This painting by John Ward Dunsmore depicts the moment during the Revolutionary War Battle of Springfield, June 23, 1780, when Reverend James Caldwell, Pastor & Chaplain of the American Regiment of Colonel Elias Dayton, passed out Isaac Watts Hymnals from the Presbyterian Church for use as Musket wadding. His rallying cry of “Put Watts In 'Em, Boys !!!” has become the signature of the battle.
The listed coordinates will take you to the front Steps of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, founded in 1745. It was rebuilt in 1791 on the remains of the original church, which with most of Springfield, was burned down by the retreating British forces in 1780. It was on the steps of the original church that Reverend James Caldwell ("The Rebel High Priest") uttered his famous words. Caldwell's wife Hannah had been shot and killed sixteen days before at Connecticut Farms, now in Union, NJ.
To the left of where you will be standing is a statue of a revolutionary war soldier. The associated plaque contains a series of dates associated with the Battle of Springfield. Take the first day you see in June (A) and plug it into the Coordinates below. Then cross Church Mall (Street) to the Presbyterian Cemetery and find the tombstone of Pvt. Samuel Allen who served in Captain Martin's Company during the Revolutionary War. Take the last two digits of the year he was born (B) and (C) and plug them into the coordinates below to find the final cache. It is less than a mile from the church and cemetery. The cache is hidden at the main battlefield site that is now Rahway River Parkway (Park) in Springfield.
A plaque at the park's entrance on Washington Ave. off Morris Ave., commemorates the victory that eliminated the British threat in the North.
Parking is available at the end of the short access road. The cache is about 100' from where you parked your car.
The final coordinates are:
N 40° 42.3(A+2)8
074° 18.(B-4)(C+2)2
CHECK SUM = 56
PLEASE MAKE SURE THE CACHE IS REHID WELL. This is to deter Muggles, not to make it more difficult for Cachers to find.
The cache contains:
- Assorted Geegaws
- Log Book and Pencils