Planted 10/6/02
By Irishtinker & French Fox

Wear Orange Blaze from October to February. When we think of the brave heroes that won independence for our country we often think of men and most of our patriots were in fact men but truth be told some were women. Some of these female heroes gave aid to those in need and others bared arms against the enemy. While researching the Revolutionary War I tripped over information about the following handful of women. I hope you find their stories as interesting as I did. From the Hale Homestead parking area (don't miss boxes Uncle Sam's Nephew, Stars and Stripes & Charter Oak) Turn LEFT out of the drive onto the main road, South Street. Across the street from the Strong Porter House there is room for one or two cars to park. You will see two stone memorials. One marks the site of Nathan's childhood friend Asher Wright's home. Wright later went on to become Nathan's Army attendant. The other stone is in honor of Harry MsKusick who was the Chief Forrester for the State of CT. His widow is a dear friend of mine. 

Between these two stones is the old cart path you must take. Follow straight until the stonewall on your right comes to a corner. The oldest of twelve children, Sybil Ludington was a responsible 16-year-old. On the night of April 16 1777, word reached her family's home that the British were burning Danbury, CT which was 25 miles away. She convinced her father who was a colonel in the local militia to let her ride and alert people. Through the dark night she rode forty miles on horse back with only a stick to prod her horse, Star. The men she warned arrived just in time to drive the British back to their ship in Long Island Sound.Turn right at the intersection and walk 28 paces (Left Foot) on the mowed path. Stop! Look off the trail to the left. You will see a pile of rocks at the base of a tree. Wedged between 2 stones at the back side of the tree you will find BOX 1. Please make sure you seal all the boxes well as I am not sure of durability of the seals. Thanks!

Back to the path. A school teacher Deborah Samson had only one question "Why can't I fight for my country, too?" In May of 1782 she signed up to join the 4th Massachusetts Regiment using the name Robert Shurtleff. During a battle in New York she was wounded in the head and thigh. She didn't tell the field Dr that her leg was hit for fear of discovery. She tried to treat herself and her leg never healed right. Weeks later she developed a fever and this time the Dr discovered her secret and removed her from the field. She was honorably discharged October 1783. Paul Revere petitioned Mass. to repay her for her duty. In the early 1800s she received a pension of $4 a month.Continue on the path. To the right you will see the stone wall. Three large pines stand at attention on the path. 2 on the right and 1 on the left. 5 paces after the pine on the left a small tree lies across the path, pointing directly at a distictive looking tree. At the back base you will find BOX 2.

Angelica Vrooman, during the heat of battle, sat calmly in a tent with a bullet mould, some lead and an iron spoon, molding bullets for the rangers.Back to the path. Go 20 paces. Ahead you will see a tree with 2 trunks. Under the old dead wood laying near by, you find BOX 3.

Nancy Morgan Hart, and her husband lived on the banks of the "Wahatchee" (means War Woman) Creek. The Indians gave it this name in honor of Nancy. She was able to keep the farm running and spied on the Tories. Once she gathered information by selling eggs to the Tories another time she pretended to be a half wit and was able to over hear key information that would help the American cause. One day a group of Tories killed her turkey and demanded she cook for them. While she cooked she fed them alcohol and told them stories. They became so drunk that she was able to take their weapons and hold them at gun point until help came. Continue down the path. Trail bends to the left. At the bend veer off the path to the right. Just before the break in the stone wall turn left and follow the wall to it's very end. At the very end under a flat stone you will find BOX 4.

Margaret "Molly" Corbin followed her husband from encampment to encampment. The soldiers taught her to use the canons and guns in exchange she mended and cooked for them. In the battle of Fort Washington in New York against the Hessians her husband who was firing a cannon fell to his death. Molly quickly jumped in, took charge and manned the cannon. She was hit, & wounded. She was the first American woman to be wounded on the battlefield fighting for American independence. In June of 1779 she was granted a pension. She was the first woman to be paid a pension by the United States government for service to her country. Back to the trail. Turn left and head back the way you came. Walk all the way back to the intersection with the large oak to your left. If you turn left you will go back to your car. If you turn right you will find treasure 5. Turn Right. A few feet in you will notice the stonewall on your left and on the right a pile of dead wood. In the end of one of the large logs you will find BOX 5.

Let me know if you visit the series and how it went (letterboxing.org) Enjoy and please be discrete. Rehide well! Reseal boxes well!