Pool wasn't configured correctly before, i.e., only the NVMe device was part of it, and by unassigning it it was wiped:
Dec 29 11:31:17 Tower emhttpd: shcmd (1202764): /sbin/wipefs -a /dev/nvme1n1p1
Dec 29 11:31:17 Tower root: /dev/nvme1n1p1: 8 bytes were erased at offset 0x00010040 (btrfs): 5f 42 48 52 66 53 5f 4d
This usually works for this, type in the console:
btrfs-select-super -s 1 /dev/nvme1n1p1
If the command is successful (there's no error) then reset the pool with:
if Docker/VM services are using the cache pool disable them, unassign all cache devices, start array to make Unraid "forget" current cache config, stop array, reassign only the NVMe device (there can't be an "All existing data on this device will be OVERWRITTEN when array is Started" warning for any cache device), re-enable Docker/VMs if needed, start array.