WCG - Smithsburg Heritage Walk Traditional Cache
WCG - Smithsburg Heritage Walk
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The Washington County GeoTrail
WCG - Smithsburg Heritage Walk
The Washington County GeoTrail (WCG) launched on Saturday, September 14, 2013. The Trail consists of over thirty-five (35) geocaches placed at points of interest all over the County. Caches will be found in National, State, County and Town parks as well as at museums, wineries, historical sites and places of natural beauty. A trackable geocoin was awarded to the first 500 geocachers who completed the Washington County Geotrail. The original allotment of Coins has been exhausted and new parameters to receive the updated Coin are below.
To be eligible for the coin, GeoCachers may download the Washington County GeoTrail passport online at www.visitHAGERSTOWN.com or pick one up in person at the Visitor Welcome Center at 6 N. Potomac Street. Completed passports may be verified on site at the above address or by mail.
Please note the following Change. Washington County GeoCoins will be available for purchase at the Visitor Welcome Center for GeoCachers who log 20 or more caches on the Washington County GeoTrail. The cost of the GeoCoin will be $10. An additional $3.50 shipping charge will apply for passports redeemed by mail. For more information about geocaching in Washington County and the full complement of local amenities, the above links are your gateway to historically beautiful Washington County!
Participating in the WCG geotrail is fun and we hope that many people join in. However, it is not a requirement for logging your find on this cache once you find the container.
WCG – Smithsburg Heritage Walk
Located beside Smithsburg Town Hall is a paved brick path that is lined with old millstones, stone artifacts and eye-pleasing greenery (see accompanying photo). Also prominently displayed is a sign that briefly describes an artillery duel between Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart and Union Generals Judson Kirkpatrick and George Armstrong Custer on July 5, 1863.
The story goes that Custer had just been promoted to General, and the town had laid out a huge picnic spread to celebrate the General’s good fortune and that of the Union Army at Gettysburg. Unbeknownst to the Generals and the good burghers of Smithsburg, General Stuart was deploying his artillery up in the hills toward Raven Rock. The sound of incoming shells and horrific booms of shot exploding over the town must have created mayhem in the normally tranquil streets of Smithsburg.
The Union Generals, however, had wisely placed three batteries to counter such an eventuality, and soon opened a blistering counter-fire into Stuart’s positions with bigger and more accurate guns. Despite holding the higher ground, Stuart realized his tenuous position and began relocating his guns. The ensuing silence led Kilpatrick and Custer to believe Stuart was retiring from the field, and as a consequence, they packed up their limbers, caissons and troops and moved on to Boonsboro. A huge opportunity to block and wreck havoc with one of General Lee’s major retreat routes to the Potomac had been missed.
For a scintillating walkabout caching adventure, local cachers timbee&suebee have created the Smithsburg Walkabout (http://coord.info/GC3NVY2) cache, based on historic landmarks that include a brick house pock-marked with cannon shot ala General Stuart.
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Like most of the caches on the WCG, this one is only available from Dawn to Dusk. It is a regular-size geocache, placed in an easy to access location. The site is somewhat secluded, but stealth should still be exercised. The adjacent Police Department is fully aware of the presence of this cache. Smile, you are on candid camera!
The Washington County GeoTrail wishes to Thank the Hagerstown Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau for their timely and continuing assistance with this Washington County adventure.
The WCG also wishes to thank the following geocachers who spent countless hours in planning and deploying the caches – ALs Guide, Always Lost 00, Kitakima, LPYankeefan, nomaland, Snurt, tazscouter, and tiger77aam.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
GEL FGRCF