Blue Licks Battlefield – On August 19, 1782. Pioneers suffered a bitter defeat and were routed by their Revolutionary War enemies. Captain Caldwell concealed his British and Indian army along the ravines leading from this hilltop to the Licking River. Advancing into this ambush, the Pioneers were outnumbered and forced to flee across the river.
Earlier in the month Ritchey and I visited Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park. I was most anxious to see the memorial for those who fought and fell during this battle on August 19, 1782. Some call it the last battle of the Revolutionary War, fought ten months after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. The battle was fought between about 180 Kentucky settlers and 240 British and Indians. An attack on Bryan’s Station, Lincoln County, Kentucky, August 15, 1782, by the British and Indians, was led by Captain William Caldwell, loyalist Alexander McKee, Simon Girty and Matthew Elliott. The Kentucky settlers took shelter within their stockade and fought back with all their might. The British killed all the settlers’ livestock and destroyed their crops. When they heard that the Kentucky militia were on the way they retreated.
The Kentucky force was led by Colonel John Todd of Fayette County, assisted by Lieutenant Colonels Daniel Boone and Stephen Trigg. Plans were formed overnight and on the morning of August 19, 1782, this band of approximately 180 men set out to confront the British and Indians. The two forces met at the Licking River, today located in northern Nicholas County. The British and Indians secured for themselves the best spot on the riverbank for battle. Advancing into this ambush, within fifteen minutes almost half the Kentuckians were killed or captured. These were men who had fought hard and long with the Indians during their time in Kentucky. It is said that Daniel Boone wanted to wait for Benjamin Logan, who was bringing enforcements. He was a day or two behind. Others thought this would give the enemy time to cross the Licking River and head north, eventually crossing the Ohio River into Indiana and Indian territory.
The Martyrs of the last battle of the Revolution lie buried here. Dedicated March 14, 1935, by the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
After the battle, those still alive ran through the forest, trying to get back to Bryan’s Station. Some did, some did not. When Benjamin Logan’s militia arrived, they found the area littered with corpses. Many were scalped, many were butchered, cut into pieces. They were unable to identify anyone. All were buried in a mass grave.
| So valiantly did our small party fight that, to the memory of those who unfortunately fell in the battle, enough of honour cannot be paid.’ Daniel Boone | |
| Colonel – Commandant John Todd | Killed |
| Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Boone | |
| Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Trigg | Killed |
| Major Edward Bulger | Died of wounds |
| Major Silas Harlan | Killed |
| Major Hugh McGary | |
| Major Levi Todd | |
| Captain John Allison | |
| Captain John Beasley | Captured |
| Captain John Bulger | Killed |
| Captain John Gordon | Killed |
| Captain Samuel Johnson | |
| Captain Joseph Kincaid | Killed |
| Captain Gabriel Madison | |
| Captain William McBride | Killed |
| Captain Clough Overton | Killed |
| Captain Robert Patterson | |
| Lieutenant William Givins | Killed |
| Lieutenant Thonmas Hinson | Killed |
| Lieutenant John Kennedy | Killed |
| Lieutenant James McGuire | Killed |
| Lieutenant Barnett Rogers | Killed |
| Ensign John McMurtry | Captured |
| Commissary Joseph Lindsay | Killed |
| Dedicated August 19, 1928 | |
| This monument, the gift of a grateful Commonwealth, commemorates the heroic pioneers, who, in defense of Kentucky, here fought and fell in the Battle of the Blue Licks, August 19, 1782. | |
On August 19, 1928, a granite monument was dedicated to the men who fought and lost their lives in the Battle of Blue Licks – a fitting tribute to these brave men. If this battle had not been fought, Kentucky may not have been settled until much later. We owe much to our brave pioneers.
| The men who fought the Battle of the Blue Licks were as well qualified from experience to face the Indians as any body of men that were ever collected.’ Robert Patterson | |
| Privates Who Were Killed | |
| Black, Charles | |
| Boone, Israel | |
| Brannon, Samuel | |
| Brown, James | Surveyor |
| Corn, Esau | |
| Cunningham, Hugh | |
| Douglass, John | |
| Eads, William | |
| Farrier, Thomas | |
| Ferguson, Charles | |
| Field, Ezekiel | |
| Folley, John | |
| Foster, Daniel | |
| Fry, John | |
| Graham, ‘Little’ James | |
| Green, Jervis | |
| Greggs, Daniel | |
| Harper, Francis | |
| Harper, Matthew | |
| Harris, William | |
| Jolly, John | |
| Ledgerwood, James | captured and killed |
| Marshall, Gilbert | |
| McBride, Francis | |
| McConnell, Andrew | |
| McCracken, Isaac | |
| Miller, Henry | |
| Nelson, John | |
| Nutt, John | |
| Oldfield, Joseph | |
| O’Neal, John | |
| Polley, Drury | |
| Price, John | |
| Robertson, William | |
| Rose, Matthias | |
| Shannon, William | |
| Smith, James | |
| Smith, William | |
| Stapleton, John | |
| Stephens, William | |
| Stern, Valentine | |
| Stevenson, John | |
| Stewart, William | |
| Tomlinson, Richard | |
| Willson, John | |
| Wilson, Isael | |
| Wilson, John | |
| Woods, Archibald | |
| Wylie, Matthew | |
| Ottawas and Chippewas | |
Each year a reenactment of the Battle of Blue Licks is held at the battlefield park.
| They advanced in three divisions, in good order, and gave us volley and stood to it very well for some time.’ William Caldwell | |
| Privates Who Escaped | |
| Acres, Thomas | |
| Aldridge, William | |
| Allen, Elijah | |
| Allen, James | |
| Barbee, William | |
| Boone, Samuel | |
| Boone, Squire Jr. | Wounded |
| Bowman, Abraham | |
| Bowmar, Robert | |
| Brooks, Thomas | |
| Coburn, James | Wounded |
| Coffman, Jacob | |
| Collins, Joseph | |
| Cooper, Benjamin A. | |
| Corn, Edward | |
| Corn, George | |
| Craig, Jerry | |
| Craig, Whitfield | |
| Custer, William | |
| Davis, Richard | |
| Davis, Theodorus | |
| Dierly, Peter | |
| Ficklin, Thomas | |
| Field, William | |
| French, Henry | |
| Gist, Thomas | |
| Graham, Edward | |
| Graham, James | |
| Grant, Squire | |
| Grider, Henry | |
| Gullion, Jeremiah | |
| Hambleton, John | |
| Harget, Peter | |
| Harrod, James | |
| Hart, John | |
| Hayden, Benjamin | |
| Hays, James | |
| Higgins, Henry | |
| Hinch, John | |
| Hunter, Charles | |
| Hunter, Jacob | |
| January, Ephraim | |
| January, James M. | |
| Kincaid, James | |
| Lam, William | |
| Lea, Wainright | |
| Little, John | |
| May, William | |
| McBride, James | |
| McConnell, James | |
| McCullough, James | |
| Morgan, Andrew | |
| Morgan, James | Capture but escaped |
| Morgan, John | |
| Morgan, Mordecai | |
| Netherland, Benjamin | |
| Nixon, Henry | |
| Norton, James | |
| Patterson, Matthew | |
| Peake, John | |
| Penlin, Alexander | |
| Pitman, John | |
| Poague, Robert | |
| Pruett, Elisha | |
| Ray, James | |
| Reynolds, Aaron | |
| Rose, James | |
| Rose, Lewis | Captured |
| Rule, Andrew | |
| Scholl, Abraham | |
| Scholl, Joseph | |
| Scholl, Peter | |
| Scott, Robert | |
| Scott, Samuel | |
| Searcy, Bartlett | |
| Searcy, John | |
| Shortridge, Samuel | |
| Shott, William | |
| Singleton, Edmund | |
| Smith, George | |
| Smith, John | |
| Sowdusky, Anthony | |
| Steele, Andrew | |
| Stevens, Jacob | |
| Stevenson, Thomas | |
| Stucker, Jacob | |
| Summers, John | |
| Swart, James | |
| Twyman, James | |
| Wilson, Henry | |
| Wilson, Josiah | |
| Woods, James Elijah | Captured |
| Woods, Samuel | |
| Yocum, Jesse | Captured |
| Wyandots and Mingoes | |
You might enjoy reading History of the Battle of Blue Licks by Bennett Henderson Young. I downloaded it from Amazon for $1.95.
| No historian, who will give a faithful account of the settlement and transactions of this country, will omit to speak of the battle and the place at which it was fought.’ Court of Appeals of Kentucky |
| To the unknown heroes who took part in the Battle of the Blue Licks |
| This ‘Last Battle of the Revolution’ was fought between 182 Kentuckians, commanded by Colonel John Todd, on the American side, and about 240 Indians and Canadians, commanded by Captain William Caldwell, on the British side. |
| Shawnees and Delawares |
| This memorial was erected to honor those individuals whose names were omitted from the original monument. New research has provided these additional names and corrected previous information regarding those individuals who so gloriously served Kentucky at the Battle of Blue Licks | |
| Boone, Thomas | Killed |
| Childress, John | Escaped |
| Ledgerwood, James | Captured but escaped |
| Peake, Jesse | |
| Ward, James | Escaped |
Categories: Genealogy Ramblings
Kentucky Kindred Genealogy 
We honor and remember Commissary Joseph Lindsay, our 4th great uncle. ❤
Did Commissary Lindsay have a son Robert Lindsey who married Ann Christy?
hello are we related terri nagle 2405500751
We honor and remember Captain Robert Patterson, our 4th great uncle, married to Elizabeth Lindsay ❤
Is there any additional information on who the William Stephens was?
Hi, Another interesting article. I have ancestors (note on the monuments) that fought in the battle. I’m so proud of my Kentucky roots! My SELLERS ancestors came from Pennsylvania via the Wilderness Road and settled at Logan’s, Lancaster, south of Cynthiana (Sellers Run), Ruddle’s Station, Harrod’s etc. There were several men and their families.
Excellent to see the mention of Bryan’s Station in this post. I am a GGGGGrandson of Edward Nelson through his youngest daughter Rebecca. Edward’s wife Harriet Morgan was one of the water carriers during the siege of the station.
With great pride I salute my GGG-Grandfather Jeremiah Gullion, one of the brave soldiers at Blue Licks. He fought for 3 and a half years during the fight for the freedom of all Americans…………..
Thank you for this wonderful web post. My 6th Great Grandfather John Douglas died at the Battle of Blue Licks and is presumably buried there.
You are very welcome. It was quite a moving experience to be there and consider the consequences from so long ago.
Hello:
I see the record shows Matthias Rose was killed; but didn’t he also get captured (like his brother Lewis) and eventually was released by the British?
Also…I know there were two James Graham’s at the battle. The one known as “Little James” died and the other ‘”James” survived. I believe “James” was a recent immigrant. Do you know anything about the “Little James” whom died?
I am researching my ancestors: James Graham-Grimes (b. about 1745) whom married Margaret Rhea (Ray-Wray) in Bedford County, VA. I am convinced this is “Little James” whom died at Blue Licks. In September 1782,
his wife was forced to give up her nine-children after her husband’s death.
I am also convinced that this group of Bedford County Ray’s are part of the immediate family of General James Buntin Ray; (son of Mary Buntin and James Ray, and step-son of MAJ McGary.) Do you know why MAJ McGary did not take James Buntin Ray with him to the Battle of Blue Licks?
I am trying to establish proof of the link of the Virginia Rays to Gen. Ray. It all makes sense abstractly. Margaret Ray-Graham was born to Moses Ray whom had a son named James BUNTING Ray. Many of his children and Margaret’s children ended up in Mercer County, Kentucky shortly thereafter.
Anyway…wonder if you have any info on Little James; and or any links for General James Buntin Ray to the Ray family at Bedford County (1785 became Franklin County-Maggoty Creek)?
Mike (Graham) Moser
Do you have any information about Lt. John Kennedy killed at Blue Licks? Did he have any family? Ancestry Thru-Lines is suggesting that he may be a relative but there is very little information concerning him, so I just can’t include him at this time. I know there are potentially connections to the Boones and my family, so it is not out of the realm of possibility that Lt. John Kennedy is relative.
Thanks,
Bob Kennedy
I am trying to find the location of Blue Licks State Park Cemetery in Robertson, Kentucky. Everytime I search for it , it brings up information for Blue Licks State Park. I called the park and they do not know where the cemetery is located. We are researching an ancestor Lieut James Felix McGuire who was one of those slaughtered at Blue Lick Battle. On Find a Grave it list him buried at Blue Licks State Park Cemetery in Robertson , Kentucky. Further research shows they were all buried in a mass grave. The picture above (The Martyrs of the last battle of the Revolution lie buried here. Dedicated March 14, 1935, by the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution.) is listed on James McGuire memorial on Find a Grave. Would anyone know where the cemetery is located? https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49827811/james-felix-mcguire
Thank you
Jovenna Kiser
jovenna.kiser@gmail.com
6063160255
Jovenna, this large memorial is in Blue Licks State Park. All the men were buried in a mass grave – no individual graves or stones. It’s a wonderful place to visit.
Kentucky Kindred Genealogical Research, Thank you so much for getting back with me. We are planning a trip to Blue Licks State Park this Saturday to see the memorial.
I wish to protest the omission of my ancestor Captain John Morton who was captured at the Battle of Blue Licks. I believe the monuments should be corrected to include this faithful patriot who raised a company in Virginia when Boston was under seige, including 8 of his sons, met General Washington in New Jersey when he was forced to abandon Fort Washington in New York, and fought with him until he was injured in the Battle of Guildford Court House. He recovered while his son went to the capture of Cornwallis in York and upon his recovery he went to battle with Daniel Boone in this battle. He has earned a place in history.
His petition to recover his land that was lost due to his absence while in captivity may be viewed at
and my faithful attempt to transcribe it is as follows:
To the Honorable the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates, The Petition of John Morton humbly representeth that your Petitioner was captur’d by the Indians at the battle of the Blue Licks whilst a solder under Capt Daniel Boon, was taken by them to their Towns, from there to Detroit where he remained some time and from there was carried to Canady where he was confined in close Gaol for upwards of Two Years. That previous to your Petitioner’s Captivity he had acquired a right of Preemption in the County of Fayette and that shortly after his releasement, went out to the Western County laid his claim before the County Court of Fayette and obtained a Preemption Certificate for One Thousand Acres of Land which Certificate is hereunto annexed. And that upon application for a preemption warrant is informed that your Honorable House did at their last session of assembly pass a Resolution forbidding the issuing and Treasury Land warrants until the further order of the General Assembly which has deprived your petitioner of the benefit of his location.
Your petitioner therefore prays that your honorable House will take his case under consideration and grant him such relief as you in your wisdom shall think just and your petitioner as is duty bound will ever pray to
My 4th great grandfather was James Hays, he was granted a farm in Fayette County. The farm sits at the corner of prairie pike and Hays pike, it has been in our family for over 200 years. His marriage license to marry Laticia Rankin is recorded at the Harrison County court house. All these men who fought as militia members from Kentucky, where hero’s of Kentucky if not the revolution.
I am here to pay tribute to my great x8 grandfather, PVT Thomas Acres (now spelled Akers) on my dad’s dads side… confusing, right?
My relative is Captain John Gordon.