Skirmish at Shades Bridge Traditional Geocache
Skirmish at Shades Bridge
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Prior to 1828 the only way to cross the South Fork of the Obion
River was with the aid of a foot log. Fording was possible, in
places, a few times during the year. Shade's Bridge is a crossing
that has been in use since 1828. It is located 7 miles southeast of
Greenfield. A modern concrete bridge is in present use. Shadrach
Madison, who went by the name of Shade Madison, operated a ferry at
this spot from 1828 until 1833 when a bridge was built. He was a
"free man of color."
The September and December term of court of 1833 ordered the
building of a bridge. The court minutes of 1833 refers to Shade's
Ferry and later the court referred the crossing as Shadrach
Madison's Bridge or Shade Madison's Bridge or in some cases Shade's
Bridge. Shadrach Madison was a free man of color born ca.1792 in
Virginia.
From the time the bridge was built in 1833 and during the War
Between the States this was the only bridge crossing the South Fork
of the Obion River.
The "Battle of Shade's Bridge near Skullbone was probably the most
unusual, hilarious, and unknown battle of that same war which
divided our nation so drastically. In the spring of 1862 there was
a small and incidental skirmish between the Confederate regulars
along with members of the notorious Claiborne Gang.
But now back to the Battle of Shade's Bridge. Some of the Southern
sympathizers and those who were not thought of so highly, including
the Claiborne Gang, knew when General Grant went through on his
journey south. They also knew that his troops would follow in a few
days. The Southerners prepared to meet the "Yankees and surprise
them at the only place they could cross the Obion River on their
trip south.
The Claiborne Gang, joined by the Confederate troops, organized
their plan to wait for the government troops. The Southerners
numbered about 150 men and had been placed there to guard the
bridge during the war. They were totally untrained and their
ammunition was old and unreliable.
The Claiborne Gang were Southern sympathizers and were not just
confined to the dozen Claibornes. The gang had about 150 men from
different sections of two counties. It required a posse of about
200, men to kill out and stop the Claiborne Gang.
After a few days of waiting, the "Yankees appeared. As they
approached the bridge from the direction of Dresden, where they had
been camped a few days on Mud Creek, the Southerners eagerly
watched.
The Southerners waited until the federal troops were on the bridge
before they began firing. There was not much firing to it. Of the
150 guns that were used by the Southerners, only three would fire.
Most of the make-shift soldiers had left their ammunition get wet.
This dampness kept it from firing properly.
Upon determining the impossibility of victory, the southern
sympathizers and gangsters turned and ran in order to prevent
capture. The federals in blue did not even bother to chase after
them. They knew they were of no great significance, and besides
they had orders from Grant to proceed south and meet him.
After the Union troops continued on their way, the Claiborne Gang
returned to the bridge and burned it. This was an excellent move
but should have been done before the arrival of the Yankees and not
after they had already passed through.
The present Shades Bridge Road from Greenfield is a winding road
running to Shades Bridge. The Road crossing Shades Bridge goes to
the legendary "Skullbone" about a mile and a half into Gibson
County.
The cache you are seeking is a waterproof matchbox with a magnet.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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