Boone County and the Revolutionary War By: Robin Edwards Local History Associate
Typically the first places that come to mind when asked about the Revolutionary War are Lexington and Concord. After all, this is where the first military conflict between British soldiers and colonial militiamen took place and the famous, shot heard round the world happened. The fourth of four engravings by Amos Doolittle from 1775, showing Percy's rescue in Lexington
However areas west of the Appalachian mountains also experienced fighting during the Revolutionary War. Known as the Western theater (areas of conflict west of the Appalachian Mountains) these battles often consisted of fighting between militia and Native American Indians. Photograph of a mural entitled Indian Attack on the Village of Saint Louis, 1780, depicting the Battle of St. Louis
The Kentucky frontier saw some of the bloodiest British and Indian raids of the war 1751 Fry-Jefferson Map
August 24, 1781 A battle that was part of the Revolutionary War occurred right here in Boone County. It is known as Lochry s Defeat or Lochry Massacre. Tanner, Helen Hornbeck, ed. Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987. ISBN 0-8061-2056-8
General George Rogers Clark was born in Virginia in 1752. His home was only 2 1/2 miles from the home of Thomas Jefferson. Clark was instrumental in defending Kentucky and the land on the Western frontier during the American Revolution. The history of Kentucky: from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date'' by Zachariah Frederick Smith (1895)
General George Rogers Clark sent orders to Colonel Archibald Lochry to bring his Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania militia to join forces with his troops at Fort Henry in Wheeling, West Virginia. Clark needed the additional men to assist him in an expedition against the British at Detroit. Because men were deserting Clark had to move his troops forward before Archibald Lochry had arrived at Fort Henry.
Lochry and his 130 men arrived at Ft. Henry the next day in serious need of supplies. Clark sent food by boat and urged Lochry to follow hoping he would catch up. Alfred Waud - Engraving by Alfred Waud from The Historic New Orleans Collection. Unknown to Colonel Lochry and his men, a large group of Britishallied Indians being led by the great Mohawk chieftain Joseph Brant had discovered they were headed down the river and were planning to ambush them.
The attack took place at an island at the mouth of a small creek (later named Lochry s Island and Lochry s creek.) The group had spotted a buffalo on the bank of the river. They were extremely hungry and stopped and were preparing to cook it when they were fired upon in ambush. Colonel Lochry s men were greatly outnumbered by the Indians and in no time overcome. Lochry's Defeat by Will Vawter from Conquest of the Country Northwest of the River Ohio 1778-1783 and Life of Gen. George Rogers Clark, Vol. II, William Hayden English, Indianapolis, IN and Kansas City, MO: The Bowen-Merrill Co., 1897, p 728
Over 35 of Lochry s men had been killed and a wounded Lochry surrendered after all ammunition was gone. Colonel Lochry was murdered and scalped by a chieftain. At least 60 captive prisoners were marched north towards Detroit where they could be turned over to British for bounty or reward. Clarks dream of overtaking the British at Detroit were lost forever.
Laughery (Lochry) Island as it looks today The island is visible when driving down the hill towards Bellevue from Rabbit Hash on Route 18. Boat clubs use to go to the island for camping and parties but now the island is privately owned. Courtesy of Boone County Planning Commission
After the Revolutionary War many veterans settled in Boone County, receiving land grants here. There was activity around the Big Bone Lick area and along the Ohio River. Their presence had a great influence on shaping the future history of our county. Boone County Courthouse, Courtesy Boone County Historic Preservation Review Board