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Located at the Old Washington, Ohio Cemetery, the coordinates are for a historical marker which describes "The Battle of Washington". The cache itself, a camouflaged, medium-size plastic bottle that contains only a pencil and logbook, is found in the cemetery itself near the graves of one Union and three Confederate soldiers.
From their school days, most people remember that the northern-most battle of the Civil War, the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy" was reached at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1863. Most people do not know, however, that a "battle" took place three weeks later in Old Washington, Ohio, which is approximately 10 miles further north latitude than Gettysburg.
During the tragedy of the American Civil War, Ohio was spared the death and destruction of a major battle. Indeed, there was but one action in Ohio that could truly be called a "battle", that being Buffington Island in Meigs County, where Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's cavalry was repulsed as they tried to escape back to the South by crossing the Ohio River. Morgan began his raid into Indiana and Ohio with 2,400 men, as a diversion from Lee's Pennsylvania Campaign, but after most of his men were captured and several killed at Buffington Island, he was forced to head north with but 600 remaining, hotly pursued by Union General Shackelford's cavalry, mounted infantry, and Ohio militia. The Union forces caught up with the Confederates at Washington (now Old Washington)in Guernsey County on July 24, 1863. Sixteen years old at the time of the skirmish in Washington, Elizabeth McMullin wrote the following account (abridged) of what is known locally as "The Battle of Washington":
"We could see smoke in the south. It was reported that Campbell's Station (Lore City) had been set on fire. We expected Washington to be burned, too. Nearly all the town gathered at the corner where the Campbell's Station-Winchester (Winterset) road crossed the Pike (National Road). Riding two abreast, the rebels came up the road. Rev. Ferguson, our Presbyterian minister, stepped out in front and waved a white handkerchief. The rebels did not pass through as we hoped, but dismounted and gathered along the street. They entered houses and ordered dinners to be prepared for them immediately. Rebel guards were placed around the town, two miles out on all sides.
The soldiers, having eaten their dinners and fed their horses, were lying along the street from one end of the town to the other. Suddenly, a gun was fired by one of the rebel guards as a signal that Shackelford was near. The soldiers ran to their horses, mounted them and headed for the Winchester Road. All was confusion.
Looking to the south, we saw Shackelford's army gathering on Cemetery Hill. They began firing at the Confederates who, in turn, shot back. Women were screaming and children were crying. The shooting increased. Above the noise of the battle we could hear voices coming from the Federal lines, ordering women and children to run to cellars. The firing continued. They were shooting across the town, the Union men firing from the south, the Confederates from the north. We could hear the bullets whizzing over our heads and the crash of broken windows. It was terrible.
The shooting ceased and we ventured out. Morgan's men had gone towards Winchester and Shackelford's soldiers were sweeping across the town, which was a great relief to all of us. Two rebels lay dead in the street and others were wounded. Dead horses lay here and there and others were so badly hurt they had to be killed."
The coordinates given above are for a historical marker at the site of the Union firing position on Old Washington's Cemetery Hill, overlooking the town, just 1/4 mile north of the intersection of I-70 and Ohio Rt. 285. After reading the plaque, open the wide gate into the cemetery and walk to the three flags which mark the graves of the three unknown Confederate soldiers who died on that hot July day in 1863, far from their homes and families, to whom they would never return. Near the three Confederate soldiers is the grave of a Union soldier,(unconnected with the Battle of Washington) marked by the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) star. The cache, placed with permission of the Cemetery Association, is a small, well-camouflaged plastic bottle containing but a ledger and a pencil.
Before leaving, consider these four lives struck short by the complex tragedy of our Civil War. If so moved, give a salute of remembrance to honor these young soldiers, Americans all, three of whom are known but to God.
Please leave the cache with the cap side up to prevent rain getting into it. Remember to latch the gate as you leave.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N oebxra cvrpr bs gbzofgbar jurer n prqne gerr hfrq gb fgnaq