Lieutenant,
Revolutionary War,
Around the time the Revolutionary War was being fought and our Constitution was being written, pioneer settlers were moving westward from Virginia into the area which is now the state of Kentucky. At that time, this land was all part of Virginia. The primary wagon route through the mountains was through the Cumberland Gap. For safety, bands of pioneers would travel in wagon trains, driving herds of livestock before them. On one such journey, a patrol of soldiers from the Virginia Militia was assigned to accompany and escort the group. Having successfully passed through the gap and into Kentucky, the settlers had made camp for the evening. While they slept, a band of Cherokee Indians raided their camp, set their livestock loose, and stole most of their horses. Native Americans were not anxious for white men to settle this area, and they probably thought that taking the horses would leave the settlers with no way to pull their wagons and force them to turn back. The commander of the militia unit, a young Lieutenant Nathan McClure, had other ideas, however. He rousted his troops, rounded up the remaining horses, and chased after the indians while the settlers gathered the livestock. In the battle which followed, Lieutenant McClure's men were victorious and succeeded in recovering the stolen horses. Unfortunately, Lieutenant McClure was fatally wounded and died before they could get him back to camp. He was buried in what is now the Daniel Boone National Forest alongside a hiking trail which is named in his honor.
Revolutionary War,
Around the time the Revolutionary War was being fought and our Constitution was being written, pioneer settlers were moving westward from Virginia into the area which is now the state of Kentucky. At that time, this land was all part of Virginia. The primary wagon route through the mountains was through the Cumberland Gap. For safety, bands of pioneers would travel in wagon trains, driving herds of livestock before them. On one such journey, a patrol of soldiers from the Virginia Militia was assigned to accompany and escort the group. Having successfully passed through the gap and into Kentucky, the settlers had made camp for the evening. While they slept, a band of Cherokee Indians raided their camp, set their livestock loose, and stole most of their horses. Native Americans were not anxious for white men to settle this area, and they probably thought that taking the horses would leave the settlers with no way to pull their wagons and force them to turn back. The commander of the militia unit, a young Lieutenant Nathan McClure, had other ideas, however. He rousted his troops, rounded up the remaining horses, and chased after the indians while the settlers gathered the livestock. In the battle which followed, Lieutenant McClure's men were victorious and succeeded in recovering the stolen horses. Unfortunately, Lieutenant McClure was fatally wounded and died before they could get him back to camp. He was buried in what is now the Daniel Boone National Forest alongside a hiking trail which is named in his honor.
Lieutenant,
Revolutionary War,
Around the time the Revolutionary War was being fought and our Constitution was being written, pioneer settlers were moving westward from Virginia into the area which is now the state of Kentucky. At that time, this land was all part of Virginia. The primary wagon route through the mountains was through the Cumberland Gap. For safety, bands of pioneers would travel in wagon trains, driving herds of livestock before them. On one such journey, a patrol of soldiers from the Virginia Militia was assigned to accompany and escort the group. Having successfully passed through the gap and into Kentucky, the settlers had made camp for the evening. While they slept, a band of Cherokee Indians raided their camp, set their livestock loose, and stole most of their horses. Native Americans were not anxious for white men to settle this area, and they probably thought that taking the horses would leave the settlers with no way to pull their wagons and force them to turn back. The commander of the militia unit, a young Lieutenant Nathan McClure, had other ideas, however. He rousted his troops, rounded up the remaining horses, and chased after the indians while the settlers gathered the livestock. In the battle which followed, Lieutenant McClure's men were victorious and succeeded in recovering the stolen horses. Unfortunately, Lieutenant McClure was fatally wounded and died before they could get him back to camp. He was buried in what is now the Daniel Boone National Forest alongside a hiking trail which is named in his honor.
Revolutionary War,
Around the time the Revolutionary War was being fought and our Constitution was being written, pioneer settlers were moving westward from Virginia into the area which is now the state of Kentucky. At that time, this land was all part of Virginia. The primary wagon route through the mountains was through the Cumberland Gap. For safety, bands of pioneers would travel in wagon trains, driving herds of livestock before them. On one such journey, a patrol of soldiers from the Virginia Militia was assigned to accompany and escort the group. Having successfully passed through the gap and into Kentucky, the settlers had made camp for the evening. While they slept, a band of Cherokee Indians raided their camp, set their livestock loose, and stole most of their horses. Native Americans were not anxious for white men to settle this area, and they probably thought that taking the horses would leave the settlers with no way to pull their wagons and force them to turn back. The commander of the militia unit, a young Lieutenant Nathan McClure, had other ideas, however. He rousted his troops, rounded up the remaining horses, and chased after the indians while the settlers gathered the livestock. In the battle which followed, Lieutenant McClure's men were victorious and succeeded in recovering the stolen horses. Unfortunately, Lieutenant McClure was fatally wounded and died before they could get him back to camp. He was buried in what is now the Daniel Boone National Forest alongside a hiking trail which is named in his honor.
Inscription
Nathan McClure, Lieutenant Ky. Militaia, Revolutionary War, Killed by Indians, May 1788
Gravesite Details
Nathan McClure's grave is located alongside Forest Development Road 122A, The Nathan McClure Trail #530, extends for 14.6 miles along ridges, streams, clifflines and lake cumberland to the little lick campground.
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