Crooked Nose’s Treasure
Ramseur’s Mill was built by Diedrich Ramseur in the 1750’s. On June
20th, 1780, a battle between local settlers near the mill helped
determine the outcome of the American Revolutionary War. No British
soldiers were present as the battle was fought by families, friends
and neighbors spread among both sides.
Charleston had just been surrendered to the British on May 12,
1780. General Cornwallis began to shift his attention to North
Carolina. Some of his American officers returned to their homes in
Lincoln County and tried to recruit local Loyalists to join forces
with them. They set up camp near the Mill and the recruits began
filtering in. A total of about 1300 men were gathered there.
On the night of June 19th, Colonel Francis Locke sent a poorly
trained group of about 400 Patriots to scatter the Loyalists.
Before the morning of June 20th, Colonel Locke decided to stage a
surprise attack. It was a very foggy morning and this helped create
confusion. Despite being caught off guard, the Tories quickly
rallied and for almost two hours, a raging battle took place on the
hilltop.
The Patriots were outnumbered almost three to one but the managed
to outfight the Loyalists. When the fog lifted, more than 70 men
were dead and hundreds were wounded. Losses were equally divided
between the two sides.
This victory by the Patriots kept the Loyalists from meeting up
with Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain and greatly affected the
outcome of the Battle of Kings Mountain. This small battle gets
little attention but was really the turning point of the fight for
American Independence.
The first Coordinate will take you to a small parking lot. We will
begin our tour from this point.
** Starting Point**
N 35 28.759
W 081 15.826
Take a short walk up the hill and you will come to the mass
gravesite.
** Mass Gravesite**
N 35 28.753
W 081 15.808
Approximately 70 men were buried on this spot the day after the
battle. These were mainly men who had no family members come claim
their remains. The site has been excavated by the Lincoln County
Historical Association and it has been verified that is indeed a
mass grave.
Question A: What is the year of the battle listed on the
plaque?
** Warlick Monument**
N 35 28.756
W 081 15.773
Walk further up the hill to get to the Warlick Monument. It will be
in the middle of the Elementary School playground. The large stone
memorializes Captain Nicholas Warlick, a Tory officer who died
while bravely leading his men on horseback. His brother Phillip and
another Loyalist, Israel Sain, are also buried here.
Question B: What year was the monument erected?
** Bicentennial Stone**
N 35 28.718
W 081 15.7489
Walk down to the parking lot. There is a small park containing
several millstones from Ramseur’s Mill. Just seven months after the
defeat of the Loyalists, General Cornwallis camped here on his way
across North Carolina in pursuit of General Daniel Morgan. For
three days the British Army camped all over the hilltop.
Question C: What is the year on the Bicentennial Monument?
** Whig Captains Grave**
N 35 28.646
W 081 15.852
This large red brick tomb contains the remains of six Whig Captains
who died during the battle. Captain Galbraith Falls is buried here.
He was the first soldier to die in the battle as he led the initial
Patriot charge on horseback.
Question D: What year was the Brick Wall erected?
** John Martin Shuford Grave**
N 35 28.618
W 081 15.996
You will pass a restored cabin as you make your way to Shuford's
gravesite. The field behind the cabin has been the location of the
campsite for the annual Reenactment held each year marking the
anniversary of the battle. Down past the cabin is the grave of
Martin “Crooked Nose” Shuford. Back in 1776, Shuford and other
Loyalists captured a young man who supported the Patriots. They
decided to hang him but no rope was available. Shuford raced away
on his horse to find a rope and in the process was thrown from his
horse. Shuford broke his nose in the fall and was known thereafter
as “Crooked Nose” Shuford. Shuford was wounded during the battle
and died two days later.
Question E: What was Shuford's age?
Now, to find Crooked Nose’s treasure, use the answers to the
questions in the following formula:
B – A + 464 = ###
N 35 28.###
?? = C - D – 17
(E - (C - D)) – 1 = #
W 081 ??.00#
The Geocache container is a standard ammo box that has been painted
and has a Geocaching logo on each side.