Thirty caches are located in five different regions throughout NC. Instructions for sending the documentation are in the passport. Once all five regions are completed, you have earned a special NC Civil War trackable geocoin. Mail the passport to the address inside the passport – then your passport will be returned with your unique coin.
All of the containers are the same - camouflaged 6 inch PVC tubes - the code word you need for your passport is inside the container on a laminated card and also taped on the container that holds the log sheet. Date your logbook and add your code word in the numbered area for the cache. As the containers may become over tightened, carry a TOTT to ease the opening process.
Passports will be available at the event, some Civil War Museums in NC, and via mail if you send me you address or you can download your passport here.
Robbinsville: Civil War in Graham County
Divided loyalties plagued this area throughout the war as citizens on both sides suffered from both Union and Confederate raiders, bushwhackers, and other renegades. One of the last surrenders east of the Mississippi occurred here May 14, 1865, when part of the famed Thomas’s Legion was issued parole papers.
The cache is not located at the posted coordinates.
From the sign at the posted coordinates you will find the information needed to find the cache.
The cache is located at N35 18.ABC W083 49.DEF.
To get ABC, take the year of the confederate reunion and subtract 1680.
To get DEF, take the year of the confederate reunion and subtract 1652.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
As the cacher who placed this cache, I wanted to tie in some local civil war history with the place I chose to hide it. It is located on property and all surrounding property from ridge top-to-ridge top was once owned by my great great grandfather and this particular location has historically been called the "Hanging Cove." The history behind this particular cove is as follows by local historian and writer, Marshall McClung: "The story of Hanging Cove has its beginning during the Civil War.
A Blanton family lived on Long Creek at that time and reportedly had relatives in the Atoah Community also. One of the young Blanton men told his family one day that he was going over on Atoah to look for the family’s cattle. This was during the days of open range when people’s livestock ran free. When he failed to return, the family searched for him for some time. Finally, he was located hanging from a tree in what is now known as Hanging Cove. Blanton’s body was badly decomposed, so they buried him on the spot under a large mound of stones.
It is said that Blanton was despondent over having to go fight in the Civil War. Loyalties were mixed in this area with some favoring the Union and some siding with the Confederacy. Also conscript officers for both sides would forcefully draft young men when they came across them. There was the danger of being shot if you refused. Also, this area was plagued by bushwhackers that would kill you regardless of which side you favored, or if you took neither side. It is unknown whether Blanton feared being drafted by the side he opposed, or whether he wished to remain neutral. There is also the possibility that he was hanged by others, although the story seems to indicate that he hung himself. Ambrose and Ethel Worley had two sons, Ray and Marvin. Upon their death, the farm was divided between the two with Marvin having the home place that was known in earlier days as the John Hyde Home. Ray inherited the part of the farm that contains Hanging Cove.
Ray Worley accompanied me into Hanging Cove recently and showed me the Blanton grave. The cove is almost hidden. You can pass by it on the highway and never see it. A small stream there is known as Hanging Cove Branch. Ray Worley attempted to dam it up with large stones as a small boy, but crayfish made holes and drained the small pond. The Blanton grave is well up in the cove. Time has covered all but a few of the rocks on his grave. A large beech tree now stands over the grave."
Please note, the current family members who won this particular spot have agreed to share this historical factoid, let us use the spot to place a cache, nut requests cachers not go beyond any signage you encounter - the cache will be down hill from the signage.