76.Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War soldiers Mystery Cache

This educational field puzzle cache is one of four Princeton Battlefield puzzle caches. Its recommended to complete the four field puzzles first, as all these cache final locations are in nearby Institute Woods property.

On January 3, 1777, the peaceful winter fields and woods of near Princeton were transformed into the site of what is considered to be the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution. During this desperate battle, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars. Coming at the end of "The Ten Crucial Days" which saw the well-known night crossing of the Delaware River and two battles in Trenton, the Battle of Princeton gave Washington his first victory against the British Regulars on the field.

This Tomb of the unknown Revolutionary War soldiers is in memory of the thirty-six unknowns buried here, including fifteen American and twenty-one British soldiers.

The Ionic Colonnade that graces the western side of the battlefield park stands near the original location of the home of William Clarke, one of the brothers who farmed the surrounding land at the time of the battle. The columns and lintel actually originated as the portico of the mansion of Philadelphia merchant Matthew Newkirk, who had commissioned Thomas Walter, later the designer of the dome of the U.S. Capitol, for its construction. When Newkirk’s home was demolished around 1900, the colonnade was salvaged and transported to Princeton to become the entrance of Mercer Manor, another distinguished home that stood on the edge of the battlefield until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950s. At that time, the Institute for Advanced Study owned the property and donated its portico to the State of New Jersey. The Colonnade was dedicated where it stands in 1959, and declared a National Historic Monument in 1962.

The Colonnade is more than an architectural curiosity, though, since it is placed to serve as both an entrance and marker for the gravesite of fallen soldiers that lies nearby. A plaque on the portico notes:

“In the memorial grove beyond you, those who fell in the Battle of Princeton, both American and British, lie buried. The historic portico in which you stand was re-erected here to mark the entrance to the tomb of these unknown soldiers of the Revolution”

The memorial was erected in 1918, in memory of the thirty-six unknowns buried here, including fifteen American and twenty-one British soldiers. The words engraved on the tablet are those of Alfred Noyes (1880 – 1958), taken from his poem “Princeton” (1917). Noyes was a visiting professor at Princeton University, and later became Poet Laureate of England. He wrote his poem 140 years after the battle, at a time when American and British soldiers were fighting together in support of their common heritage of freedom.

The opening lines of the poem are quoted on the plaque:

"Here Freedom stood by slaughtered friend and foe, And, ere the wrath paled or that sunset died, Looked through the ages; then, with eyes aglow, Laid them to wait that future, side by side."

The Colonnade can be considered a fitting tribute both to the brave Americans who fell at Princeton and, by echoing the artistry of ancient Greece, a reminder of the long history of the ideals of freedom and self-government for which they fought.

The posted coordinates take you the the "Colonnade and Memorial Plaque" where you will look for the following clues;

CLUE A and B: Locate the bronze plaque on the on the left rear column "This is Hallowed Grounds..."

A = What is the last word on the first paragraph?.

Freedom = (3) Patriots = (3) Independence = (4)

B = What is the 4th word in the 12th line from the top"?

Unknown = (56) Tomb = (44) Buried = (67)

CLUE C: Look behind the back of this column, on the marble floor are two letters?

C = What are the two letter etched into the marble base of this column?

SR = (3) MD = (2) DL = (1)

CLUE D Walk back to the in ground memorial Plaque "Near here lie buried the American and British officers" Inside the round memorial edging are large round urn hole(s), how many hole(s) do you see?

D = #3 = (67) #4 = (55) #1 = (17)

This cache is one of "The American Revolution Geo~Trail" caches throughout New Jersey. These special geocaches are hidden at many historic locations which have a connection to important New Jersey's American Revolutionary War history. To participate in the optional Geo-Trail, after you find the geocache, locate the secret code and record it into your passport which you will print from this website. Information at njpatriots.org

The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in Northern New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.