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Multi-cache through historic Exeter, New Hampshire.
As part of a joint project between the Exeter Historical Society, The Robinson Trust and the Exeter Region Cooperative School District, 8th grade students from the Cooperative Middle School (CMS) created five separate multi-cache challenges to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's speech at Exeter Town Hall in March of 1860. Each of the five multi-caches represent a theme from that time period. (Because of the close proximity of the five multi-caches, two of them were approved for geocaching.) The narratives and clues were developed and written by 8th grade students at CMS and edited by historians at the Exeter Historical Society.
Location #1
In 1896, the Navy offered three Civil War cannons for decorative use – though put “on call” if needed later. Two small cannons and an 11-inch, 16,000 – pound Columbiad were the gifts given to the Town of Exeter. They arrived in 1897. The Columbiad was similar to the two used on the Monitor and aided in the whipping of the Merrimac. Unfortunately, one of these cannons was blown up by vandals in the 1960s. The remaining two have been rendered inoperable.
Clues to the next location:
North:
Take the year that Lincoln came to Exeter and subtract 20. Take the last three digits of the number and fill in the blanks.
42 deg 58.__ __ __
West:
Number of letters in the name of the park: ______________ Park.
070 deg 56. __ 73
Location #2
General Gilman Marston lived in this house after the Civil War. Marston was born in 1812 in Orford, New Hampshire. He was brought up on a farm and paid for his own education at Dartmouth. After Dartmouth, he studied law for several years before coming to Exeter in 1841.
In 1845, he began his political career as a representative in the state legislature. He remained there until 1859 when he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He was re-elected in 1861.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Marston was appointed as Colonel of the Second Regiment. During the Battle of Bull Run, Marston was badly wounded by a bullet that shattered his right arm close to the shoulder. He recovered from his wounds and returned to both Congress and the battlefield.
In the fall of 1862, Marston was appointed brigadier general, but didn’t accept the appointment until April of 1863. By then, his command had shifted to Cold Harbor, where his brigade lost 500 men in 30 minutes. He participated in several more battles until forced to exit the army on sick leave in the fall of 1863.
In March of 1864, Marston was once again elected to Congress. At this time, he resigned from the Army. After his third Congressional term, Marston came back to Exeter to resume his law practice.
He died in 1890.
Clues to the next location:
North:
Across the street is a restaurant that serves soup and sandwiches. It is called the
“¬¬_____ and Ladle”. Count the number of letters in the first word of name of the restaurant and place that number below.
42 deg 58. 92 __
West:
Across the bridge from your location is a large brick building with a green garage door. This is the location where Abraham Lincoln’s son lived while attending Phillips Exeter Academy. Near the top of the building is a granite block with the year that the building was built. If you subtract the first digit from the first OR add the third digit to the fourth, you end up with a single digit number. Write that number below.
070 deg 56.93 __
Location #3
This set of cannons are 10-inch RODMAN, Model 1861 Naval cannons from the Civil War. The cannons were donated to the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, an organization not unlike the Daughters of the American Revolution. At one time, this group had its state headquarters in Exeter on Park Street. When they moved to Portsmouth, the cannons were transported to the grounds of the Cincinnati Memorial Hall, which is now the American Independence Museum. Next to the cannons are two pyramids of shat that were put together by the caretaker, Maurice J. Dwyer.
Clues to the next Location
North:
Take the number of years John Gilman was the Governor of New Hampshire and divide by two. Enter that number below.
42 deg 58.60__
West:
Take the third digit in the year that Nicholas Gilman, Jr. died and enter that number below.
070 degrees 57.6 7 __
Location #4
General Gilman Marston was undoubtedly an honored man in the town of Exeter. He was a Republican statesman, being elected for seventeen years in the Legislature and a general during the Civil War.
Marston died in Exeter in the late 19th century at the age of 79. In his will, he requested that his grave be marked with a boulder of granite to represent his ties to New Hampshire, the Granite State. His regiment purchased the monument for his grave.
Several years after his death, Marston’s friend, Stephen Gale, put a life sized infantryman statue on the boulder to remember his dear friend. Unfortunately, the statue disappeared some time before 1920 and has never been recovered. The missing statue remains one of the most enduring mysteries of Exeter’s history. Attempts by the Exeter Historical Society to solve the puzzle have turned up no further clues. Searches of the local newspaper and other pieces of historical writing have never proven that it was taken by a person with a grudge, melted or struck by lightning. Several photographs of the statue as well as a newspaper account of its dedication along with the faint markings on top of the boulder are the only hints that the statue ever really existed.
Clues to the next Location
North:
Insert the last two digits of Marston’s year of death.
42 degrees 58.5 __ __
West:
Multiply 7.5 by the number regimen General Marston led. Subtract that number by the difference in the years of birth and death for Marston. Insert the resulting two digit number below.
070 degrees 57. __ __ 7
Location #5
Albert M. Perkins was born on March 21, 1842 in the wonderful town of Exeter, New Hampshire. Being the son of a farmer, Albert spent most of his childhood on the farm helping his father. However, when he wasn’t hard at work on the family farm, he was generally attending school for and education. Albert had always been interested in military operations and joining the military. His dream came true when he enlisted as a private in Company E of the Second Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers. His abilities were soon revealed, resulting in a promotion to First Sergeant of his company.
He was promoted yet again later to Second Lieutenant of Company E. While in this position, he was severely wounded during the Battle of Williamsburg. On May 5, 1862, he received a bullet wound to the palm of his left hand. However, he displayed “meritorious” behavior during the battle and was subsequently promoted to First Lieutenant and then later Adjutant. He was injured again during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2nd, 1863. While under the barrage of enemy fire, Perkins was struck by a bullet in the elbow joint of his left arm and doctors were forced to amputate. Before his arm was fully healed, he was back in action with his regiment. For his courageous services, he was immediately promoted to Captain of Company K.
The last battle he was involved in was the Battle of Cold Harbor, fought in June of 1864. After this, he returned home to Exeter where he died in September of 1865 from his unhealed wound.
Clues to the next Location
North:
Perkins age during the battle of Gettysburg, subtract one
42 degrees 58.5 _ _
West:
Perkins age at the end of the war, add 18
N –W – 070 degrees 57.1 _ _
Location #6
This house was the home of George Julian, a veteran of the Civil War and valiant Captain of the 13th NH Volunteers. Born in Exeter, March 17, 1841, Julian was a hard working and ambitious boy. He worked in his father’s wool business and attended Phillips Exeter Academy. After his 20th birthday in 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Second Massachusetts Battery. Unlike many of his peers, Julian was determined to learn military trade craft, and he wanted “to be the best private he could be”, rather than working his way up in the ranks. While stationed at Camp Hamilton, Virginia, he witnessed the battle of Cumberland as well as the battle between the Monitor and Merrimac.
In 1862, he was commissioned as Captain of the newly formed 13th NH Volunteers and returned to New Hampshire to train his troops. He served under heavy fire in many battles, the highlight of his service being capturing Battery 5 at Gettysburg and sending two rebel flags (the only of their kind in NH) to the New Hampshire statehouse for display. He was discharged in 1865. He returned to Exeter, married Charlotte Vinal and together they had five children.
Julian was a good observer and an amazing writer. During his service he wrote over 1,200 pages in letters to his family as well as a 227 page diary. After the war, he returned to the wool business , for a time working in San Francisco. He served as Exeter’s postmaster for six years beginning in 1898. He was a member of the Army and Navy Club in Boston, and was a staunch Republican. He died in 1928.
Clues to the next location:
North:
Count the number of steps on the George Julian House, add one and enter that digit in the first blank. Count the number of windows on the front of the house and enter that digit in the second blank.
42 degrees 5 __ .7 __ 7
West:
Count the number of second floor shutters on the house. Enter that number twice in the blanks below.
N –W – 070 degrees 5 __ .9 __ 0
Location #7
This organization has been collecting artifacts and documents from Exeter’s history since 1928. The building was originally a monument, dedicated to the men who served in the Civil War from Exeter. It served as the town library until 1988.
The Exeter Historical Society strives not only to collect and preserve artifacts and documents significant to the history of our town, but also to promote an understanding and appreciation of that history among Exeter’s citizens. In conjunction with that role, the Society was the organizer and sponsor of the 2010 Abraham Lincoln Sesquicentennial Event. This muliti cache was made as part of that celebration.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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