THE BLOODY LANE & BLOODY LANE TRAIL
This cache is NOT at the posted coordinates. The posted coordinates are for an interpretive sign on Route 34 just east of the Battlefield, and will figure later in completing this adventure.
This is a virtual tour of The Bloody Lane and Bloody Lane Trail, a desktop adventure. The marvels of birds-eye navigation, use of zoom and virtual travel at street level lend themselves nicely to the geocaching experience. There are a g**gle of internet tools to assist with this mode of travel. There are also elements of letterbox here.
Unlike the usual roadway-street-level experience, this one is on grass and alongside farm fields. Be assured, however, that a trip away from the desk will be required to log the final. Should you choose to walk this trail, coordinates are provided for each stage. The distance is about two miles.
On September 17, 1862, 23,000 men were killed, wounded or missing in action after the Union and Confederate armies collided on rolling farm fields near the sleepy village of Sharpsburg, Maryland. During one phase of that struggle, 5,000 Union and Confederate soldiers lost their lives along The Sunken Road, later renamed The Bloody Lane.
This virtual tour commences at Stage # 1. Complete the following coordinate equation:
N 39 2 A. B C D, W 077 4 E. F G Z
Stage # 1: Mortuary Canon : ( N 39 28.174, W 077 44.178 )
On your device, mark the coordinates on the map, and alight to street view near the southeast end of The Bloody Lane. (Look for the virtual blue line, then the directional arrows.) Pivot and search for a mortuary canon cemented barrel down into a limestone base. Canons planted in this manner designate the site where a general was killed or mortally wounded in battle. Research this Union general. Read his story if you like. Find his age at death. Solve for “A” – Add the two digits of his age and subtract one. ( x + y ) - 1 = A
Stage # 2: Pennsylvania Volunteers ( N 39 28.240, W 077 44.321 )
As you stroll along The Lane westerly, you may see another mortuary canon on the left outside the wooden fence. This would be the Confederate brigadier general, George B. Anderson. Now, amble on along to a granite monument, this one tall and striking, with a cloverleaf and soldier up top. All recruited in northwest Pennsylvania, the 2nd Corps sustained 152 casualties in this place. Find the numeric designation for this unit of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Solve for “B.” The third digit in that number = B.
Stage # 3 : Limestone ( N 39 28.258, W 077 44.359 )
Shuffle further along and stop in front of stone steps on the left. These steps are made of native limestone. They were not present on the day of the battle. Count the steps and Solve for “C.” Subtract four (4) from the total number of steps (x). ( x – 4 ) = C
Stage # 4: Visitors ( N 39 28.269, W 077 44.372 )
Continue your stroll. Uh oh! There are visitors on the path, perhaps discussing the momentous and bloody struggles that occurred here. Solve for “D.” How many men are in this group? = D.
Stage # 5: Maryland Infantry ( N 39 28.285, W 077 44.444 )
Pass on by the visitors and continue as The Lane bends slightly left and up an incline. Pause at the second granite monument on the right. Zoom in and find an inscribed distance relating to the advance of the Maryland infantry on that bloody day. Solve for “E.” The number of zeroes in that distance = E.
Note: From this spot, the virtual trail turns right and continues for some distance cross-country through cornfields and woods, eventually passing the Visitors Center, the Dunkard Church and the large Maryland memorial. That is a lot of index finger on the mouse or touchscreen. Therefore, please pick up the trail again at the following coordinates.
Stage # 6: A House Was Burning ( N 39 28.556, W 077 44.487 )
The Mumma Farm did not fare well during the battle. Confederate soldiers burned the homestead and farm buildings to prevent their use by Union sharpshooters. One Union soldier remembered, “Just in front of us a house was burning, and the fire and smoke, flashing of muskets and whizzing of bullets, yells of men…were perfectly horrible.”
Only the whitewashed stone springhouse survives, as does this section of the original stone lane. Note the sign by the road near the stone lane. Travel the stone lane and stop adjacent to the end of the springhouse. It’s the first building on the left. Solve for "F." There is one window on the end of the springhouse, up close the roof. Subtract six from the number of panes (x) in that window. ( x – 6 ) = F.
Note that The Lane Trail takes a right between a wooden out shed and the springhouse runoff, to meander through the sylvan countryside to the Roulette Farm. Again, you may take The Lane Trail or jump to the coordinates.
Stage # 7: The Roulette Farm ( N 39 28.540, W 077 44.325 )
Trek across the short wooden bridge and read the signage. Of special interest here is the following – “Nancy Camel was freed by the Miller family in 1859. Shortly thereafter, she was employed by the Roulettes. Nancy lived and worked on this farm for the rest of her life. When she died in 1892 she left her estate to the Roulette and Miller children.”
Head toward the house, keeping to The Lane Trail. Stop beside a structure with an overhead sign that says “Ice House.” Solve for “G.” The door to this structure is made of three planks. How many doorknobs (x) do you see? Add six to that number. ( x + 6 ) = G.
Stage # 8 : The Sign ( N 39 28.435, W 077 42.658 )
Now proceed to the post coordinates - The Sign. Find the roadway sign that points the way to a field hospital. And, while on the subject of battle casualties, the entire town of Keedysville, just up the road to the east, was converted into a sprawling hospital to handle the massive number of casualties - homes, barns, businesses, sheds, leantos, cellars and shacks.
Solve for “Z.” Find the first word of the first line on the brown sign. Add the number of letters in that word = Z.
You now have complete coordinates. Using only the input numbers for the equation, your checksum should be thirty (30). The final resting place of the cache requires quiet and reverence. You do NOT need to leave the walkway to find the final. Please replace the cache as you found it. Check the spoiler photo; the cache is visible. Thank You.