The Revolutionary War on the Frontier

The Revolutionary War on the Frontier. . The War Begins , Less than three weeks after Daniel Boone arrived here in April 1775, the battles of Lexington and Concord ignited the American Revolution. For two years an uneasy peace held on the frontier but in early 1777 the British and their Native American allies began attacking frontier settlements. In March, two men were killed outside of Fort Boonesborough., An eighteenth-century powder horn found not far from the site of Fort Boonesborough (one-half actual size). Lead shot, a gunflint (A) and a strike-a-light (B) recovered during archeological investigations at Fort Boonesborough (actual size). A reproduction eighteenth- century tomahawk (one-half actual size). Image credit lower right., Simon Kenton Rescues Boone , On April 24, there were only twenty-two riflemen in the fort. A large group of Indians-between 50 and 100-staged a successful ruse, drew a party out of the fort, and attacked them. The Indians killed one man and wounded four, including Boone. Seeing his friend in danger, Simon Kenton charged out of the safety of the fort and into the melee. He killed one or more Indians fighting to reach Boone, who he dragged to safety. A month later, twenty-one men held the fort against 200 Indians during a three-day siege., Siege of Fort Boonesborough , In February 1778, Shawnees captured Daniel Boone and thirty others from Boonesborough who were collecting salt at Blue Licks. During his captivity, Boone learned of plans to attack Fort Boonesborough. His timely escape that June allowed the fort to prepare., In September, British and Canadian soldiers and 400 hundred warriors led by Chief Blackfish laid siege to Boonesborough for nine days. The fort's entire complement of men, women, and children fought off repeated attacks. Their successful defense of Fort Boonesborough helped save the western frontier from British expansion.