Photos by jcurtis55 INDIANA SPIRIT QUEST #609 "Union General Jefferson C Davis" This quest will bring you to the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Crown Hill is the third largest public cemetery in the United States with over 188,000 burials. There are several other caches in Crown Hill cemetery. It would be quite easy to spend a day here. The grounds open at 8:00AM and close at either 5:00 or 6:00PM, depending on the time of year. I would advise you check the Crown Hill web site if you plan on visiting late in the afternoon.
The posted coordinates will take you to a monument and headstone for General Jefferson C Davis. Yes, General Davis had the same name as the Confederate President but this Jefferson Davis was born a Hoosier and spent many years in the service of the United States. To find the final cache you will need to calculate the coordinates from information on the headstones of General Davis and his wife Marietta Athon Davis.
Jefferson Davis - Born ABCD Died EFGH
Marietta Athon Davis - Born IJKL Died MNPQ
R = K + P
S = L - N
The final coordinates are N39 RH.SSK W086 PS.PCS
Union General Jefferson C Davis A native Hoosier, Davis was born near Memphis Indiana. Davis first served in the military as a volunteer during the Mexican-American War. By the start of the Civil War he was serving as a 1st lieutenant at Fort Sumter. He quickly rose through the ranks, first be promoted to Colonel in August of 1861 where he led the 22nd Indiana regiment at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Then in December he was promoted to Brigadier General and was given command of the 3rd Division which saw action at the Battle of Pea Ridge. Davis also had a command at the Battle of Corinth. At this point he went on sick leave and was helping with the defense of Cincinnati. It was during this period that he was involved in an infamous incident. After a period of several disputes, he was slapped and called a coward by his commanding officer, General William Nelson, during an arguement at the Galt House in Louisville. Davis then walked across the lobby, borrowed a gun from a Captain, and then went back and shot and killed Nelson. It was a sign of the Union's desparate need for quality generals that Davis was not court martialed and actually returned to his command after being released by General Horatio Wright. His divison went on to see action in several major battles, including Stones River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, and Sherman's march to the sea. The Nelson incident did limit his ability for further promotions, although he was made a Brevet Major General after the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. After the war Davis had the field command of US troops in the Modoc War after the death of General Canby, and he served as the first commander for the Department of Alaska, serving from 1868-1870.
The cache container is A medium sized black pill bottle.