Siege 06

Winner of 2 History Awards From the Kentucky Historical Society

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	The Siege of Fort Boonesborough

A Re-Enactment 2006

Photos by Jim and Kathy Cummings

Early in 1778 Daniel Boone was captured by Indians while on a salt making expedition at the Blue Licks.

He was adopted by a Shawnee Chief named Blackfish. He was given the name Sheltowee. Months passed and Boone bided his time until he overheard the natives planning an attack on the Fort at Boonesborough It was then that he made his escape and traveled back to Kentucky to warn the settlers.

When Blackfish and his party arrived in September of 1778 they stopped outside the fort and asked to parley with Boone and his men.


		Children playing outside the fort first saw the Indians.

But the parley was merely a ruse and when they Indians wanted to “shake the long hands” they grabbed the men of Boonesborough and the Siege was on. Days of sporadic fighting followed. Inside the fort women dressed as men so the Indians would think that their number of able bodied fighting men was higher than it actually was. Food and water were precious commodities and lead for bullets and powder for guns was rationed carefully. The Indians even tried to tunnel under the walls of the fort but were hampered by the rain.

Then in the dark of night the Indians slipped away as quietly as they had come. They took their dead with them so it was not known the exact number of casualties. They went back across the Ohio River to their villages. Although Indians continued to fight for their land and plagued the settlers for many years - The Fort at Boonesborough was never again attacked with the strength that it was in 1778.

Link to photos from The Seige Re-Enactment of 2005

The original Fort Boonesborough was built by Daniel Boone and his men in 1775


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