WEST-CENTRAL-KY-L Archives

From: Larry Schleutker< >
Subject: Battle of Blue Licks Kentucky
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 15:06:23 -0600

Hello to All

I am submitting this to any list in which Kentucky or Miller's were
involved, but more important, these men gave their life for the same
cause as those that fought at Bunker Hill and Yorktown. They desearve the
same recognition.

This battle was in retaliation for the terrible defeat of the Kentucky
militia at the Battle of Blue Licks, and took place in central Kentucky,
northeast of what is now Lexington, in 1782. In John Bakeless book
"Background to Glory, Life of George Rodgers Clark, there is an entire
chapter devoted to this campaign. Chapter 25.

A letter written by Levi Todd, who was in the battle, to his brother,
Robert Todd, (said to be the grandfather of Mary Todd Lincoln),
discribed the encounter with indians. In part, the letter read:

We pursued the Indians (which were under British command) a far distance
until they came to Blue Licks river that formed a horse shoe, where they
crossed and took cover in the woods and tall grass. The three malitia
Colonels were Stephen Trigg, John Todd and Daniel Boone. It was Boone's
idea to split and attack from both sides but he was over ruled and the
entire force used a frontal attack. It actually might have worked but the
right flank collapsed and allowed the indians to come around and attack
from the rear. It was over in less than ten minutes as any of the militia
that were still on horseback was able to escape, and those that were not,
were doomed. Five days later a burial party went to the site and found
50 bodies. They had been scalped, stripped naked, and mangled in such a
manner that it was hard to tell one from another. In the next couple
days, Levi Todd was able to sit down with some of the survivers, and by
memory, write down the names of those killed. They are listed below.

Colonel John Todd, Colonel Stephen Trigg, Major Silas Harlin, Major
Edward Bulger, Captains William McBride, John Bordon, Joseph Kinkead and
Cliff Overton. Lieutenants William Gwin, John Kenneday, Rodgers Insigh,
and John McMurtury; Privates HENRY MILLER, Francis McBride, John Price,
James Ledgerwood, John Wilson, John Isaac McCracken, Lewis Rose, Matthias
Rose, HughCunningham, William Eadds, Evan Corn, William Smith, Henry
Miller. Ezekiel Field, John Folley, John Pny, Hal Stern, Andrew
McConnell, James Brown (surveyor) William Harris, William Stewart,
Charles Furguson, John Wilson, John O'Niel, John Stapleton, Dan Greggs,
Lewis Green, Dewey Polly, William Robertson, Gilbert Marshall, James
Smith, and Joseph Lindsay.

Hope this helps someone...............Larry

This thread:

• Battle of Blue Licks Kentucky by Larry Schleutker< >