WV Civil War Trail Zone 5 - McDonald Plantation Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

JCook236: The container for this cach was removed by someone and will not be replaced.

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Hidden : 7/28/2013
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

ExploreWV
Civil War Geotrail
Zone 5

McDonald Plantation


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It has been said that all good things must come to and end. The Civil War Trail will come to that end on October 31, 2014. Thanks to all that have visited the many wonderful caches.

In early 1862, the McDonald plantation (a 7,000 acre farm owned by William M. McDonald), already pillaged of foodstuff and supplies, was burned by Union partisans led by Lt. Ferdinand Newman. The McDonalds, without doubt were the most Confederate family in Wyoming County, had been targets practically since the first shot of the war was fired. The wanton destruction by Union partisans essentially destroyed most of the McDonald family property. William M. McDonald, a slave owner, had taken part of his family to Bland, Va leaving his wife, Maria, to operate the farm. Because the McDonalds gave supplies to the Confederacy and had family serving in the confederate army, Newman gave Maria a few minutes to gather up some persoanl belongings and then burned the house. Later in April of the very same year, a Confederate "bushwhacker", George W. Morgan, shot and killed Newman a few miles south of here along Inidan Creek.The McDonalds were certainly Wyoming County’s wealthiest and most affluent family prior to the war. The McDonald plantation, located about four miles west of Oceana where the Clear Fork Valley Golf Course is now situated, was established by Capt. Edward and Kesiah Stephens McDonald with the help of slaves in 1802. The self-sufficient plantation consisting of many thousands of acres was inherited by two of the McDonald sons, William McDonald and Joseph McDonald, both of whom were more than sixty years of age when the war erupted. A third son, Stephen McDonald, had died in 1852 and his family had moved west before the outbreak of the war. William McDonald died in 1862. Joseph McDonald lived out the war but died in Tazewell County, Va., in 1866. Two of Joseph McDonald’s sons, Floyd and John, died in the Confederate Army.

 What better way to celebrate our 150th birthday, learn about our involvement in the Civil War, and explore the beautiful State of West Virginia than to launch a statewide geotrail?

ExploreWV is happy to be launching our fourth series, with cooperation with the WV Division of Culture and History and the WV Sesquicentennial Commission. We have divided the state into five zones. Each zone contains 15 geocaches placed on or near historical Civil War sites for a total of 75 geocaches. In order to earn a geocoin for each zone, geocachers must find and document eight of 15 caches per zone. These geocoins have been created in the shape of each zone, meaning that if you are fortunate enough to be one of the first 140 geocachers to complete each zone and receive all five coins, they will form the State of West Virginia. As a bonus, a sixth geocoin was created to commemorate the state’s 150th birthday: be one of 75 people to complete all 75 caches in this series to receive this special coin.

In order to claim a geocoin, geocachers must take ONE sticker from each cache and place it in an official playbook. WHICH CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE. Once eight caches have been found, geocachers may proceed to the corresponding hotel located in the zone and receive your geocoin. All addresses are located within the official playbook.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Only 140 geocoins for each zone were created. Please be aware there is a possibility that you may complete a zone but not make it in time to receive a coin for your efforts.

 We hope you enjoy learning about the significant role West Virginia played in this monumental war. It has been a privilege to create this challenge and share some great history with you!

Special thanks go to Sir Dave for helping place this cache!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Bar bs gurfr guvatf vf abg yvxr gur bgure

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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