Description: In War a Tower of Strength By John Paul Strain Virginia Military Institute CadetsNew Market, Virginia May 15, 1864 Signed Archival Paper GicléeCondition: New Edition size: 200Image Size: 29" x 19 1/2"Includes a Certificate of AuthenticityShips flat and free, FedExHandling time: Usually within 7 business daysArtist's Description: "The year was 1864, and for three years the Federal Army had tried everything to defeat the Confederate forces. Many battles had been fought with both sides winning and losing. Casualty counts were far beyond what anyone had considered possible. General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had lost a major battle at Gettysburg, but the South's willingness to fight for their independence had not diminished. Federal strategy began to focus on destroying the South's infrastructure which supplied Confederate forces in the field. In May, Federal General Franz Sigel's army began its march from Winchester, intent on destroying the Virginia Central Railroad located in Staunton. If successful, General Lee's Army would no longer receive the rich stores and supplies from the Shenandoah Valley. To stop the Federal advance, the sparse Confederate forces under the command of General John C. Breckinridge and General John D. Imboden gathered all the troops they could muster. The Virginia Military Institute's Superintendent Francis Smith was asked if his "School Boy Soldiers" would fall in. Taught from the very beginning at VMI the principles of duty and honor, the young men were eager to prove their worth as soldiers. The cadets marched for 4 days covering 80 muddy miles from Lexington to New Market in the drenching rain. The battle of New Market began in earnest on the stormy morning of the 15th with lightning, thunder, and cannon fire echoing across the valley. General Breckinridge had not wanted to deploy his 250 young VMI cadets, and held them in a reserve position on the battlefield. But when a large gap opened in the center line of battle, Breckinridge with tears in his eyes said, "Put the boys in, and may God forgive me for the order." As the boys moved forward behind their colors the storm greatly intensified, with lightning, thunder and driving rain. Now in the eye of the storm, under heavy cannon and musket fire the cadets began taking casualties. Undeterred, they fought forward through a low section of the field with standing water and deep mud, with a number of the boys losing their socks and shoes. A 12 pound Napoleon cannon was abandoned in the face of the cadet's charge, which the cheering boys captured. A Confederate officer watching the cadets said their charge "surpassed anything that I witnessed during the war." General Breckinridge would later ride to their position and say "Young gentlemen, I have you to thank for the result of today's operations. Well done, Virginians...well done men!" The actions of those brave cadets fulfilled the motto of VMI, and would be remembered daily from that day forward. "In Bellō Praesidium - In War A Tower Of Strength". About John Paul Strain: Mr. Strain and his paintings have been featured on the television shows of C-Span's Washington Journal, The History Channel, and Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Throughout his career he has won many awards for his art. Reproductions of his work have won numerous 1st place awards and "Best of Show" honors, such as the PICA Awards, The Printing Industry of the Carolina's, and at the PIAG Awards in Georgia. Strain is also a featured artist for internationally known collector art companies the Bradford Exchange and the Franklin Mint for which he has created a Civil War Chess Set, several limited edition plate series, sculptures, and many other collectible items featuring his paintings. John Paul completed a number of commissioned works for the United States Army, which are on permanent display at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort McNair, Washington D.C., and the battlefield visitor's center at Normandy, France. Today, his original paintings can be found in many noted museums such as the Museum of Fredericksburg, and at Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. In 2010 Mr. Strain won the Henry Timrod Southern Culture Award presented by the Military Order of the Stars and Bars - Descendants of Officers of the Confederacy. In 2017 Mr. Strain was unanimously chosen by the Board of Directors of the General N.B. Forrest Historical Society for the “Forrest Distinguished Artist of the Year Award” Notably his work has been collected by many US Senators, US Congressmen, State Governors, music and Hollywood celebrities. His work can be found at the United States Pentagon, and assorted United States Navy Military War Ships currently in service. Over 90,000 pieces of John Paul Strain's Limited Edition Art and original paintings have been sold and enjoyed worldwide! Options:200 signed Paper Giclées - $275 here50 Artist's Proof Paper Giclées - $375Image size 19 1/2" x 29" 20 S/N Studio Canvas Giclées - $27515 Artist's Proof Studio Canvas Giclées - $375Image size 16 1/2" x 24 1/2" 65 S/N Classic Canvas Giclées - $57515 Artist's Proof Classic Canvas Giclées - $675Image size 21 1/2" x 33 1/2" 10 S/N Executive Canvas Giclées - $12004 Artist's Proof Exec Canvas Giclées - $1400Image size 26 3/4" x 40"
Price: 275 USD
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
End Time: 2025-01-25T21:17:19.000Z
Shipping Cost: 14.99 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Artist: John Paul Strain
Unit of Sale: Single Piece
Signed By: John Paul Strain
Size: 29" (h) x 19 12 in (w)
Item Length: See height
Region of Origin: US
Framing: Unframed
Personalize: No
Year of Production: 2000-Now
Original/Licensed Reproduction: Reproduction
Item Height: 29 in
Style: Historical Realism, Realism
Features: Signed
Handmade: Yes
Item Width: 19 1/2 in
Culture: American
Time Period Produced: 2015
Signed: Yes
Title: In War a Tower of Strength
Period: Historicism (1850-1900)
Material: watercolor goache, Paper
Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes
Subject: May 15, 1864, Virginia Military Institute Cadets, New Market, Virginia, History, Military
Type: Painting
COA Issued By: John Paul Strain Historical Art
Theme: History
Production Technique: Watercolor gouache giclee
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
