The Battle of the Buck Nekkids Traditional Cache
BEENTHERE309: MAking way for better things
The Battle of the Buck Nekkids
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A small thermos container with log and swag hidden at the site of a genuine historical oddity - the only Civil War battle where one side fought IN THE NUDE!!!
The Following was reprinted from AAA Go Magazine, Sept-Oct, 2006:
One of the most unusual incidents of the Civil War occurred just west of Jackson at Boon's Mill Pond on July 28, 1863, when a small battle saved Robert E. Lee's exhausted Army of Northern Virginia, which had just returned from Gettysburg.
A Civil War battle in North Carolina was not unusual, but the way it was fought was. The Confederates at Boon's Mill fought in the nude. Call it the Battle Of the Buck Nekkids.
Heading East toward Jackson on US 158 from Roanoke Rapids, drivers will notice an old railroad bridge over the Raonoke River just outside Weldon. This bridge was the vital Wilmington-Weldon Railroad Bridge, carrying supplies brought in by blockade runners that were loaded on train cars in Wilmington and sent north to feed and resupply Lee's army. This fact was not lost on the Federals.
In mid July, at least two Federal regiments started marching for Weldon Bridge. Confederate spies soon figured out their objective, and a frantic telegram was sent to Richmond asking for reinforcements. None werre to be had, but Gen. Matt Ransom, who had a home nearby, rushed by train from the capital city down to Boon's Mill to lead the 200 Confederated who were stationed around the mill pond.
When Ransom arrived at Boon's Mill, he told the men to stay alert while he scouted in the direction of Jackson. Ransom rode into Jackson, did not find anything amiss and was riding back toward the mill pond, when he said he "heard a great shout" behind him.
Ransom turned around and saw Yankee calvary bearing down on him. Soon the lone general and the pursuing Union calvary were in a race for the mill pond.
The Confederates, who had been skinny-dipping in the mill pond on a hot July day, were surprised to see their commander and even more surprised to see the Yankees shooting at him. They did not take time to put on their uniforms before throwing on their cartridge and cap boxes and grabbing their muskets.
Ransom had only 200 men, but he began shouting orders out to regiments (1,000 men) that did not exist. The Federals, confused by the shouted commands, pulled back lest they advance too far into a crossfire.
For the rest of the afternoon the Federals tried to attack the dug-in, little-clothed Confederates. At that time the surrounding land was swampy so the only way forward to the bridge was straight ahead into the supposed fire of all those muskets that Ransom had been ordering around. After a few hours the Federal withdrew and broke off their attack.
The Wilmington Weldon Bridge remained open for most of the rest of the war. Had the bridge been captured in July 1863, Lee might have been forced to surrender at least a year earlier because his supply lines would have been severely strained.
This cache wouldn't be possible without the help of my co-cacher, Cosmicmama. (Shout Out!!!) Many thanks to her for all her help!!
FYI:
This cache would count for Page 23 on the North Carolina Delorme Challenge (GCTYE6), and for Northampton County on the North Carolina County Challenge (GC19YRC)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ragbzorq va fgbar
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