Buffalo's Polk County Settlers Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Buffalo Bob NC: It's time to move on. Thank you to the Polk County Settlers and their generations who still live here. You've made for an interesting history lesson located in the Veteran's Memorial Park in Columbus, NC. Please continue to visit the park and look for another cache nearby: Cole Lumbus. Thank y'all, Buffalo Bob NC

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Hidden : 5/18/2007
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is located in the central part of historic Columbus, North Carolina.

Among the early families settling in the 1700s in pre-Polk County western Colonial frontier was the William Metcalf family. Check out the earliest map of Polk County and settlers at (visit link)

When you arrive at the coordinates you should be nearest the 6th STAR around the outside of the central structure (you get to figure out where the starting point and most important of the 13 stars is located). Look up around the rim for the name “Metcalf, Warner.” Young Warner Metcalf went to War with his father Anthony and two brothers William and Danza. Warner Metcalf was a Drummer Boy in the Continental Army during Revolutionary War from 1777-1778. He marched from Rutherford County, North Carolina to Augusta and Savannah, Georgia; and then St. Augustine, Florida where they were engaged in battle, then back to North Carolina. All of this while he was 15-16 years old. Then he re-enlisted in the Volunteers, fought numerous battles against the British Tories or Loyalists until the end of the War in September 1783, including the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780. In 1832, during his War pension hearing, Warner Metcalf stated that “I laid many nights with my gun for my pillow, the earth for my bed, and the bows of the forest for my covering, I was a boy…” His post-War pension was $70 per year.

From the Warner Metcalf see if you can find five Metcalf’s close by. Note how many of this group of Metcalf’s were in the Revolutionary War, Continental Army. They fought for our Nation’s earliest liberty and our freedoms.

Sight directly across the center of the structure from Warner Metcalf and find Ricky McCallister (current Town of Columbus Council Member). Look for two (2) more of the Metcalf clan close by: William (Rev War) and Jimmy (USN 1957-61). William was Warner Metcalf’s brother.

Line up William and Jimmy Metcalf and sight directly across the center of the structure to find John E. Metcalf (WWII). From John E. Metcalf count 6 clockwise around the fountain and find “CSA 1861” (above the 9th star). Sight from CSA 1861 across the center of the structure for the cache location approximately 40 yards North.

Suggestions: Place a small pebble on each brick as you locate it. Please remove them when finished with the cache. Beware of muggles and be discreet when removing and replacing the cache.

Honor our military veterans. It is because of them we have the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that our Founding Fathers guaranteed. The flags of our fathers throughout time tell much about our Nation’s history. Please show your respect…

Initial Contents:
FTF Prize: New President John Adams dollar coin (2007)GOES TO THE "RABID CHIPMUNKS!!"
Grand Union Flag (the first national flag of the U.S. - Dec. 3, 1775)
Gadsden Flag (Don’t Tread on Me – c. 1775)
First US Navy Jack flag (Don’t Tread on Me – c. 1775)
Betsy Ross 13-star US Flag (1776)
Bennington “76” 13-star US Flag
31-star US Flag (1851-1859)
50-star US Flag (on 7-5-2007, the longest flying U.S. flag in history)
Assorted reproduction coins from the Revolutionary War era

Visit the non-profit educational House of Flags Museum off Hwy 9 south, 12 miles away in Green Creek on Saturdays 2:00 to 4:00pm (www.houseofflags.org) N 35 13.814 and W 082 03.116

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Sbhe-vapu cbylivaly puybevqr ng pbapergr [It can be easily seen!]

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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