Clue 11: Keeping Watch

Virginia had reached a dire point by spring 1781. The young state’s Revolutionary forces were dangerously depleted, still reeling after suffering catastrophic losses at the Siege of Charleston and Battle of Camden in South Carolina a year earlier. What remained of Virginia’s fighting force was stretched woefully thin, scattered under the orders of Gov. Thomas Jefferson. When word arrived in May that British commander Lord Cornwallis’s forces were heading northward toward Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg, panic swept through the region. A few Spotsylvania militiamen, under Capt. Francis “Frank” Coleman, were posted at key defensive points throughout the region. This meager defense had Spotsylvanians fearing the region would be completely overwhelmed if the Brits invaded.

Contact Information

To be eligible for prizes, you must fill out contact information.

How to Play:


• Follow Along: Clues can be found HERE and will be posted to the Spotsylvania County Museum's Facebook and Instagram pages throughout April 20 to June 18, 2026.
• Submit Your Answer: You must submit all answers via the official form(s) to be eligible.
• Identify Yourself: You must provide your contact information on every form so we can track your progress toward the grand prize.
• Be Precise: Please use the full, official name of the location where possible. For example, use Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield rather than "Battlefield."

The Prizes:


Participants who answer all 18 clues correctly will be entered into a prize drawing. If no one achieves a perfect score, the prize(s) will be awarded to the entrant(s) with the highest number of correct answers, with a drawing held if required to determine the winner. Winners and answers will be revealed at Spotsylvania Stars & Stripes Spectacular on Saturday, June 27. For updates and details, stay tuned to Spotsylvania County Museum's Facebook page.

Terms & Conditions:

Age: Open to all ages, but participants under 18 must have parent/guardian permission. Prizes may only be claimed by an adult (18+).

Employees: Spotsylvania County Office of Community Engagement & Tourism employees and their immediate family members are ineligible to win prizes, but are encouraged to play for fun.

Entry Period: The hunt begins on Monday, April 20, 2026, and ends on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Submissions received after the deadline will not be counted.

Submission: Only entries submitted via this official form will be eligible for prizes. Social media messages or "likes" do not constitute a formal entry.

Winner Selection: Winners will be selected randomly from all entrants who enter all correct answers or those entrants who answer the most correctly. Decisions by the organizers are final. Winner(s) will be announced Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Spotsylvania Stars and Stripes Spectacular.

Cost: No purchase is necessary to play. Spotsylvania County is not responsible for any travel costs, data usage fees, or parking fees incurred during the virtual scavenger hunt.

Data Privacy: Information collected via the entry form (Name, Email, etc.) will be used solely for the administration of this contest. We will not sell your data to third parties.

Liability Waiver: By participating, you agree to release Spotsylvania County, its staff, and sponsors from any and all liability for injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this scavenger hunt.