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Cannon Branch Cemetery Walkabout - Resurrected Mystery Cache

Hidden : 8/21/2015
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

You'll be searching for a small cammoed loc-n-loc, hidden just outside the Cannon Branch cemetery. The coordinates given above are not for the hidden cache itself, but they will take you to an informational stone marker within the cemetery, our suggested starting point, and a good place to park.


This is a "resurrected" cache that was originally created by cacher Cabar Feidh but was archived after the CO moved out-of-state and it was subsequently muggled. With the original CO's permission, I am recreating the cache for your continued enjoyment. 

In order to get the coordinates for the cache itself, you will need to gather information found on the above-mentioned informational stone marker, as well as from two other nearby sites within the cemetery. Once you have gathered this requisite data, insert the figures into the formula of:

N 38* 44.ABC
W 077* 30.DEF,

and you're good to go. The cache itself is not within the cemetery, but it is nearby and within easy walking distance. The cache does NOT involve the cemetery's stone walls and there is no reason to tamper with them.

At the informational stone marker, the history of this cemetery and site is given. In reading this marker, you'll learn the year in which the congregation of the founding Church of the Brethren relocated from this site to their current building, closer to downtown Manassas. This year was 19AB.

Also found on this marker stone is the year when this cemetery was established upon land donated by Elder Abram and Lovina Conner. This year was 189C.

Your next destination is the nearby gravesite located at:
N 38* 44.553  W 077* 30.712

What marks this grave as unique within the cemetery is that it is the only one to include a marker identifying a veteran of the army of the Confederate States of America. This gentleman rests here with his wife and son beside him. He was born in Iuka, Mississippi, and served with Company A of the 6th Missouri Infantry in the western theatre of operations, at such battles as Corinth, Champion Hill and Franklin (also known as the "Western Pickett's Charge.")  From his gravestone, count the number of letters in his last name, and subtract 2 from this number; this will provide the value of "D" in the coordinates formula.

In order to get the value of "E", count the number of letters in the first name of his wife (which is the same number of letters in the first name of his son.).  This number is "E".

In order to learn the value of the final formula letter "F" you need to walk a few short yards to:
N 38* 44.560  W 077* 30.719

Here you will find an inscribed block at the base of the stone wall, to the right of the central gate, on the inside. This block gives the identity of the firm that did the stone work for this wall and the year it was done.  The number of words in this inscription is "F."  Do NOT include the date when counting the words.

There you go!  You should now have the coordinates for the hidden cache itself, and will find it nearby. Please recall that the container is located outside the stone wall of the cemetery and does not involve the stone wall in any way. I also ask that when you are done with this cache, you take a few seconds to re-place the container with proper care and cover in order to safeguard and preserve the challenge for the next seekers.  Thank you and have fun!!
 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

va gur onfr bs n gerr naq pbirerq ol n pbhcyr bs ebpxf

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)