Forgotten Sevier County Battlefield Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

The Seanachai: While we feel that Geocaching.com should hold the location for you for a reasonable amount of time, we cannot do so indefinitely. In light of the lack of communication regarding this cache it has been archived to free up the area for new placements. If you haven’t done so already, please pick up this cache or any remaining bits as soon as possible. Please note that geocaches archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance are not eligible for unarchival.

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Hidden : 12/18/2017
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


THIS CACHE HAS A PRIZE FOR THE FIRST PERSON TO FIND IT.

INSIDE YOU WILL FIND A LOG BOOK AND PEN, ALSO A 1900'S INDIAN HEAD COLLECTABLE VINTAGE PENNY!

 

This location has a vast and lost history to it.

TAKE A PHOTO AND HASHTAG #HIKEDONTWALK ON INSTAGRAM Below, you will find the history of this area! Follow up on my blog, www.historicarchaeology.weebly.com WARFARE BETWEEN THE BLUE-BILLS AND THE WHITE-CAPS While the majority of the people of Sevier County never actively participated with either one of these organizations in their struggles for supremacy, knowing that both were acting in violation of the law, yet it seemed that they were powerless to restore order either by their influence or through the machinery of the courts. Many sympathized with the Blue Bills, because they thought any force which offered itself might be permitted to put down the White-caps, others took side with the latter organization for one reason or another. And thus it was the people of Sevier County for several years were between the devil and deep blue sea, not knowing where to go or to whom to appeal for protection. People were attacked and whipped in their homes, dwelling houses and barns were burned, citizens were shot down in their houses and on the high-ways - indeed a reign of terror prevailed. When we consider the character of the two organizations - White-caps and Blue Bills - and the bitter enmity which existed between the two, the wonder is, that more of them were not killed or wounded. To show the animosity existing between these two belligerent forces we will refer to some of their military movements and the hair-breadth escapes in engagements and in avoiding engagements. It is safe to say here that the White-caps, though greatly outnumbering their enemy, were never anxious to meet them in actual conflict. Many of the White-caps were arrant cowards while they all knew the fearless character of their foe. At one time the Sevier county White-caps had planned a raid into Jefferson County for the purpose of whipping an old man by the name of Jenkins, who it was said was living with a woman not his wife. The night was fixed and everything agreed upon. Henderson learned that the raid was to be made on Friday night. He hurriedly notified a number of his followers, and, armed to the teeth they stealthily slipped to the place - Douglas Ferry - where they were to cross the French Broad river. They there waited in hiding for them till a late hour in the night, but no White-caps came. But the very next night - Saturday - the raid was made. A large band of White-caps crossed the river at this identical place, proceeding to the house of Jenkins and demanded entrance. On being refused they undertook to break in and were fired upon by Jenkins, who in turn was badly wounded by a gun-shot from the band. He was then captured, taken and given a severe beating and warned to flee the country. The victors then retraced their steps and recrossed the river at the same place. There is no doubt that if this raid had been made the night before the White-caps would have either been captured or a battle would have taken place in which several lives would have been lost. It was only averted by a misunderstanding of the time the raid was planned. It is known that at least one of the White-caps was wounded on the Jenkins raid as considerable blood was left on the ferry boat that carried them over the river on their return. This was caused by a shot from Jenkins gun. The wound is not supposed to have been serious as nothing more was heard of it. The White-caps had their physicians who were always ready to administer to their sick and wounded. At another time the White-caps planned a raid on either Henderson himself , or some other parties in the town of Sevierville . Henderson through his spy in the White-cap camps, learned of this movement and made ready for them. They were to approach on the east of the town coming down the river road. Immediately after dark the Blue Bills were summoned and with their leader at the head they moved up the river and concealed themselves behind fences and trees to wait the approach of the enemy. They had arranged themselves into two divisions, one some two hundred yards above the other. The public road that the White-caps traveled ran close to the river bank, and the plan was for one division to intercept them in front and when they wheeled to run, the other and upper division was to close in on them from the rear, and thus capture them. In this way there would have been but little hope of escape from either a capture of the White-caps or a bloody conflict. If they had attempted to cross the river they would have fell easy victims to the Blue Bills deadly Winchesters while another chance of escape would have been through the open fields in the opposite direction which would have left them equally exposed. On this occasion there was no misunderstanding, or misinformation. The Blue Bills were lying in wait and the White-caps came marching in. But just as the latter were approaching within a few steps of the first band arranged on their route, they spied some of the Blue Bills and instantly wheeled and fled pell-mell up the river. The purpose of the Blue Bills being to capture the White-caps, and not to kill them unless in case of resistance and conflict, they did not fire on them except perhaps a few shots to frighten them. About two miles above Sevierville the hills close in toward the river, leaving only the width of the road, which is dug out of the hill, along which people may travel. Across the road at this narrow point there is a deep ravine or hollow through which a branch runs and over which there is a wooden bridge. There is no way to pass this point in the road except over this bridge. The White-caps in their raids often passed this place. The Blue Bills were informed that on a certain night they would make a raid and would pass over this bridge. So Henderson and his men arranged for an attack on that night. The plan was to take up the bridge floor and then way-lay and attack the White-caps near that point so as to cut off all means of escape except over the bridge. This was accordingly done, and all the other arrangements made necessary to carry out what would seem to be a well laid scheme. But fortunately for the White-caps they either did not make their anticipated raid that night or scented their sleepless pursuers and changed their route. It is unnecessary to say that a stampede caused by an attacking party from ambush along a narrow road like that described, would have been disastrous, and before the death trap could have been discovered horses, riders and all would have been thrown headlong into the vortex. It is almost incredible, yet it is true, that while these two bloodthirsty bands were on each others trail for over a year, only one actual engagement took place between them, which occurred near Henderson Springs when Helton, Latham and Keeble were killed, a full account of which is given in a succeeding chapter of this book. What occurred in that conflict which lasted but a few moments, shows the deadly purpose that each had in view when they started on their raid that night. But for the fact that the meeting of these belligerent parties was premature that night, a dozen men instead of three doubtless would have been picked up dead from the battle ground next morning. As stated the meeting that night at the particular time and place, was unexpected. The White-caps had not all arrived but were coming in from the adjacent hills, while the Blue Bills were on their way to where they supposed would be the real battle ground. Be this as it may at least some of the parties met on that fatal night, and laid down their lives in a most tragic way, thereby adding a new chapter to the history of Sevier county. This fatal occurrence put a quietus on White-capping for a time. It occurred about the first of November, 1894, and no White-cap outrages occurred until about April of the next year. Dr. Henderson, the leader of the opposition, was assassinated in his house soon after, but his death was attributable to other causes not necessary here to relate. It is not thought that the White-caps or the Blue Bills, as such, either had anything to do with it, but the former greatly rejoiced to know that their old enemy and pursuer was dead. The following spring after his death new outrages broke out, but the Blue Bills did little or nothing to impede their progress. http://www.historicalmarkerproject.com/markers/HM1F6F_henderson-springs-resort_Pigeon-Forge-TN.html

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Lbhe onexvat hc gur evtug gerr!

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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