Battles of Winchester:
Battle of Rutherford's Farm (or Carter's Farm or Stephenson's Depot)
Welcome to the second in the series. The cache is not at this location. But the location will bring you to information you ned to solve the puzzle. This one is a bit shorter then the first. Please enjoy and learn about this little slice of Winchester History
Winchester and the surrounding areas were impacted by the Civil War. Historians have claimed that the city changed hands over 70 times during the war. And because of its importance many Battles were fought in and around the area.
Background
The town’s location determined its fate in the war. Tucked in the northern stretches of the Shenandoah Valley, the town lay on a natural transportation corridor used first by nomadic American Indian tribes, then by westbound settlers, and finally by Confederate armies, which found it advantageous to march north behind the barrier of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east. Both Confederate invasions of the North followed this route. Winchester was also close to key military sites. About 70 miles from the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., and 20 miles from the important Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Harpers Ferry in western Virginia, the town was a natural jumping-off point for Confederate army campaigns.
Another geographic feature would magnify in importance during the war: Winchester was surrounded by low hills that hid the approach of armies. Occupiers found it almost impossible to mount a defense, so they usually had to flee quickly, sparing the town from prolonged, destructive sieges.
The Spring and early summer of 1864 was not good for the Union as General Robert E Lee sent General Jubal Early into the Valley to tie down Union forces so they could not support Grant's Campaign against Richmond. After Early returned from his raid against Washington. He found himself pressured by prusing Union forces. This lend to one of the few Union Victories druing this time against Early.
The Battle of Rutherford's Farm
After the Confederate victory at Cool Springs on July 17-18, 1864, Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early continued moving west towards Winchester, followed by Union Gen. Horatio Wright. Approaching Winchester, Early was also threatened from the north by additional Federal troops under Gen. William C. Averell moving south from Martinsburg. Facing threats from multiple directions, Early turned his main force south towards Strasburg, but sent Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur’s division to block Averell.
Ramseur took up position on the Martinsburg-Winchester Turnpike, about two miles north of Winchester. Around 4pm on July 20, Ramseur heard firing to his north. Ramseur had been ordered to stay on the defensive, but believing that he outnumbered the Federals, he moved north and prepared to launch an assault.
Ironically, the Federal commanders, whose view of the advancing Confederates was blocked by the woods, also underestimated the size of their opponents – and themselves launched an attack, pre-empting Ramseur’s plans. At first the Confederate line held firm against the advancing Federals, throwing back an attack along the turnpike and on the Rebel right. But the Union right overlapped the Rebels’ left, and Federal infantry and cavalry crashed into that vulnerable flank, shattering the end of the Confederate line. The southern defenses began to collapse. Retreating men streamed through the ranks of those who tried to stand, and despite Ramseur’s efforts to stem the tide, the retreat became a rout. The Confederates retreated towards Winchester in confusion, with the Federals capturing four pieces of artillery and nearly 300 men.
While the victory temporarily boosted the spirits of the Federals, it had little long-term impact on the campaign. In response to this setback and converging threats, Early withdrew to Fisher’s Hill, south of Strasburg. Early’s withdrawal convinced Wright that he had accomplished his task of driving off the Confederate invaders. He therefore ordered the VI and XIX Corps to return to Alexandria, where they would board transports to join Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac. Wright left Gen. George Crook with three small infantry divisions and a cavalry division at Winchester to cover the Valley.
Now the cache.
This one is a quick little cache. There are three signs you need to use for this puzzle within easy walking distance of the parking coorindates. Below is a copy of the questions and hiddenh word puzzle there is also a google Doc link fopr easy priniting. Please ejoy the little bit history about this small battle that happen around you and in the shopping center before you.
Battle of Rutherford's Farm - Union Victory
John Rutherford's Farm - Interrupted by War
Action of Rutherford’s Farm
Sign “Battle of Rutherford's Farm - Union Victory”
1. posted Gen. William Lewis’s (Blank) in front of you
2. Confederate Gen. Jubal A. (Blank)
4. The Union victory here at Rutherford’s Farm boosted Federal morale after a string of (Blank)
Sign “John Rutherford's Farm - Interrupted by War”
3. At first, the couple lived with Mrs. Susan (Blank) Carter, a widow and sister-in-law of John Carter
6. “It was a sad sight to see our poor men lying on the ground, with only a little straw under them, although I (Blank)
Sign “Action of Rutherford’s Farm”
5. was attacked by General William W. (Blank)
7. Department of Conservation and Historic (Blank)
Good Luck and I hope you take away a little piece of history.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wBqfvr48oRFQUgKynH3xGr3JfblRcILFfoqycP0OMZ8/edit?usp=sharing
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.