Details:
During the Civil War, on a beautiful day (20º Celsius, 50 percent relative humidly), a Confederate soldier was walking toward General Lee’s headquarters carrying an important package. Two confederate cannons were fired simultaneously during artillery training exercises. Afraid that the Army of the Potomac was attacking, the soldier quickly placed the package in a hiding spot just a few feet from where he was standing when he heard the cannons.
When the courier arrived in camp, General Lee asked him for the package. When he explained what had happened, the general was furious, for the package contained carabineer key chains that were critical to Lees plan to defend the south.
“That package contains the keys* [see Notes] to our strategy. Go immediately and return with the package!” said Lee.
“Yessir!” said the soldier, “but sir … Ah do not r’call ‘xactly wheres I hid th’package!”
“Tell me soldier, that you remember at what time you heard the cannons fire.”
The soldier looked at his Timex™ Iron Man™ watch and said “Yessir! … Ah heard two shots … one at 18.98 seconds past noon and th’other one 7.83 second after th’first one, sir!”
“Yes,” said Lee, “Ah know exactly where you put it.” He drew an “X” on a map and sent a more reliable soldier to fetch the package. The soldier found the package of carabineer key chains exactly where Lee said it would be.
Lee used the following facts to locate the package:
One cannon was located along the centerline of Wiehle Avenue in Reston, atop a pedestrian bridge.
The other cannon was located along Potomac View Road in Sterling where there currently stands a sign describing Jeb Stuart’s passage in 1863 during the Gettysburg Campaign.
Both Cannons were fired at exactly noon.
The box remains hidden with the carabineer key chains, waiting for you to find it.
Notes:
The coordinates provided at the top of this page are roughly the averaged location of the two cannons, not those of the final cache.
* Pun Intended
Keepers of the Cache:
DisQuoi from 3/24/2003 - 2/23/2004
GLM from 2/24/2004 - 12/14/2011
flyingmoose 12/15/2011 - present