The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Geotrail
Adventure Lab Bonus Cache - New Market
You're invited to take a journey through the Maryland's Heart of the Civil War.
The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Geotrail was first launched in the fall of 2016 with geocaches hidden within Maryland's Carroll, Frederick, and Washington Counties. In the spring of 2021, the Geotrail was updated with five additional geocaches and an Adventure Lab.
The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (HCWHA) is an area rich in history, covering portions of Maryland’s Carroll, Frederick and Washington Counties. It is located just below the Mason-Dixon Line, generally viewed as the dividing line between North and South, and above the Potomac River. With one foot in the north, and one foot in the south, the story of the Civil War can be told nowhere better than in this part of Maryland.
Between 1861 and 1865, the Civil War impacted every Maryland resident, many directly as a result of the war that was waged within the state’s borders. Some families faced financial ruin after troops ravaged their land. Thousands of fathers, sons and brothers became casualties of war. For enslaved Marylanders, the conflict ultimately brought about freedom as the new state constitution of November 1864 abolished slavery.
This region witnessed three major military movements during the Civil War: the Maryland (also known as Antietam) Campaign in the fall of 1862, the Gettysburg Campaign in the summer of 1863, and the march to Washington led by Jubal Early in the summer of 1864.Geocachers can visit significant sites from each of these three operations on the Heart of the Civil War GeoTrail.
The mission of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area is to promote the stewardship of our historic, cultural, and natural Civil War resources; encourage superior visitor experiences; and stimulate tourism, economic prosperity, and educational development, thereby improving the quality of life in our community for the benefit of both residents and visitors.
Geocachers who find the locations of at least 13 HCWHA caches are eligible for a free prize and may purchase a Geocoin (while supplies last of both). To record and redeem the finds, Geocachers must download a passport from the Heart of the Civil War website and record the code word from at least 13 HCWHA geocaches. Geocachers may have their passports validated in person at the Newcomer House at Antietam National Battlefield or at the Visitor Centers in Westminster or Frederick. See the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area’s website for details on Geocoin and free prize availability.
Participating in the HCWHA geotrail is fun and we hope that many people join in. However, it is not a requirement for logging your find on this cache once you find the container.
Town of New Market
The Town of New Market-- much like the rest of Carroll, Frederick, and Washington Counties-- was a crossroads during the Civil War. Located on the historic National Road, millions of travelers passed through the town during the nineteenth century, and the local economy catered to travelers needs, offering provisions, accommodations, and other goods and services.
Union and Confederate troops came to New Market nearly every year of the Civil War. In 1862, Confederate troops under General Fitz Hugh Lee patrolled the area. In 1863, Union General John Sedgwick’s VI Corps traveled through New Market on their march to Gettysburg. In 1864, Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart and his cavalry rode through New Market after burning Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the fiery culmination of a series of ransoms he demanded in the region, forcing payment from Hagerstown, Middletown, and Frederick.
New Market was more than a witness to the Civil War. There are several contemporary newspaper accounts of violence breaking out between neighbors with conflicting sympathies and of conflicts between residents and soldiers. You can explore Civil War newspapers, including a keyword search function, on the Crossroads of War website.
One of the most notable figures from New Market in the Civil War was William Plummer Benton, who became a major general. Born in New Market in 1828, his father died when Benton was four months old. Benton’s mother moved the family to Indiana in 1836. Enlisting when he was eighteen, Benton served in the Mexican-American War. After returning to Indiana he practiced law and was eventually elected a judge in Indiana for a term. When the Civil War began, Benton raised the first company in Wayne County, Indiana, eventually becoming colonel of the 8th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In 1862, he was elevated to brigadier general of volunteers. Benton served in several theaters of the war, from Virginia to Mississippi, Texas to Alabama and more. He mustered out of the service in July of 1865 and was made major general of volunteers in 1866. Benton became the collector of internal revenue in New Orleans, but died in the 1867 yellow fever epidemic at the age of 38. The native son of New Market had lived a life that exceeded his tragically short years.
Thanks to the following members of the Maryland Geocaching Society in placing the hides for this Geotrail Refresh: deepdish23, hunterKat, lpyankeefan, and tazscouter.
From the Adventure Lab you were looking for a name. Enter the name (two words, all lowercase) into the checker to get the final coordinates to this geocache. There is a hint with the solution. This cache has been approved by the Town of New Market.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.