Alabama: Geocachers can follow Civil War trail, visit local historic sites

From The Republic (Columbus, IN): Geocachers can follow Civil War trail, visit local historic sites
DECATUR, Ala. — A new program is spurring treasure hunters to descend on some of the area's Civil War-era sites, and local officials hope they learn a bit of the region's history while they are there.

The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau recently launched the Appalachia Civil War: The Home Front in Alabama Passport, which tasks geocachers with visiting 20 historic state sites, including three in Decatur.

Tami Reist, president of the bureau, said the challenge was born from a project last year for the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Signature sites were featured on a map inserted into American Heritage magazine.

"I thought, 'Wouldn't it be neat if we geocached this trail?' " she said.

Geocachers use GPS devices to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using map coordinates.

The containers on the trail contain stamps that participants use to mark their passports, verifying they've traveled to the locations.

Each box also contains a quick response code, which, when scanned by a smartphone, will provide more information about the site.

"It encourages them to go in and explore and learn more about history," Reist said.

Local geocacher Owen Chapman helped set up the challenge by placing containers at most of the locations.

Chapman said he had to improvise in some spots, because geocaching rules prevent new caches from being placed within 500 feet of existing containers.

The caches for Old State Bank and Blue & Gray Museum of North Alabama, both in Decatur, were put in alternate locations in the city because the sites are too close to a cache in Lafayette Street Cemetery.

Geocachers must visit these sites to gather clues to the cache locations. For example, a participant must count the columns of Old State Bank to help determine one of the coordinates.

Chapman said geocachers are enjoying the new challenge. A couple have already completed the passport and brought the document to the visitors bureau, where they received a Civil War commemorative coin for their efforts.

"Anytime you get new caches, you get a rush to them," Chapman said. "People like being introduced to something new. I've been all over North Alabama to places I never would have been if I wasn't geocaching."

"Anytime you get new caches, you get a rush to them," Chapman said. "People like being introduced to something new. I've been all over North Alabama to places I never would have been if I wasn't geocaching."

People can pick up a passport at the visitors bureau, 719 Sixth Ave. SE, or download a copy at decaturcvb.org.

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Area spots on the Civil War geocaching passport:

Pond Springs, Courtland

Alabama Veterans Museum, Athens

Blue & Gray Museum of North Alabama, Decatur

Old State Bank, Decatur

Bennett-McEntire House (also known as Rhea-McEntire House), Decatur

Alabama Veterans Museum, Huntsville

Huntsville Depot, Huntsville

EarlyWorks History Complex (formerly Alabama Constitution Village), Huntsville

Civil War Day by Day caught up shortly

Sorry to be so far behind on th is... stuff happens.

I'll be caught up by the end of the week, tho.

Meantime, I'll be reinstituting sharing news articles!

11 January 1863: Sunday - Capture of Fort Hindman

Union - Military
Arkansas
Gunboats commanded by David Dixon Porter batter Confederate guns at Fort Hindman, Arkansas. Land forces commanded by McClernand begin their attack, which continues for three and a half hours.

After 3 and a half hours, the vastly outnumbered Confederates in the outerworks surrender. Casualities
- Union
134 killed
898 wounded
29 missing for a total of 1061 out of 29,00 effectives and 13 gunboats

Confederates
28 killed
81 wounded
missing 4791
Total 109 out of close to 5,000 effectives

While the operation was successful, it fails to help the Vicksburg campaign materially. Grant orders McClernand to return from this unauthorized expedition and to join his Vicksburg forces.

Texas
In one of the rare ship-to-ship duels in the War, CSS Alabama under the command of Raphael Semmes sinks USS Hatteras off Galveston. The Hatteras had been on blockade duty, and investigated a "strange ship" which turned out to be the Alabama.

Tennessee
There is a skirmish at Lowry's Ferry.

Above Memphis on the Mississippi, a small group of Confederates surprise, capture and burn USS Grampus No. 2.

Missouri
There is a skirmish at Wood Creek.

There is also an engagement at Hartville, in which Marmaduke's Confederates retreat.

________________
Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971

10 Jan 1863: Saturday

Union - government President Lincoln writes to Major GEneral Curtis in St. Louis, expressing his concern with the slave problem in Missouri. Major General Fitz John Porter is sentenced by court marial to be cashiered from theArmy for his alleged failure to obey orders at Second Manassas. Union - Military Arkansas Union forces under McClernand, who had arrived on 9 Jan, near Arkansas Post (Fort Hindman), about 50 miles up the Arkansas River from its junction with the Mississippi. Late in the morning, McClernand started his envelopment of the Confederate fort and drove in upon the outer earthworks. Bombardment from naval forces stopped Confederate artillery. Inside the fort, Confederate Brigadier General T. J. Churchill and his troops waited. There is a skirmish at Carrollton. Tennessee There is a skirmish at Clifton. Texas Union warships bombard Galveston. ________________ Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971

9 January 1863: Friday

Union - Military/Government The Union Army of the Cumberland under Rosecrans is reorganized into three corps: the Fourteenth under George H. Thomas, the Twentieth under Alexander McD McCook, and the Twenty-first under Thomas L. Crittenden. Union - Military Virginia There is a skirmish at Fairfax County Courthouse. Missouri The Union garrison at Hartville surrenders to Marmaduke. Mississippi Union forces evacuate Holly Springs. Arkansas Union troops go on an expedition from Huntsville to Buffalo River. Florida Crews from Union gunboats destroy the salt works near St. Jospeh. _______________ Bibliography The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971

8 January 1863: Thursday

Confederacy - Government
President Davis writes to his commander in the West, Joseph E. Johnston, "To hold the Mississippi is vital."

Confederacy - Military
Tennessee
Confederate Joseph Wheeler carries out a raid Jan 8-14 which includes skirmishes at Mill Creek, Harpeth Shoals, and Ashland, Tennessee

Union - Government
The US senate confirms the nomination of John P. Usher of Indiana as Secretary of the Interior. Usher replaces Caleb Smith, who resigned due to ill-health.

President Lincoln writes to a troubled Burnside: "I do not yet see how I could profit by changing the command of the A.P. & if I did, I should not wish to do it by accepting the resignation of your commission."

Defending his Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln writes to General McClernand: "it must stand. ... As to the states not included in it, of course they can have their rights in the Union as of old."

Union - Military
Missouri
The Union garrison of Springfield successfully defends important Ozark area city from Marmaduke's Confederates.

Tennessee
There is a skirmish at Knob Creek near Ripley.

Virginia
Union troops make an expedition from Suffolk toward the Blackwater River.

There's also a reconnaissance to Catlett's and Rapahannock stations.

Arkansas
A Union scout goes from Elkhorn to Berryville.

_____________
Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971

7 January 1863: Wednesday

Union - Government
General Halleck writes Burnside a letter, endorsed by Lincoln, emphasizing that "our first object was, not Richmond, but the defeat or scattering of Lee's army." He also strongly backed Burnside's plan to attack across the Rapahannock.

Confederacy - Government
President Davis writes Lee asking him to call upon the commander of the US forces and "prevent the savage atrocities which are threatened." If this met with a rebuff, Lee is to tell the Union troops that "measures will be taken by retaliation to repress the indulgence of such brutal passions."

Confederacy - Civilian
A group of 450 women and children leave Washington for Richmond, VA and the South with permission of the Federal government. The Richmond Enquirer calls the Emancipation Proclamation "the most startling political crime, the most stupid political blunder, yet known in American history...Southern people have now only to choose between victory and death."

Confederacy - Military
Missouri
Marmaduke's Confederates capture Ozark. Then they move on toward Springfield with his troops.

Mississippi
There is a scout from Big Spring Creek yo Rock Ford.
________
Bibliography
The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. E.B. Long with Barbara Long, De Capo, 1971