Napier’s Cave at Snowden
The Cave at Snowden, Photo by David Spears
After the publication of “Thomas Jefferson Didn’t Sleep Here: The Cave at Snowden,” Slate River Rambling’s reader and former Scottsville resident, Ranny Moulton, recalled playing in the cave in Snowden’s bluff. In his youth, it was referred to as Napier’s Cave. According to local tradition, Civil War deserters hid there.
In 1930, William B. Napier, son-in-law of Richard Ward, lived adjacent Mary Belle Hancock who owned a significant percentage of what was once Randolph Jefferson’s Snowden. Richard Ward, William Napier, and Andrew Ward rented their land, possibly working the part of Snowden where the cave was located.
Is this William “Buster” Napier (b. 1906), son of Hatton Ferryman, William Joseph “Joe” Napier (1871–1947)?
Does another Slate River Ramblings reader remember Napier’s Cave?
Can anyone comment on this local legend of Confederate deserters?
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Deserting a war or just rambling in the woods, looks like a nice place to curl up and go to sleep in the warm spring sun. Thomas Jefferson may not have slept there. Did young Eddie Moon? All the best,Ted
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 13:33:02 +0000 To: namaycush@msn.com
Ted, I suspect many boys found their way to “Napier’s Cave,” including Eddie Moon. Joanne