Israel Boone was the son of the famous American pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone. He was born in 1758 in North Carolina and moved with his family to Kentucky in 1773. He participated in several frontier wars and battles, including the Battle of Blue Licks, where he met his tragic end. In this article, we will explore the cause of death of Israel Boone and the circumstances of the battle that claimed his life.
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The Battle of Blue Licks
The Battle of Blue Licks was one of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War, fought on August 19, 1782, in what is now Robertson County, Kentucky. A force of about 50 Loyalists and 300 Native Americans, led by British officers William Caldwell, Alexander McKee, Simon Girty, and Matthew Elliott, ambushed and routed 182 Kentucky militiamen, who were partially led by Daniel Boone. The battle occurred ten months after Lord Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, which had effectively ended the war in the east, but the fighting on the western frontier continued.
The Loyalist-Native force had originally planned to attack Wheeling, on the upper Ohio River, but they changed their course when they learned that George Rogers Clark, a renowned American commander, was about to invade the Ohio Country from Kentucky. They decided to strike at the settlements in Kentucky instead, hoping to drive the Americans out of the region. They crossed the Ohio River and marched southward, raiding several farms and cabins along the way.
On August 15, 1782, they attacked Bryan Station, a fortified settlement near Lexington, Kentucky. The defenders of the station managed to repel the attack, but they suffered some casualties and lost some livestock. The attackers then retreated northward, hoping to lure the Americans into a trap. They left behind a trail of signs that indicated their direction and numbers.
Daniel Boone, who was stationed at nearby Boone Station, gathered a force of about 160 militiamen from Fayette and Lincoln counties to pursue the enemy. He was joined by Colonel John Todd, the county lieutenant of Fayette County, Colonel Stephen Trigg, the county lieutenant of Lincoln County, and Major Hugh McGary, a militia leader from Harrodsburg. They also had some experienced scouts and frontiersmen, such as Benjamin Logan, Levi Todd, and William Whitley.
The American force followed the trail of the enemy, hoping to catch them before they crossed the Ohio River. They reached the Lower Blue Licks, a ford on the Licking River, on August 18, 1782. There they saw the enemy on the other side of the river, on a hill next to a bend. The enemy appeared to be fewer in number and disorganized, as if they were preparing to retreat.
The Ambush and the Retreat
Daniel Boone, who had fought in the area before, sensed that something was wrong. He advised his men to wait for reinforcements, which were on their way under the command of Colonel Logan. He also suggested that they should cross the river upstream, where the terrain was more favorable for them. However, his advice was ignored by some of the other officers, who were eager to attack the enemy and claim the glory. Major McGary, in particular, was impatient and impetuous. He accused Boone of cowardice and urged his men to follow him across the river.
Boone reluctantly agreed to lead the advance guard, hoping to prevent a disaster. He crossed the river with about 45 men, followed by Todd, Trigg, and McGary with the rest of the force. As soon as they reached the other side, they realized that they had fallen into a trap. The enemy was not disorganized, but well-positioned and concealed. They opened fire on the Americans from the front and the flanks, causing heavy casualties and confusion. The Americans tried to fight back, but they were outnumbered and outgunned. They soon broke into a disorderly retreat, trying to reach the safety of the river.
Boone ordered his men to retreat. He grabbed a riderless horse and ordered his 23-year-old son, Israel Boone, to mount it. Israel suddenly fell to the ground, shot through the neck. Boone saw his son die in front of his eyes, but he had no time to mourn. He mounted the horse himself and escaped with a few of his men. He later said that he had never seen such a scene of carnage and distress in his life.
The battle lasted for about 15 minutes, but it was a devastating defeat for the Americans. They lost 72 men killed, 11 captured, and many wounded. Among the dead were Todd, Trigg, and McGary, as well as many other prominent leaders and settlers of Kentucky. The Loyalist-Native force lost only 7 killed and 10 wounded. They did not pursue the fleeing Americans, but they scalped and mutilated the dead and took their weapons and horses. They then returned to the Ohio Country, satisfied with their victory.
The Legacy of Israel Boone and the Battle of Blue Licks
Israel Boone was one of the many victims of the Battle of Blue Licks, a battle that marked the end of the frontier war in Kentucky. He was buried near the battlefield, along with the other fallen Americans. His father, Daniel Boone, survived the battle and continued to live in Kentucky until 1799, when he moved to Missouri. He never forgot his son’s death, and he often visited his grave. He died in 1820, at the age of 85, and was buried next to his wife, Rebecca, in Frankfort, Kentucky.
The Battle of Blue Licks was the last major engagement of the American Revolutionary War in the west. It was also one of the bloodiest and most tragic battles in Kentucky’s history. It demonstrated the courage and sacrifice of the early settlers, as well as the brutality and savagery of the war. It also showed the folly and arrogance of some of the American commanders, who ignored the wisdom and experience of Daniel Boone.
The battle site is now a state park, where a monument and a museum commemorate the event. Every year, on the anniversary of the battle, a reenactment and a memorial service are held to honor the fallen heroes. The battle is also remembered in songs, poems, and stories, such as the ballad “The Battle of Blue Lick”, the poem “Blue Licks” by Robert Penn Warren, and the novel “The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper.
Israel Boone cause of death was a tragic and heroic episode in the history of the American frontier. He died fighting for his country and his family, alongside his father and his fellow Kentuckians. He was one of the many who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the United States of America.
