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In 1782, 180 of Kentucky’s early militiamen followed Indians that had just made an attack on Bryan’s Station, near Lexington, Kentucky.Col. John Todd, commander of the Fayette County militia, raised a force of 180 men comprised of about 130 men from Lincoln County under the command of Lt. Col. Stephen Trigg, and about 45 men from Fayette County under the command of Lt. Col. Daniel Boone, to help repulse the enemy. Col. Benjamin Logan and a large force of militia were also on their way to assist their beleaguered fellow Kentuckians. By the time Todd and his militiamen arrived at Bryan’s Station the enemy had gone. Instead of waiting for Logan and reinforcements, Todd decided to pursue and overtake the British and Indians. His decision would be disastrous.
The retreating invasion force left Todd and his men an excellent trail to follow. On August 19, the Kentucky militia caught up with the British and Indians at Blue Licks. The night before the battle Todd’s men had debated whether they should wait for Logan or engage the enemy at once. According to legend Major Hugh McGary insisted that the militia attack immediately. Boone warned of a possible ambush from surrounding ravines, but to no avail. On the day of the battle McGary supposedly rode his horse into the waters of the Licking River, waving his hat and calling out, “All those who are not cowards, follow me!” His fellow Kentuckians charged after him.
As they reached the north shore of the Licking, the Kentuckians began to ready for an attack. An advance column of Kentuckians then proceeded up a hill where some Indians had been spotted, followed by three groups of the main force. Todd commanded the center; Trigg led the right flank, and Boone the left. As the advance party reached within fifty yards of an area of ravines, the British and Indians who had been lying in wait launched their attack on the Kentuckians.
Within fifteen minutes the Kentucky militiamen had been defeated. The British and Indians inflicted heavy casualties on the surprised Kentuckians, forcing them to flee for their lives. Both Todd and Trigg died in the battle, as did Daniel Boone’s youngest son, Israel. A few of the Kentucky militia stood their ground, trying to provide cover for their retreating comrades. The Indians pursued the routed Kentuckians for about two miles, and then came back to the battlefield to scalp and mutilate their victims. The Kentuckians had lost some seventy men. The British and Indians suffered about two dozen casualties with only ten killed. Logan’s force of 500 men met some of the fleeing survivors about five miles from the battle site. Logan and his men arrived at Blue Licks and buried the grisly remains of their fallen comrades.
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