Eliza Clinedinst

Eliza Clindinst

Virginia Military Institute Archives

Quick Facts

Significance:

Shenandoah Valley Civilian

Place of Birth:

New Market, Virginia

Date of Birth:

1838

Place of Death:

New Market, Virginia

Date of Death:

1931

Place of Burial:

New Market, Virginia

Cemetery Name:

Emmanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery

Eliza Clinedinst cared for wounded Confederates after the Battle of New Market, including cadets from the Virginia Military Institute who participated in the battle. 

War Comes to the Homefront 

Eliza Clinedinst was 26 years old when the Battle of New Market (May 15, 1864) raged through the small Shenandoah Valley town. During the battle, she helped wounded soldiers in the nearby fields. Afterwards, many private homes were turned into makeshift aid stations. Wounded Virginia Military Institute (VMI) cadet Thomas Garland Jefferson was brought to the Clinedinst family home on Congress Street. 

Death, Friendship, & Memory 

Eliza and fellow cadet Moses Ezekiel cared for Jefferson until his death three days after the battle. In a post-war letter, Eliza wrote, "The blindness of death came over him. He died about midnight in Moses Ezekiel’s arms. He was buried in the old churchyard where they fought so bravely."

Eliza married Confederate veteran John Crim but kept up regular correspondence with Moses Ezekiel, who later became a famous sculptor. Both worked to preserve the memory of the VMI cadets. Ezekiel created the "Virginia Mourning Her Dead" statue on VMI's campus. Mother Crim, as Eliza was later known as, received the New Market Cross of Valor, a medal traditionally only given to graduating cadets.