This is an incomplete list of military confrontations that have occurred within the boundaries of the modern US State of Kentucky since European contact. The region was part of New France from 1679 to 1763, ruled by Great Britain from 1763 to 1783, and part of the United States from 1783 to present.
Several wars that have directly affected the region including the French and Indian War (1754–1763), American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), Northwest Indian War (1785–1795), Tecumseh's War (1811–1812), War of 1812 (1812–1814), and the American Civil War (1861–1865). Battles
NameDateLocationWarCampaignDeadBelligerentsUnnamed battle1745 (three days)modern Ft. Thomas, KentuckyShawnee vs Miami & CherokeeSiege of Logan's FortMay 23-June 1, 1777modern Stanford, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarWestern theater1Kentucky settlers vs Shawnee & allies Siege of BoonesboroughSeptember 7–18, 1778modern Boonesborough, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarWestern theater39Kentucky settlers vs Shawnee Ambush on the Ohio RiverOctober 1, 1779modern Dayton, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarWestern theater70+IndigenousLed by Simon Girty and Alexander McKee vs Continental Army & citizen laborersRuddle's StationMahan, Russell, The Kentucky Kidnappings and Death March: The Revolutionary War at Ruddell's Fort and Martin's Station (West Haven, UT: Historical Enterprises), 2020.June 22, 1780near modern Cynthiana, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarBird's invasion of Kentucky1–20British & allied Indigenous vs Kentucky settlersLong Run MassacreSeptember 13–14, 1781near modern Eastwood, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarWestern theater~32Kentucky settlers vs Miami & alliesBattle of Little MountainMarch 22, 1782near modern Mount Sterling, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarWestern theater24Wyandot vs Kentucky militiaSiege of Bryan StationAugust 15–17, 1782modern Lexington, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarWestern theater5+Kentucky settlers vs British & allied IndigenousBattle of Blue LicksAugust 19, 1782near modern Mount Olivet, KentuckyAmerican Revolutionary WarWestern theater79Kentucky militia vs British & allied IndigenousBattle of BarbourvilleSeptember 19, 1861Barbourville, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarKentucky Confederate Offensive (1861)8Kentucky home guard vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Camp WildcatOctober 21, 1861near London, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarKentucky Confederate Offensive (1861)15United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Ivy MountainNovember 8, 1861near Pikeville, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarKentucky Confederate Offensive (1861)16United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Rowlett's StationDecember 17, 1861near Hart County, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarKentucky Confederate Offensive (1861)10+United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of SacramentoDecember 28, 1861Sacramento, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarKentucky Confederate Offensive (1861)12United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Middle CreekJanuary 10, 1862Floyd County, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarOffensive in Eastern Kentucky (1862)United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Mill SpringsJanuary 19, 1862Pulaski County, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarOffensive in Eastern Kentucky (1862)164United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of RichmondAugust 29–30, 1862Richmond, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarConfederate Heartland Offensive (1862)284United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of MunfordvilleSeptember 14–17, 1862Munfordville, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarConfederate Heartland Offensive (1862)United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Panther Creek September 20, 1862near Owensboro, KentuckyAmerican Civil War39United States of America vs Confederate States of America Battle of AugustaSeptember 27, 1862Augusta, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarConfederate Heartland Offensive (1862)36Confederate States of America vs Kentucky pro-Union home guardBattle of PerryvilleOctober 8, 1862Perryville, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarConfederate Heartland Offensive (1862)1,426United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of New HavenDecember 30, 1862New Haven, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarMorgan's Christmas Raid0United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of SomersetMarch 31, 1863Somerset, KentuckyAmerican Civil War~300United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Tebbs BendJuly 4, 1863Taylor County, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarMorgan's Raid in Kentucky, Indiana, & Ohio (1863)United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of LebanonJuly 5, 1863Lebanon, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarMorgan's Raid in Kentucky, Indiana, & Ohio (1863)41United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of the Cumberland GapSeptember 7–9, 1863Cumberland GapAmerican Civil WarKnoxville CampaignUnited States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of PaducahMarch 25, 1864Paducah, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarForrest's Expedition into West Tennessee & Kentucky (1864)United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of SalyersvilleApril 13–14, 1864Paintsville & Salyersville, KentuckyAmerican Civil War24+United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Mt. SterlingJune 8–9, 1864Mt. Sterling, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarMorgan's Raid into Kentucky87[disputed]Sources for the number of Union soldiers killed in action vary from 8 to 32. Sources for the number of Confederate soldiers killed are consistent at 52.United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of CynthianaJune 11–12, 1864Cynthiana, KentuckyAmerican Civil WarMorgan's Raid into KentuckyUnited States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaSimpsonville massacreLink to the state marker and the mass grave.January 25, 1865near Simpsonville, KentuckyAmerican Civil War22Confederate guerrillasHenry C. Magruder, a Kentucky bushwhacker, took credit for the action. He claimed that he had fifteen men with him, including William Quantrill and Marcellus Jerome Clarke. See, Craig, Berry. Hidden History of Kentucky in the Civil War (Charleston, SC: The History Press), 2010, pp. 109-110. vs Company E, 5th United States Colored Cavalry
See also
History of Kentucky Kentucky in the American Civil War
Notes