Isham Freeman, Veteran of the Civil War Multi-Cache
Isham Freeman, Veteran of the Civil War
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Isham Freeman
Veteran of the Civil War
You are seeking a short two stage multi cache that begins at the grave marker for Isham A. Freeman, a Veteran of the Civil War.
Isham and his cousin Marcus M. Freeman both enlisted in Company B of the 40th Alabama Regiment in February 1862. Both men served as privates during the war. Company B was made up of men from Pickens County; they called themselves the “Pickens Planters”. The unit was engaged in several battles including the defense of Vicksburg. But the story of Isham and his cousin Marcus took a twist at a place called New Hope, Georgia in August 1864.
The unit the Freeman boys joined was known as the Pickens Planters. The unit fought valiantly defending Vicksburg and later in the war fought in battles Georgia. The diaries kept by Major E. B. Willet and Sergeant John Curry later published in the book HISTORY OF COMPANY B (ORIGINALLY PICKENS PLANTERS); 40th ALABAMA REGIMENT CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY 1862 – 1865 as well as correspondence between Grant and Matilda Taylor, also published in a book This Cruel War: The Civil War Letters of Grant and Malinda Taylor, 1862-1865 describe in detail the activities and engagements of the Pickens Planters, and also provides a very personal perspective about the men in the unit that served together during the war.
Marcus was wounded once before the fateful day in 1864; he was hit by a Minnie ball in the shoulder; a wound he managed to recover from and continued to fight with his company. On August 3, 1864, both men were captured by Union Forces during skirmishing in Georgia near New Hope Church. From the diary of Sergeant Curry:
"August 3rd, Wednesday, heavy rain. Skirmishing commenced again in front. At noon Capt. Willett sent to Herrings Mill with 50 picked men and three picked officers to relieve cavalry. Arrived there and posted part of men, when enemy advanced in force. The 50 men skirmished with enemy two hours on line perpendicular to Baker's and Holtzclaw's line of picket redoubts from Baker's right to Holtzclaw's left over half a mile. The skirmish was at close range. We had greatly the advantage in position, they in numbers. We killed many of the enemy on the line. Sergeant Eaton distinguished himself for cool and gallant conduct, as did nearly all the skirmishers. We fell back slowly and as soon as we uncovered Baker's and Holtzclaw's picket lines in redoubts the enemy made a forward movement with skirmishers and infantry lines and assaulted the picket redoubts of these two Brigades and carried their works and captured 100 men on that line of Baker's Brigade, 24 of 40th Alabama. Of Company "B," B. G. Acker, J. D. Cameron, I. A. Freeman, M. M. Freeman, J. M. French, Anderson Elmore; of Company "G." Thos. Galley, Thos. Dilliard and W. E. Craig; Lieut. Hartsfield Company "C" captured. Of the 50 men under Capt. Willett one killed, Thedford, and one wounded, Shaver. Heavy fighting along the whole line. Enemy gained but little advantage. Took a few picket redoubts. At 11:00 p. m. Capt. Willett relieved."
Isham and Marcus Freeman were two of six men captured by the Union forces. Both me were then moved to Camp Chase, a prison camp near Columbus, Ohio. A letter from Grant to his wife Malinda notes the capture of Isham and Marcus:
August 4, 1864
Dear Malinda,
I am in fine health this morning though my clothes are wet yet from a wetting I got yesterday evening. But being wet is what we are used to.
I wrote to you yesterday stating that we might go into battle at any minute. I had scarcely started my letter off when the enemy attacked our pickets and captured 28 of our Regiment of which 3 was from Company G William E Craig, Tom Dillard and Thomas Calley. And 7 were from Company B. Among whom were Mark Freeman and I Freeman a cousin of his. Two were of Moses Cameron’s sons and one of the Elmores. They were in such a place that they could not run out without running a great risk.
I wrote you this for you to go and see Mrs. Craig and inform her of it. I was not on picket and the enemy did not attack the main line where we were an thus I escaped.
Truly the Lord smiles on me which encourages me to hope and put my trust in him.
Continue in prayer for me. Kiss our little sweet ones for me and ever believe me.
Yours truly
Grant
At Camp Chase, several thousand Confederate soldiers were held in wood building and tents. Union officers operating the camp recorded the deaths of over 2,200 Confederate soldiers; their bodies buried in the camp cemetery. One of those that died while in captivity at Camp Chase was Marcus Freeman. His death certificate lists him as dying of pneumonia on March 5, 1865. His cousin, Isham, was paroled only 22 days later.
Isham returned to the Pickens County area and continued to farm after the war. He died at the age of 84.
To locate the final, solve:
33 22.2AB
87 49.7CD
A = The fourth digit in the year of his death.
B = The date of his birth.
C = The date of his death.
D = The second digit in the number of the regiment that Isham and Marcus served.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Unatf 3 srrg uvtu va n fznyy bnx