Indiana Spirit Quest #617 Lee's Lost Orders Traditional Cache

This quest will bring you to the Mount Gilead Cemetery just east of Bloomington Indiana. The cemetery was founded in 1845. Mount Gilead was an early Christian church founded by 20 local residents in 1849, 4 years after the first burials. In recent years the church has built a larger church about a mile from the original church location and the cemetery.

Indiana 27th Infantry

This is the grave of George Welch, a member of the Indiana 27th Regiment. This regiment consisted of US regulars. The 27th is famous for their part in the discovery of written orders issued by Confederate General Robert E Lee. These orders were given to US General McClellen 4 days before the battle of Antietam. While ineptitude by the US Generals prevented an overwhelming victory, the US ended up holding the field and ended the first southern invasion of northern territory.

Welch was a member of company F. It was two members of company F that actually found the orders, laying on the ground, wrapped around a cigar. The 27th then went on to fight at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and later at Gettysburg. After Gettysburg the 27th was taken out of the front lines, but were sent to New York City to help deal with the draft riots there. Later they returned to action and took part in Sherman's advance on Atlanta and the preceding battles.

George Welch was injured in Georgia during the battle at New Hope Church when he took a minnie ball to the lower left forearm. He was discharged after recovering in a Chattanooga hospital.

Company F of the 27th Indiana was known as the Monroe Grenadiers, since many members were from Monroe County. They also had the distinction of being the tallest company in the Union Army. There were several members over 6' tall. Captain Peter Kop, who organized company F, was 6' 4.5" tall. 2nd Captain David VanBuskirk was 6' 10.5" tall and was the tallest soldier in the Union army.

Indiana 32nd Infantry - 1st German Regiment

FIND LOGS ON THIS CACHE THAT INDICATE NIGHT CACHING WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE!!

The cache container is A CAMOUFLAGED PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE. You MUST sign the log to claim a Smilie. If you cache at night, or don't sign the log, or reveal the additional hint in your log, or don't fulfill any additional requirements, your find log will be deleted without notice...If you think these terms to be unfair, don't bother to hunt this cache. The cache is not located near a grave... If you find a fallen US flag, please stick it back in the ground. As always, please be respectful of our pioneer dead and cache in, trash out.

None genuine without this official SixDogTeam seal. Photographs taken by Lead Dog, (C) 2006 by RikSu Outfitters, unless otherwise noted.

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