by accident. Now, if we had stopped at the IHOP for breakfast, we probably would have pushed on for Luray Cavern. However, since we had not, and feeling somewhat peckish, we went looking for a local deli or sandwich shop.

At the T intersection leading into town from the battlefield and the interstate, Luray Caverns were to the left. However, we turned right into the "Historic District" of New Market, figuring that would be a place to find a sandwich shop. We found no deli, but we did drive to the end of town and drive past a local used bookstore and the town's park--something they put as an attraction in the tourist pamphlet.

We made a mental note of the bookstore, said something like, we should go in there, and then ignored it to concentrate on finding a deli. We drove down the main drag, passed the interection, and still could find no clearly marked deli. We found a combination gas station, mini-mart, and Godfather Pizza place. Well, it would have to do.

We ordered pizza and soda, and being such a nice day, decided to eat outside. So, back we traveled through town to the town park which they seemed so proud of, again passing the bookstore.

Well, the town does indeed boast a fine park, with picninc pavillions, ballfields, tennis courts, and so on. And we rather enjoyed our repast, even though we had our heart set more on sandwiches than pizza.

On the way out, we stopped and looked at the bookstore. Being bookworms, we finally decided that the Fourth time was the charm and pulled into the parking lot. We were the only customers, and this was a huge store, about the size of a single floor of a typical Barnes and Noble. About a quarter of it was storage and so on, but for the better part of an hour, we poured through the stacks, and ended up buying a bag full of interesting books. I could have probably stayed another hour, but Luray Caverns were calling.

And so, by not having pancakes, we ultimately turned right instead of left at an intersection, and found a wonderful bookstore. It's well organized, has that appropriately dusty smell to it, and is staffed by a delightful owner. I misplaced the card I took, but it is the only bookstore we found in New Market, and it's about a block or two from the town park. If you're ever that way, do stop in. It's a great place.

Once again, we cruised through town, and finally continued up highway 211 to Luray Caverns.

Notes on New Market

by Joseph Whitehorne

The first permanent European settlement in the area was made in 1727 or 1728 by Germans from Pennsylvania. A village began to develop at the crossing of the Thornton Gap Road (US 211) and the Old Indian Road (US 11) when John Sevier established a tavern and store there in 1765. The village Sevier started continued to grow, and Sevier went on to distinction as the first governor of Tennessee. The presence of a racetrack was justification for the original name of "Cross Roads" being changed to "New Market" after a British town of the same name famous for its racetrack. One of the first publishing firms west of the Blue Ridge was formed here in 1806, existing until recent times. While prospering commercially from its location on the Valley Pike (US 11), chartered in 1834, the town also became known for its educational institutions.

In 1859 sectional tensions led to the founding of the town's own militia unit, the New Market Cavalry. This unit was mustered into Confederate service as Capt. W.H. Rice's Battery. It became part of the Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. The unit saw service in Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign and all of the later campaigns in Virginia leading to Appomattox. A second local unit, the Emerald Guards, became Company E, 33d Virginia Infantry, part of the Stonewall Brigade. One of the 33d's commanders, Col. John F. Neff, came from Rude's Hill north of New Market. Killed at Second Manassas, he is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, where Sigel's men rallied after the battle, 15 May 1864. Confederate troops moved in force through the town three times in Jackson's campaign of 1862.

The town also was visited in 1862 by the Federals, Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks using the Rice House (Stanley Hall) as his headquarters. The town saw further Federal occupation in June 1864 when Hunter's force moved south to Piedmont and Lynchburg. During their brief stay, the Federals reburied their casualties from the May battle. That fall, the surrounding farms were victims of Sheridan's "burning." After the Battle of Cedar Creek, 19 October 1864, Jubal Early's forces regrouped at New Market for three weeks before probing north one final time. Major Confederate forces left the village for the last time in December 1864 when Early moved farther south into winter quarters around Waynesboro and Staunton. Ten thousand Federal cavalry, under Custer and Merritt, passed through the town in late February 1865, en route to the final battles in Virginia.

The village was the site of the earliest Memorial Day in the South, 15 May 1866.

More Battle of New Market: 1864

Introduction
The Museum
The Battlefield Tour
The Battle
The Town of New Market

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