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The Hunt:

Challenge Series

Master Challenge #4

Clay County, MS

3 Points

2 Guess Limit

“A Line Meant to Hold”

SOLUTION: The clue "A Line Meant to Hold" points to the Battle of Ellis Bridge.

This Civil War engagement, fought near West Point, Mississippi, in February 1864, was a significant victory for Confederate forces under General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest's troops successfully defended crossings of the Sakatonchee River (Okolona/West Point Road via Ellis's Bridge being a key point) against a larger Union cavalry column led by General William Sooy Smith. The imagery in the clue of a determined defensive line by a creek ("stacked rails by the creek," "lines held tight") that repelled a strong but ultimately faltering enemy attack ("Their thunder came fast — then faltered... They came to break us — left broken instead") reflects Forrest's successful defense. This victory halted Smith's advance, which was intended to support General Sherman's broader Meridian Campaign.

We waited at dawn, stacked rails by the creek,
shadows pressed close, but the lines held tight. Their thunder came fast — then faltered.The quiet came sooner than expected. They came to break us — left broken instead, their cause gone quiet in the mud and reed.