Nathan Bedford Forrest Project
 

Photo#     | Name, Cem., County                                                                                       |GPS                                                    |Surname     |Cemetery/Location                                    

To use the GPS field on the right take the typical reading such as this: N 35.29.48 W.86.54.30. First convert it to this format: [ N 35 29' 48", W 86 54' 30"  ]. This makes ACME Mapper 2.0 and other GPS programs work for you to find Joe Gipson's grave. However if you are running the Mapper program in decimal mode (the best format) do this to convert over. Operate on each numeral separately - from left to right first use N number and start on the 48 (of 35 29 48) and  divide the 48/60 = .800 then add the 29 and .8 to get 29.80. Next divide that 29.80 by 60 to equal .49667. Next  add the result to the 35 to become 35.49667. Now do the W longitude by dividing the 30 by 60 and adding the result to the 54 to become 54.50. Now divide that 54.50/60 to get .908333 and add the 86 to get 86.90833. Now don't forget you must add the minus before the Longitude or you will land somewhere in China. The final result is 35.49667 X -86.908333. This decimal format is the best one for accuracy as it takes you to within about 2 feet of the exact spot assuming there are no distortions in your satellite signal. You math whizzes can now see that to convert going the other way just multiply by 60 and separate from the decimal the three fields of each of the codes. (C. Wayne Austin 23 Oct 2013.)