Clue 15: The Waters of Time

Though initially fueled by an outpouring of patriotism and zeal, Spotsylvania residents grew increasingly weary as the Revolutionary War dragged on. Harsh living conditions for Virginia-raised Continental soldiers, combined with severe losses from combat, a collapsing economy, and inadequate pay, all weakened public morale. Each call for raising men into service became more unpopular than the last. Regardless, Spotsylvania resident and militia Capt. Francis “Frank” Coleman maintained command over what few men remained in service, joining the Continental Army’s push toward Yorktown in mid-1781. Though his unit was ravaged by disease, his men played a vital role in the Siege of Yorktown that fall, helping to secure the Pigeon Hill Redoubt as British forces withdrew. In this final push to defeat the British, the men of Spotsylvania stood witness as the long conflict finally reached its conclusion on Virginia soil.

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.