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Post by airborneike on Jul 13, 2015 23:25:28 GMT -5
The area around Cynthiana Kentucky where Jeff lives has a rich history in the founding of this country.
The time span of 1770 through 1800 saw some TOUGH and determined people live and die to make Kentucky a state.
Being an old "buckskiner", that era and area is interesting and would warrant a visit if no other reason.
The battle of Blue Licks, Harrodsburg, Boonesbourough and many other places tested the "backbone" of the men and women who settled there.
Jeff, does your family go back to those early days?
You can almost imagine the ghosts of Simon Kenton and Boone watching the shooting of modern muzzle loaders in the same places where their life depended on a flintlock rifle.
ramble ramble ramble
Mike
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Post by deadeye on Jul 13, 2015 23:49:03 GMT -5
mike- you are sharp-can't answer for jeff but I went camping@ Boonesborough ky state park recently @ looked at some history/wondered the same!
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Post by Hank on Jul 13, 2015 23:49:51 GMT -5
Mike..
Blue licks battle field is only about 20-30 miles from the range. You can be sure that ole Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton walked across the same field we hold our shoots.. A great book to read about the settling of Ky is "The Frontiersmen" in the book is a description of what the first white man saw when they paddled up the Lickin River.. The description, describes my farm to a T.. The 100 feet high rock cliff on one side and the 100 acre fields of BLUE GRASS on the other side..
I'm sure Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton would of liked to have our muzzle loading rifles in their day... Just think how many mis-fires they had back then.. I don't think the flint would make much spark in the rain.
Blue licks has a natural salt deposit and therefor got its name, as the herds of Buffalo would come there to lick up the salts.. It was said that it took three solid days and nights for the entire buffalo heard to cross the river.. Had to be a million of them.. Also the river got its name from the Lickin Buffalo..
My farm borders the Lickin River., probably have close to a mile of shore line and its got some pretty darn good catfish in it too..,
I can't answer much about my family's history, however I can tell you we've been here in northern Ky for many generations..
Jeff
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Post by 12ptdroptine on Jul 14, 2015 5:44:10 GMT -5
You have my interest... please Dontstop now
Drop
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Post by airborneike on Jul 15, 2015 16:52:00 GMT -5
The battle of blue licks was a tragedy that really should not have happened. The British general Cornwallis had already surrendered but word had not reached the back country.
A force including Tory loyalists and indians commanded by Capt. Caldwell and Simon Girty atacked Bryants station and were defeated. That force retreated north to the area of Blue Licks and were pursued by a force of 150 or so of Kentucky's best frontiersmen. Daniel Boone tried to get the pursuing force to wait for reinforcements under Col Logan who were only 24 hours behind but the longhunters would not listen to the experienced Boone who was now 50 years old and they drove ahead.
When the little force arrived at the Licks, Boone once again sagely advised them to wait for Logan but the tempers were so inflamed that Capt Hugh McGary shouted out something to the effect "let those who are cowards stay here, those who aren't, follow me" and they did...right into an ambush of larger numbers. The resulting battle was brutal and lasted for near an hour.
67 of Kentucky's best frontiersmen were killed in the worst defeat in their history. Daniel Boone escaped but his son, Israel, was killed right before his eyes and it is said that Daniel was forever changed after that. This action happened on the 19th of August 1782.
This is only a brief look and for those who are interested, many books and stories have been written about this battle.
Jeff's farm is right in the heart of a history rich area. Much worth investigating.
Best,
Mike
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2015 17:12:43 GMT -5
That was an interesting read!
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Post by Hank on Jul 15, 2015 17:16:35 GMT -5
Can you imagine being there and doing what those men had to do... That's what I call living hard.
Jeff
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Post by airborneike on Jul 15, 2015 21:41:27 GMT -5
It was those people who made this country great by their courage and strength. That strength has been "watered down" some through the generations but there is, IMHO, still some who possess those qualities if called upon. Hope so anyway. There is good site that has digitized many of out of print books that have a lot of interesting ( to me anyway ) history. archive.org/stream/chroniclesofbord00with#page/n7/mode/2upThis book, Chronicles of border warfare and many others are a good read Mike |
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Post by airborneike on Jul 15, 2015 22:01:46 GMT -5
It was those people who made this country great by their courage and strength. That strength has been "watered down" some through the generations but there is, IMHO, still some who possess those qualities if called upon. Hope so anyway. There is good site that has digitized many of out of print books that have a lot of interesting ( to me anyway ) history. archive.org/stream/chroniclesofbord00with#page/n7/mode/2upThis book, Chronicles of border warfare and many others are a good read Mike |
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mtj555
Junior Member
Posts: 68 
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Post by mtj555 on Jul 18, 2015 20:52:26 GMT -5
always good to have a history lesson. Thanks Mike. I'll have to check out that link.
My
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Post by Richard on Jul 19, 2015 19:32:53 GMT -5
Mike...........you sound like quite a historian! Thanks for the lesson.
Richard
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